There and Back Again: Glen Canyon archaeology before and after Lake Powell

Join the Museum of Northern Arizona to learn what happens when a reservoir and millions of visitors inundate archaeological sites.

Please join Northern Arizona Archaeology Society for a presentation by Kimberly Spurr Abstract: Before the construction of Glen Canyon Dam, archaeologists from the Museum of Northern Arizona explored the Colorado River and tributary canyons to document cultural sites that would be submerged under Lake Powell. A recent project by the Museum monitored the condition of nearly 500 sites in the canyons and uplands to learn what happens when archaeological sites are inundated by a reservoir and millions of visitors. Ongoing drought conditions in the western US are remodeling the landscape and require new approaches to preserving our cultural heritage. Kimberly Spurr has worked as a professional archaeologist for more than 30 years. She is currently the Archaeology Division Director at the Museum of Northern Arizona, where she collaborates with federal agencies and tribes to preserve and protect ancestral sites and cultural material.