Abandoned oil wells imperil Native sites in Southwest, report says

By Heather Richards | 02/29/2024 04:24 PM EST

“Leasing and development have left a legacy of orphaned wells that have destroyed archaeological sites,” said archaeologist Paul Reed.

A hiker sits on a ledge above Pueblo Bonito.

A hiker sits on a ledge above Pueblo Bonito, the largest archaeological site at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, in northwestern New Mexico. Cedar Attanasio/AP

Aging and abandoned oil and gas infrastructure threaten archaeological sites on public lands in the Southwest, according to a report released Thursday by a New Mexico preservation group.

Sacred areas for Native American tribes, like Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and Bears Ears in Utah, are particularly marred by the legacy of oil and gas drilling, according to the report by Archaeology Southwest.
according to the report

“Leasing and development have left a legacy of orphaned wells that have destroyed archaeological sites,” said Paul Reed, an archaeologist with Archaeology Southwest and author of the report.

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Reed said in an interview that pumpjacks and well pads alter the landscape. In addition to risking pollution to the natural resources, they fundamentally reshape areas that should be preserved for their cultural, indigenous and historical values, he said.

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