Documenting the Near Past in a Rapidly Changing Landscape

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Community Centered Archaeology in Colorful Colorado", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Alpine Archaeology documented the Burro Mine Complex (Complex) as part of a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination funded by the Bureau of Land Management. The project highlights the necessity to preserve our recent past; in this case, a historical uranium mine that was active from 1952–1971. The Complex is in rural western San Miguel County, Colorado, a region that is experiencing a rapid transition from a mining-, farming-, and ranching-based economy to one centered on tourism and outdoor recreation. The listing of the Complex to the NRHP shows long-time locals and regional newcomers how uranium mining shaped the development of western Colorado. While this may be obvious to long-time locals, many of whom are and were miners, individuals moving into the area are not necessarily aware of this history. An NRHP listing signifies the importance of a place and its associated history in a rapidly changing region.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Community Centered Archaeology in Colorful Colorado   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2025

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow