Archaeology in the BLM

The study of archaeology provides the BLM with critical information about land use over time. Archaeologists study cultural resources to gather this information.  A cultural resource is physical evidence of past human activity. This can be a site where ancient humans lived, ancient rock art, or more modern evidence of human activity, like a railroad logging camp or a ghost town.

The archaeological study of cultural resources located on BLM-managed lands provides the public and the professional community with opportunities to learn about and help conserve this special, limited resource.  

• Learn about the laws, policies, and strategies that guide archaeological management and exploration on public lands.
• Find the charter and meeting notes from our preservation board.
• Locate national and state permits for archaeological study.