Cultural Resources Office
Do you need some help?
The quickest way to reach us is to contact us through the contact form on the website.
Address:
310 Old Santa Fe Trail,
Santa Fe NM 87501
Phone:
505-827-5760
About the Cultural Resources Office:
The Cultural Resources Office (CRO) was created by Commissioner Garcia Richard in 2021 to improve the stewardship of cultural resources on State Trust Land. The division reviews lease and improvement applications, conducts cultural resource surveys, assists leasing divisions with cultural compliance for land maintenance projects, and consults with governmental agencies and descendant communities. To date, over 600,000 (6.7%) acres of trust land have been surveyed for cultural resources and over 10,500 cultural properties have been identified and documented. Surveys continue almost every day, and are constantly adding to these totals.
Core Mission and Responsibilities:
The Cultural Resources Office strives to help the Commissioner of Public Lands steward the land for the beneficiaries in a way that honors and respects the heritage of our state’s tribes, nations, pueblos, and other descendant communities through the following activities:
Compliance Review
The Cultural Resources Office reviews lease applications and project proposals to determine their impact on cultural resources. CRO recently developed the first-ever Cultural Properties Protection Rule which requires cultural surveys to be conducted prior to any new surface disturbing activity on State Trust Land.
Fieldwork:
The Cultural Resources Office conducts surveys of in-house projects such as remediation and reclamation projects, as well as land improvement projects. All staff are permitted archaeologists and listed on the State Historic Preservation Officer’s Directory.
Stewardship:
The NMSLO works with descendant communities to steward cultural properties that are located on State Trust Land. These projects include stabilization, preservation, and erosion control efforts.
Education:
As the division grows, education and outreach are becoming an important complement to the compliance work it conducts. Staff visit schools, fairs, and community groups to share the importance of protecting cultural resources on public lands.
Stone Spear Point
Late Paleoindian Stone Spear Point Over 7,000 Years Old in South-Central New Mexico
Navajo Pueblito
Stone Defensive and Habitation Structure Over 300 Years Old in Northeastern New Mexico
Vintage 7Up Bottle
Glass 7Up Bottle Dating to the 1950s from Southern New Mexico
Contact Us:
Questions and inquiries can be directed to croinfo@nmslo.gov or by phone at (505) 827-5781.