Editorial: Preserve ancient site

Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 | 8:50 a.m.

There are 22,000 acres in the area of Floyd Lamb State Park north of Las Vegas that are among the finest in the country for archaeological exploration. Fossils dating back 190,000 years have been found. Scientists have known of the area for 50 years or more, but new sites continue to turn up, adding to the knowledge of Southern Nevada's ancient history. Rare plants also thrive in the area.

Unlike in past decades, though, development pressure is a factor today. At least 5,000 acres in the area are being eyed as sites for master-planned communities. So far the archaeological sites have been protected by the Bureau of Land Management, but increasingly there is pressure from developers upon the BLM to sell some of the sensitive land at auction.

In our view, the BLM should put an indefinite moratorium on any land sales within that 22,000 acres. Already 438 distinct areas within the acreage have been identified as archaeologically significant. No one knows what might be uncovered by future digs.

"This is the last great place in the Las Vegas Valley for conservation," Clark County planner Rob Mrowka told the Sun. We'd like to see it stay that way.