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SAA President Hails Designation of Agua Fria National Monument

Grand Canyon National Park, January 11: Today SAA President Keith Kintigh praised President Clinton's move to designate the Agua Fria National Monument in Arizona as a protected federal site—the largest unit in the National Park system with America's prehistory as a major focus.

Agua Fria, a 71,100-acre site outside of Phoenix, encompasses a nearly complete prehistoric settlement system dated between A.D. 1250 and 1450, including basalt pueblos, stone forts, and rock art fashioned by ancient societies.

SAA President Keith Kintigh poses with his family and President Clinton.

Said Kintigh, "The Society for American Archaeology believes that the President's action today represents an extremely important decision to protect and preserve this enormously important area before it is engulfed in the urban sprawl of Phoenix.  With new research, Agua Fria National Monument's unique and well-preserved archaeological record has tremendous potential to enhance our understanding of the prehistory of Arizona and the Southwest."

A participant in the federal information-gathering process on Agua Fria led by Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Kintigh attended the dedication ceremony at the Grand Canyon and had an opportunity to speak with President Clinton at the event.

Read President Keith Kintigh's full statement on the Agua Fria National Monument.