more Special Places

Today being Orthodox Easter Sunday, thoughts are of rebirth, renewal and the many gifts of spring. Though there are many losses and tragedies around, many hitting close-to-home… I find myself thinking of blessings and thanks to those before us that have given us our present.

So often I’m involved with trying to protect special places far & near, and recently I’ve been involved with one near my own backyard. Site LA (NM Lab of Anthropology) 125568, also known as Spirit Haven Shrine, has had some recent grading that has exceeded what local authorities expected. I’ve been asked several times, and again most recently due to this incident, what differentiates a shrine from a “pile of rocks?” The short answer is: ongoing cultural significance and use. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) has a designation for “Traditional Cultural Properties” (TCP). This locale might be a TCP, depending on recent uses.

Nels Nelson

Some background information includes: “The important shrine is well known to both Eldorado and surrounding residential communities attested by the fact that… blading at the hilltop was initially reported by concerned neighbors. American Museum of Natural History archaeologist Nels Nelson actually knew of the site as early as 1912 when he performed excavations at the nearby sites of Chamisa Locita (LA 4) and Pueblo Alamo (LA 8). The hilltop shrine is an important religious structure associated with these large Pueblo ruins dating to the A.D. 1300s. The Santa Fe Archaeological Society worked on the Chamisa Locita Pueblo in the 1960s. Salvage excavation occurred at Pueblo Alamo before the site was nearly completely destroyed by the construction of the I-25 Intersection in 1971. The site was officially recorded in 1998 and has been part of the State Historic Preservation Office records for well over ten years. The site has been deemed significant enough by the professional archaeological community for inclusion with the nationally recognized Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act. The site is one of a limited number of known earth-navel type shrines important to Pueblo religion and for its information potential for prehistoric ceremonialism and ritual. Both the hilltop shrine and the Chamisa Locita Pueblo are within the nominated boundary for the National Registry for Historic Places in relation to the Galisteo Protection Act project. Native American consultants with the Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act Project are additionally concerned over… blading activities at the shrine, as they thought the site was protected. More about the prehistory and history of Eldorado can be learned from the book Windmills and Dreams available for purchase at the ECIA office in Eldorado.”

As was brought to my attention recently: “This important New Mexico and National cultural treasure (emphasis added) has occupied this hilltop as a religious shrine for some 800 years now and deserves respect, consideration, and preservation within permitting and county management activities. Please voice letters of concern regarding the importance of the site and the coordination of site protection within proposed development plans at this locality. Please share this information with any appropriate concerned friends and neighbors.

Address Letters to:

Wayne Dalton                                   Liz Stefanics    
Building and Development Supervisor  Board of County Commissioners, Chair
Growth Management Department       Commission District 5
Santa Fe County                               P.O. Box 720

P.O. Box 276                                    Cerrillos, New Mexico 87010

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501

I believe that this potential NRHP TCP should be protected: as it has been passed onto us, so should we provide for future generations. Which reminds me of another potential TCP that turned 50 this year (making it eligible for the NRHP): Dodger Stadium. Several years ago I made a pilgrimage with Blake Roxlau, longtime NM Highway Dept. archaeologist & Cubs fan, to Wrigley Field and informally evaluated TCP criteria. I have no doubt that Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and now Dodger Stadium are important community locations, that inspire long journeys, and result in ritualistic behaviors (Amen, to that Dodger Dog) and lots of prayer. Have a great Easter (and spring) amigos y amigas…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church