Łeetso – Working and Living Within the Monster: A Cultural Resources Study of Navajo Habitations Within Former Uranium Mines in the Cove and Monument Valley Regions

Abstract

More than 900 abandoned uranium mines litter the Navajo Nation, the poisonous legacy of the mid- to late-twentieth century uranium boom in the American West. This article discusses findings from recent archaeological work related to reclamation activities at a series of abandoned uranium mines in the Cove and Monument Valley regions of northeastern Arizona. The projects sought to identify archaeological resources within the mine boundaries and gather ethnographic information regarding past mining activities at these sites. The results of this ethnoarchaeological work provide insight into the daily activities and family life of Navajo uranium mine workers, as well as historic data useful for Navajo Nation land managers planning remediation activities at the abandoned mine sites. The article concludes with a series of reflections about the nature of conducting archaeological work at uranium industry sites that might be of interest to others engaged in similar work.