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.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.