Aztec Ruins National Monument: Administrative HIstory of an Archeological Preserve

Aztec Ruins National Monument was established solely to protect, preserve, and interpret a small concentration of prehistoric remains. The text that follows, therefore, emphasizes this archeological resource and the extensive measures the National Park Service has taken to prevent its natural and human-inflicted destruction and to interpret the cultural story it presents so that visitors may more fully appreciate its meaning. In addition, the site is unique among other Southwestern antiquities administered by the National Park Service in being situated in the midst of modern occupation. The interaction
between the citizenry and the government also is part of this presentation.