Art News

New Mexico’s national monument reopens Native American archaeological sites

FRIJOLES CANYON, N.M. (AP).- The prehistoric Native American archaeological sites that fill the heart of northern New Mexico’s Bandelier National Monument have reopened to visitors, three months after the largest wildfire in the state’s recorded history sent employees scrambling to save rare artifacts and irreplaceable artwork. The monument’s visitor center and biggest concentration of prehistoric cultural sites survived the fire and a second threat — post-fire flooding that sent ash, sediment and charred debris into the heart of the monument. But the hazardous conditions kept the sites off-limits for weeks, until employees began welcoming shuttle buses of visitors back to the canyon Monday. “It’s great to have people back in the park,” said Rod Torrez,