Construction crews have begun clearing land along the Rio Grande in West Texas, pausing only after lawsuits halted work in Big Bend National Park. But the Department of Homeland Security is still pushing ahead with a 500-mile barrier system that will slice through private ranches holding some of North America’s most significant archaeological sites.
Archaeologists like Bryon Schroeder have uncovered pottery, turquoise, and marine shells dating back to AD 800 on ranches near Santa Elena Canyon, linking the area to the UNESCO World Heritage site Paquimé in Mexico. Sites like Canta Recio, which Schroeder calls a ‘Nile Valley of the Southwest,’ face bulldozing or becoming inaccessible if the wall is built. Nearby, the 6,000-year-old Painted Shelter rock art site could be damaged by vibrations or buried under vehicle barriers, despite its status as a National Historic Landmark.
Federal laws meant to protect such landmarks have been waived by DHS, leaving landowners like Patrick Zuberbueler to fight both the loss of history and their livelihoods. Contractors have already illegally cleared private property, and lawsuits are mounting. Archaeologists hope for a last-minute shift to surveillance technology instead of physical barriers.
The region’s cultural legacy is at risk of being erased before it can be studied.
