Ancient Arizona Sites Ruined By Sprawl And ATVs

Last year, volunteer monitors with Arizona State Parks reported 212 vandalism incidents, 27 lootings, 21 trashed signs, two unearthed human remains, 13 cases of spray-painting and two petroglyph thefts. Along the border, illegal immigration takes its toll: "Tinajas hosted a primeval campground and, not coincidentally, nine natural water catchments. Just as those catchments attracted prehistoric visitors, however, they also draw thirsty immigrants. Next door on the Barry M. Goldwater Range, petroglyphs have been targeted by vandals."

The 750 volunteer monitors are not law enforcement, however there have been some successes. "Armed with binoculars and about 10 hours of training, they've pulled some spectacular coups -- including nabbing notorious developer George Johnson, who bulldozed Hohokam villages in southern Pinal County in 2003."

Meanwhile, in Pima County, "Los Motreros" Hohokam site of eight villages has been buried beneath the Continental Ranch subdivision. Linda Mayro, the county's cultural resources manager explains that the developer did an archeological survey as part of the re-zoning process, but the development went on as planned. She says: "So the site analysis sits in multiple volumes on the shelf. The artifacts are in the state museum. And the burials have been repatriated."