SAN JUAN COUNTY, UTAH—Utah Public Radio reports that the Hopi, Navajo, Ute Mountain Ute, Uintah and Ouray Ute, and Zuni tribal nations have proposed a 1.9 million acre national monument to protect the Bears Ears region of southeastern Utah, where the Basketmaker Culture was discovered. More than 700 archaeologists have signed a letter from Friends of Cedar Mesa to President Obama in support of the proposal. The letter also expresses concern about looting and vandalism at sensitive archaeological sites in the area. Josh Ewing, executive director of Friends of Cedar Mesa, says the San Juan County area is home to more than 100,000 archaeological sites, including cliff dwellings, rock art panels, and burials. “Archaeologists have been advocating for the protection of these cultural resources for 113 years now,” he said. For more on archaeology in this area, go to "Archaeology, Off-Road Vehicles, and the BLM."