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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Altamirano

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-24-07

HB

SHORT TITLE Study Mimbres Cultural Site Partnerships

SB SJM 56

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 56 requests that the State Parks Division (SPD) of the Energy, Minerals

and Natural Resources Department study the feasibility of a partnership with the Mimbres

Culture Heritage Site and other Mimbres sites in developing visitor facilities and programs to

educate the public about the Mimbres culture. The study would be due to the legislature by

December 1, 2007.

There is no appropriation attached to this legislation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

EMNRD estimates that the study requested would likely cost SPD in excess of $25,000 in

personnel and other costs (travel, per diem, printing, etc.). Without an appropriation, these costs

would have to come out of the FY08 operating budget for SPD if the study is to be done.

Senate Joint Memorial 56 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

As background, EMNRD notes that Mimbres culture evolved in the southwestern corner of New

Mexico centered along the Mimbres River valley. People have long been attracted to the area

because of the Mimbres River and its permanent source of water, prime agricultural land, and

proximity to the natural resources of the river corridor and the nearby mountains and deserts.

Within this small area, a very distinct culture developed.

The Mimbres were the only ancient

peoples to consistently produce pottery with figural painting, and their culture and pottery is

internationally known and highly regarded. Few Mimbres sites are protected in local, state, or

federal land management systems. At one point in the late 1980s/early 1990s, a complex of

Mimbres sites in southwestern New Mexico were proposed for addition to the National Park

System—a recognition of the national significance of some of these sites, their role in the

heritage of the United States, and their potential attraction as destinations. Efforts to protect and

interpret Mimbres sites through local and/or state efforts, therefore, clearly have a broader value

in terms of heritage preservation, public education and tourism-related economic development.

The Mimbres Culture Heritage Site, also known as the Mattocks site, is located near the town of

San Lorenzo, NM. The site contains a long record of human occupation of the Mimbres Valley

area. The Mimbres Culture Heritage Site is a wonderful example of a large Mimbres

pithouse/pueblo village. The prehistoric site dates to the Mimbres Late Pithouse period (500s CE

to 900s CE) through the Mimbres Classic period (1000 CE to mid 1100s CE). There are also

other significant historical resources on the site. The Wood House, the smaller, older adobe

structure dates to the early1880s. The larger Gooch House dates to the 1890s. The two Territorial

adobe structures are some of the last remaining buildings from the New Mexico territorial era in

the Mimbres Valley. Both houses retain many of their historic architectural features. The very

popular Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, a unit of the National Park System that

protects and interprets a remarkable site from the Mogollon culture, is located approximately 46

miles from the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site.

EMNRD adds that the Silver City Museum Society purchased the Mattocks site in 2006. The

Museum Society, in partnership with the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Byway and the Grant

County Archaeological Society, has plans to develop an interpretive and education facility. The

closest New Mexico state park to the Mimbres Culture Heritage Site is City of Rocks State Park,

which is approximately 25 miles away, and other Mimbres culture sites are scattered throughout

the Mimbres Valley area in both Grant and Luna counties. SPD does not have a complete list of

sites at this time that would potentially be included as part of the study requested by SJM 56.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

EMNRD suggests that SPD has staff and expertise to conduct the study, but would have to divert

attention from other projects already underway in order to conduct the study.

BFW/nt