Sandia Cave

Infobox_nrhp | name =Sandia Cave
nrhp_type = nhl


caption =
nearest_city= Bernalillo, New Mexico
locmapin = New Mexico
area =
architect=
architecture=
designated= January 20, 1961cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=346&ResourceType=Site
title=Sandia Cave |accessdate=2008-06-14|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = October 15, 1966cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = FOREST SERVICE
refnum=66000487

Sandia Cave is an archaeological site near Bernalillo, New Mexico that is open to the public.

A statement of its significance in 1961 read:

A recent condition report is:quote|Sandia Cave appears to be in satisfactory condition. This natural cave is located in a limestone cliff face above Los Huertas Creek in the Sandia Mountains. The cave was prehistorically occupied and has been intensively excavated. The site is publicly-accessible via a quarter-mile trail and a metal circular staircase leading to the cave entrance. The length of the cave is unknown and the inspection was performed on the first ten meters of the interior; after this point the cave narrows and artificial lighting is necessary. This site is not at risk from environmental or natural causes. Since the site has been thoroughly excavated, there are no portable artifacts, walls, or fragile components that need to be protected. The greatest threat to this site is the potential for vandalism. The site has experienced heavy vandalism over the past several years. The entrance to the cave is covered in graffiti done primarily with spray paint but markers, chalk, crayons, and etching have also been used. The graffiti also appears on the bars and railings that support the staircase and cage-like entry way. More graffiti is present within the cave but is slightly less dense than at the cave entrance. The ceiling of the cave is covered with a heavy layer of soot from prehistoric occupation and graffiti has been applied to many parts of the soot.

There does not appear to be a significant amount of new graffiti within the cave since the last report, although some of the more recent graffiti (possibly within the last year) covers a large area. There are no other changes to the site itself since the last report.

It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961.Note: A National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination document should be available upon request from the National Park Service for this site, but it appears not to be available on-line from the [http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreghome.do?searchtype=natreghome NPS Focus search site] .]

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