History & Culture

Human use of the Las Vegas Valley stretches back more than 10,000 years. The natural springs and resources they support were vital to the Southern Paiute, other Native American Tribes, and eventually European Americans who traveled and resided in the area. Archeological resources found throughout the monument are representative of the diverse cultural heritage of the region’s inhabitants and present a valuable record of human use and adaptation to changing environmental conditions throughout the area. Many of these sites, and the landscapes upon which they reside, hold enduring cultural and spiritual significance to Native American Tribes.