"Buried under a patch of Draper scrub between the Jordan River and the train tracks is the most significant archaeological site uncovered in the Salt Lake Valley in generations.

So, of course, UTA wants to cover it with a slab of concrete.

That's how we do things here. Every inclination skews toward development. It's why Greg Curtis -- former House Speaker, current lobbyist and self-described "f----- bogeyman" -- can delay conservation of the only known ancient house in the county. His interference gave UTA and lawmakers just enough time to reverse a policy that protected the site for eight years -- before ticky-tacky boxes led to Furniture Row led to TRAX.

It's all in the name of a strip mall, er, excuse me ... a "transit-oriented development," otherwise known as civilization. Draper wants sales tax revenue, the state wants to increase the value of its prison property and UTA wants to make it as convenient as possible for car-loving Utahns to ride the train. So, the 3,000-year-old settlement has to go.

The governor's Indian Affairs adviser, Forrest Cuch, would rather UTA leave the site alone.

"People need to be respectful of human remains and the people who have gone before them in the same way they would be respectful of their pioneer ancestors," he says. "I'm not comfortable.""

Get the Story:
Rebecca Walsh: Ancient history loses -- again (The Salt Lake Tribune 3/10)

Earlier Story:
Did lawmaker-turned-lobbyist Curtis derail Indian site protection? (The Salt Lake Tribune 3/10)