Inside the boundaries of Chaco Culture National Historic Park, the treasures of pre-Puebloan culture are protected by federal law and a staff of archaeologists and rangers.

It can probably go without saying that those 20,000 acres in northwestern New Mexico, peppered with great houses, kivas and tools of prehistoric astronomy, are also off-limits to oil and gas exploration and drilling.

But what about outside the boundaries of the monument, a World Heritage Site that attracts people from around the globe looking for a glimpse into a prehistoric culture and a vanished past? Should the views from inside the park to the landscape beyond be under some special consideration for protection?

It would be an interesting question at just about any significant historical site, but at Chaco it takes on more importance for a couple of reasons.