The state of Utah is announcing its recent purchase of a ranch containing thousands of previously undisclosed and undisturbed Indian sites.

With funds from the federal government, the state bought the ranch for $2.5 million from a rancher. Waldo Wilcox said he didn't tell anyone about it because he wanted to protect the burial grounds, rock drawings and villages on the site.

Archaeologists say the site is unlike any other because it has been free from looting. They say the villages date to 1000 A.D. and 1200 A.D and could have been occupied as early as 7,000 years ago.

The ranch is next to federal land under study as a wilderness area.

Get the Story:
Secret preserves ancient sites (AP 6/25)
State unveils prehistory treasure trove (The Deseret Morning News 6/25)
Site a treasure trove of artifacts from ancient Utah (The Salt Lake Tribune 6/25)