What if understanding the future of wildlife conservation required looking further into the past?
Led by Dr. William Taylor at CU Boulder, a new study published in the Journal of Biogeography suggests exactly that. By bringing together archaeology, Indigenous knowledge, paleontology, historical records, and ecology, an interdisciplinary team of researchers has found compelling evidence that moose have long been part of the Southern Rocky Mountain landscape—well before modern wildlife reintroduction efforts.
Among the study’s contributors is Crow Canyon Archaeological Center researcher Jonathan Dombrosky, whose work reflects a central principle of Crow Canyon’s mission: that understanding the human past requires drawing on many different ways of knowing.
Looking Beyond Recent History
Questions about the presence of moose in Colorado have become increasingly important as populations grow and land managers consider how to balance wildlife conservation with the health of mountain ecosystems. For decades, many people believed that moose were largely absent from Colorado until they were reintroduced by the state in the late 1970s.
This new research tells a more complex story.
The team examined a wide range of evidence, including archaeological records, museum collections, newspaper archives, historical photographs, scientific publications, and Indigenous oral traditions. Together, these sources reveal that moose were not simply occasional visitors to the region. Historical accounts describe groups of animals, females, and juveniles, suggesting that breeding populations were established in Colorado’s mountains long before modern management programs.
Archaeological discoveries also point to a much deeper history, with evidence of moose in sites dating back centuries and even millennia, possibly including archaeological excavations near Mesa Verde.
The Value of Multiple Ways of Knowing
One of the most significant aspects of this study is its interdisciplinary approach.
At Crow Canyon, we recognize that archaeology is only one piece of a much larger story. Indigenous knowledge, historical documentation, and scientific research each provide unique perspectives that can strengthen our understanding of the past.
The study highlights that moose have long held cultural significance for Tribal communities throughout the Southern Rockies. Traditional knowledge and oral histories preserve important understandings of wildlife and landscapes that may not appear in written records but remain essential for building a more complete picture of history.
By weaving together these different forms of evidence, researchers were able to reach conclusions that no single discipline could have achieved on its own.
Archaeology and Modern Conservation
While the findings shed new light on the history of moose in Colorado, they also raise important questions about the future.
Modern ecosystems are shaped by centuries of change, including shifts in climate, habitat, predator populations, and human land use. Understanding what these landscapes looked like in the past can help scientists and land managers make more informed decisions today.
The study suggests that it may be useful to consider the broader ecological processes that once helped regulate wildlife populations and how those processes have changed over time.
It also points to the potential value of collaborative stewardship, including partnerships with Tribal nations whose cultural traditions include long histories of wildlife management and ecological knowledge.
Connecting the Past to the Present
For Crow Canyon, this research reflects a broader commitment to making the human past accessible and relevant.
Archaeology is not only about uncovering ancient artifacts. It is about understanding the long relationships between people, animals, and landscapes—and recognizing that those relationships continue to shape the world we live in today.
The story of moose in the Southern Rockies demonstrates that the past is often more dynamic and interconnected than we imagine. By bringing together archaeology, Indigenous knowledge, historical research, and the natural sciences, we can develop a richer understanding of our shared heritage and make more thoughtful decisions for the future.
As this study reminds us, some of the most important answers to today’s questions may already be written in the landscapes around us—we simply need to learn how to read them.
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Photos courtesy, Deena Sveinsson.