Take Home a Boor Site
            by Margaret Stewart
 

Just as prehistoric sites are identified by the number of potsherds within a given area, Boor Sites are distinguished by a minimum of two empty beer cans, usually tucked under a jumping cholla where they must be carefully coaxed out with a stick. 

While this is the simplest structure for the Site, it is by no means the only criteria.  Boors have great powers of imagination in the production of their sites and bring many materials to add interest to their chosen spot.  In addition to beer cans of all sizes, there may be pop cans, beer bottles, paper plates, drink cartons, plastic material of all kinds and even disposable diapers.  These are scattered widely about the ground, in what appears to be complete disorder, but may be a deliberate attempt by the boors to enhance Nature. 

Probably the most original Boor Sites are those produced by target shooters.  These can be identified by red and green casings from shotgun shells littering the ground and small plastic boxes, torn apart, apparently in great haste, and tossed about under trees.  Beer cans and bottles abound at these sites as well, but here they have been used as targets.  The bottles are shattered into small shiny shards and the aluminum cans, some sprouting from tree branches, have been torn by bullets into lacy designs. 

Sites that have been used continually for many years can also be identified by compacted earth and a complete lack of any vegetation for a diameter of 15 to 20 feet. 

Most interesting of all are the larger objects which have been pressed into service as targets.  Ironing boards, television sets, cars, trucks, real estate signs, and bowling pins have all been found full of holes and now so useless that they were abandoned in the desert by their owners, instead of being taken home. 

Most people know that a prehistoric site found in the desert should be left untouched.  With Boor sites the reverse is true.  They can and should be collected by those of us who know their value.  One healthy Boor Site can yield two or three grocery bags full of cans, bottles and other trash, much of which will be gratefully accepted by the Cave Creek/Carefree Recyclers (on the first and third Saturdays of each month). 

Be very careful when picking up the shards of glass bottles and the aluminum cans that have been used for targets.  Both have extremely sharp edges.  Gloves are urgently suggested for this activity. 

A few desert dwellers prefer their roadsides, National Forests, State Parks and open space enhanced by trash.  It makes a lot more work for the rest of us, but until they learn better manners, cleaning up after the Boors seems to be the only solution. 

Here’s a little ditty seen on a sign in a National Park: 

LET NO ONE SAY,
AND SAY IT TO YOUR SHAME,
THAT ALL WAS BEAUTY HERE
UNTIL YOU CAME.