Volcanic badlands and limestone canyons, wooded mountains and stony plains. Big Bend National Park is known for its beauty – and its geological and biological richness.

But this land has a rich human history as well.

Archaeologists recently completed a survey of the park – the largest of its kind ever in the region. It's shed new light on the relationship between the land and people of the Big Bend.

Archeologists work with shovels and trowels, right? Not necessarily. The Center for Big Bend Studies, at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, partnered with Big Bend National Park in 1995. The Center kept its focus aboveground.

David Keller led the survey. He and his crews spend 4...