Archeology and the United States Federal Government

• Main Authors: McManamon, Francis (Center for Digital Antiquity), Smith, George S.
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: the Digital Archaeological Record
• Subjects: Methodology, Theory, or Synthesis; Heritage Management; Corps of Engineers; Bureau of Land Management; Environmental Protection Agency; National Park Service; Bureau of Reclamation; Federal Highway Administration; Site Preservation Methods; Forest Service; National Historic Preservation Act; American Archeology; Antiquities Act of 1906; Secretary of the Interior; Federal Archeology Program; Reservoir Salvage Act of 1960; United States Federal Government; National Historic Preservation Program; Archeological and Historical Preservation Act of 1974; Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979; Site Management; Land Development Regulations; Council on Historic Preservation; State Historic Preservation Officer; United States Archeological Laws; United States Archeological Regulations; United States Archeological Executive Orders; National Park Service Organic Act of 1916; Historic Sites Act of 1935; Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956; Department of Transportation Act of 1966; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978; Arctic Research Policy Act of 1984; Arctic; Indian
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.6067:XCV8028SGM_meta$v=1390938108252

Written by Francis P. McManamon and George S. Smith, this paper focuses on the development and organization of the Federal Archeology Program under the National Historic Preservation Program. Beginning in the early nineteenth century, the United States government became concerned for the preservation of important archeological properties - leading to the development of the Federal Archeology Program and a wide range of agencies and activities at the national, state and local levels. McManamon and Smith list and describe in detail the many statutes by which the Federal Archeology Program operates specific to archeological properties and activities. Both authors express the United States’ Commitment to Archeological Preservation and its importance to American Archeology. Included in the paper is a list of the United States Archeological Laws, Regulations, and Executive Orders, as well as the breakdown of the Federal Archeology Program; including the descriptive roles of the Secretary of the Interior, the National Park Service, Individual Departments and Agencies, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The paper was presented at the first symposium arranged by the International Committee of Archaeological Heritage Management under the supervision of ICOMOS. Held in Stockholm, Sweden, the September 12-16 in 1988, the symposium featured papers under the subject: Archaeology and Society – Large Scale Rescue Operations – their possibilities and problems. The aim of the Symposium was to find fruitful strategies to create an understanding for the need of rescue operations for archaeological sites and for encouraging the cooperation between archaeologists and planners, developers, authorities in other fields, politicians and the public at large.