-----Original Message-----
From: R. Paul Hampson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday, August 27, 1998 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: history of contract archaeology
 
 
 
just when and where did "contract archaeology" (excavation by private
companies/individuals) spring up? official german debates on whether or not
"contracting" is a good idea or workable tend to be kind of vague on their
data
in this respect, and i'd kind of like to set the record straight once and
for
all - any ideas?
 
 
[R. Paul Hampson]  Within my provincial experience, it began with
implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) ca
1975-1975, and expanded with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
which was based in part on CEQA and followed shortly after.
 
Actually there has been a form of contract archaeology in the USA since the
1930s. Lots of make-work projects and, especially the rural development
projects such as the Tennessee Valley Authority etc. led to the practice of
doing surveys and "salvage" work under contract to various agencies. This
led to the Reservoir Salvage Act...date I cannot remember. But even before
then, the River Basin Surveys and other federally sponsored projects were
contracting to entities such as universities, historical societies, etc., to
do archaeology.
 
Dan Mouer