Archaeologists continue to misuse the term "mitigation." Environmental law
clearly defines the term as a program to reduce adverse effects to an
insignificant level. Government decision-makers typically direct contractors
to examine a wide range of potential mitigation methods, including adoption
of alternate construction sites, alternate transportation routes, site
capping, dedicated open space, private acquisition of the property, fencing,
dontating the property to a third party, or conducting a meaningful
scientific investigation following a research design. Since archaeologists
are at the bottom of the food chain, they often think digging is the only
form of mitigation. Of course, there is a bit of conflict of interest in that
they do not make money if the other mitigation alternatives were adopted.

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.