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.