Actually, appraisal is part of a damage assessment. Market value of
artifacts recovered during an ARPA investigation is part of that. Note: in
ARPA Section 470ff (a)(2) (A) regarding the determination of amounts of
penalty -- "the archaeological or commercial value of the archaeological
resource involved..." Yes, we do do appraisals. Not often, but it is done.
And yes, we research the market value to do it. It seems to me that Carol's
case does bring up some issues for federal land managers as well. Suppose,
for example, one is expanding a federal facility and on one parcel of the
private lands in question there is a well known significant archeological
site. In seeking fair compensation, the owner asks for $X. If none of the
federal archeologists is able to appraise the significance and/or the
commercial value of the site, who does? Or does the government simply
condemn the property?

John Dendy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Gibb [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 9:51 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: query re appraisals
>
> Fellow HistArchers:
> John Dendy's remark regarding appraisals needs clarification. The various
> preservation laws, regulations, rules, and ordinances in the United States
> require, under certain conditions, the assessment--not appraisal--of
> cultural resources. Appraisal, in the standard usage of that word, refers
> to pecuniary value. No archaeologists working under the provisions of the
> NHPA, ARPA, or any other federal or state legislation or regulation,
> appraises sites or artifacts. Moreover, putative owners of artifacts
> usually have their holdings appraised quite apart from any consideration
> of the historical significance of the object in their possession. An
> unprovenienced Folsom point, for example, may have a market value even
> though it lacks historical significance; therefore, hsitorical
> significance is not a critical factor in artifact or site appraisals.
> Jim Gibb
> Annapolis, Maryland USA
>
>
>       ----- Original Message -----
>       From: Dendy, John
>       Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 10:20 AM
>       To: [log in to unmask]
>       Subject: Re: query re appraisals
>
>       Carol,
>
>       A number of us have been trained to appraise artifacts and sites
> under ARPA.
>       Because that kind of appraisal is designed to fit into a legal
> argument, it
>       migyht be your best approach.
>
>       John Dendy
>       Dynamac Corporation
>
>       > -----Original Message-----
>       > From: Carol McDavid [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>       > Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2001 4:22 PM
>       > To:   [log in to unmask]
>       > Subject:      query re appraisals
>       >
>       > Apologies for crossposting -- this message is going to members of
> both the
>       > historical archaeology and public history listservs.
>       >
>       > I am consulting with a community organization which has asked me
> to ask
>       > you
>       > the following question:
>       >
>       > Does anyone on this list know of anyone who would be qualified to
> appraise
>       > the *monetary* value of archaeological objects which are
> archaeologically
>       > and historically significant, but possibly not significant in
> terms that
>       > would be recognized by traditional and/or commercial (e.g,
> "Antiques
>       > Roadshow" etc.) collectors? By this I mean that it is primarily
> the
>       > artifact
>       > *contexts* (spatial, social, and historical) which have enabled
> the
>       > objects
>       > themselves to be interpreted properly, and thus to be important in
>       > archaeological and historical terms.
>       >
>       > I know this query touches on issues surrounding commodification,
>       > collecting,
>       > etc., that are disturbing to many archaeologists, historians, and
> other
>       > stewards of the past -- but I assure you it is in aid of a Good
> Cause!! It
>       > is aimed at helping to create a new interpretive center at an
> archaeogical
>       > site which is of significant academic and public importance. In
> order for
>       > this to happen, ownership of the site and its artifacts must be
>       > transferred -- hence the need for accurate, sensitive, and
> responsible
>       > appraisals by experienced professionals.
>       >
>       > Please respond off-list if you know of a person or persons who
> might have
>       > done this sort of appraisal before. If  you need to know more,
> please
>       > communicate with me directly.
>       >
>       > Many thanks,
>       >
>       > Carol McDavid
>       >
>       > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>       > Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge
>       > 1638 Branard, Houston, Texas, 77006, USA
>       > (713) 523-2649
>       > [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
>       > www.webarchaeology.com
>
>