Below is the original email sent to RPA addressing the question of
archaeologists rendering professional services beyond their capacities:

-----Original Message-----
From: David Rotenstein [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 11:34 AM
Subject: RPA Code of Conduct question


Dear Dr. Glassow,

I am writing to inquire if the Register of Professional Archaeologists
leadership would be amenable to undertaking a review of the existing Code of
Conduct. In the cultural resource management (CRM) industry there are many
archaeologists who serve clients in various capacities as project managers,
principal investigators, etc. Because of the nature of the CRM industry,
archaeologists regularly find themselves in positions where they must decide
to use qualified historians and architectural historians (or some other
specialist) in the course of fulfilling contractual obligations. In cases
where archaeologists opt to not retain or use appropriately qualified
specialists and undertake the work themselves or delegate the work to staff
not qualified in those areas, heritage resources (other than archaeological
sites) may be endangered by the archaeologist's actions.

I would like to propose that the RPA Code be broadened to cover actions
undertaken by RPA archaeologists in situations where those archaeologists
use their archaeological credentials and/or RPA certification to provide
clients with information on historic properties, traditional cultural
properties, cultural landscapes, etc., for which they are not qualified to
render competent consultation.
Under the current RPA Code there is no vehicle for ensuring that RPAs will
not use their credentials and RPA certification to consult in
non-archaeological matters that result in the adverse impact to
non-archaeological heritage resources.

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

David Rotenstein