March 2005 Archeology E-Gram
“The Antiquities Act on the Eve of its Centennial,”
Dr. Francis P. McManamon chaired a panel discussion about the Antiquities
Act, on March 17, 2005, during the George Wright Society meetings in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Richard Sellars, NPS Historian, and Mr.
Vincent Santucci, Chief Ranger, George Washington Memorial Parkway were the
panelists. Discussion focused on two main themes. The first theme dealt
with the history of the term “objects of antiquity,” and how the protection
of “antiquities” related to the preservation of other kinds of historic,
scientific, or scenic objects. The second theme addressed how very large
national monuments were established under the Antiquities Act. McManamon
announced and distributed Director Mainella’s memo encouraging
commemoration of the centennial. Superintendent Lisa Eckert of Devils
Tower NM, the first National Monument established using the Antiquities
Act, summarized the activities being planned by NPS units established in
1906, either under the Antiquities Act or as National Parks. All
participants agreed that using the centennial of the Antiquities Act to
promote conservation, preservation, and interpretation is a worthwhile
goal.
Antiquities Act website launched.
The Archeology Program has created the Antiquities Act website as part of
the centennial commemoration of the Antiquities Act of 1906
(http://www.cr.nps.gov/aad/sites/antiquities/index.htm). The website
discusses the significance of the Act, accomplishments for archeology and
the American public, and continuing efforts to protect archeological
heritage. The site also includes an interactive map of national monuments
and a calendar of events related to the centennial.
John L. Cotter Award for NPS Park Archeology Excellence for 2005.
This year’s Cotter Award goes to the “Archeological Identification and
Evaluation Study of the Best Farm,” Monocacy National Battlefield,
Maryland, directed by Ms. Joy Beasley, Park Cultural Resources Program
Manager. The 4-year multidisciplinary project was conducted under a
cooperative agreement between Monocacy National Battlefield and the Center
for Heritage Studies, University of Maryland. The project, under Ms.
Beasley’s direction, has had a major impact on the resource assessment and
interpretation of Monocacy National Battlefield and exemplifies the
qualities of leadership and excellence that the Cotter Award was designed
to recognize.
The annual Cotter Award recognizes the late Dr. John L. Cotter for
his contributions in the development and professionalism for NPS park
archeology programs. In 1999, the National Park Service archeological
community established this unofficial recognition of an outstanding,
exemplary park project and its principal investigator to acknowledge
contributions to professional archeology within the National Park System
and to inspire employees and others to continue Dr. Cotter’s model of
leadership and excellence.
Jim Thomson retires.
Jim Thomson retired as the Regional Archeologist in the Pacific Northwest
Region office in Seattle, Washington, at the end of 2004. Jim has been a
dedicated and productive employee of the National Park Service since 1974.
His NPS career began at Fort Moultrie where he worked as a WG-1 laborer,
assisting in excavations. During his service he worked as a temporary for
SEAC, joined the Interagency Archeological Services in the Atlanta office,
and oversaw projects in Barrow while working for the Alaska HCRS-IAS
office, and finally in the Pacific Northwest Region office in Seattle,
Washington, in 1982, where he remained until his retirement. Part of his
achievement in Seattle was working with park managers to establish a
substantial cadre of park-based archeologists. Jim continues to assist the
archeology program in the Pacific West Region’s Seattle office as a
volunteer. We are grateful to continue to have Jim’s experience and
insights available. We wish him a very happy retirement.
Of interest beyond the Archeology Program.
Florida Shipwrecks: 300 Years of Maritime History.
The National Register of Historic Places has launched their latest travel
itinerary – Florida Shipwrecks: 300 Years of Maritime History – in
commemoration of Florida's observance of Archeology Month. This itinerary
is currently the main feature on their homepage [www.cr.nps.gov/nr] and
highlights 13 historic shipwrecks listed in the National Register of
Historic Places that are accessible to divers.
Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and El Salvador.
The State Department announced the extension of the Memorandum of
Understanding (bilateral agreement) between the U.S. and El Salvador,
restricting the import into the U.S. of illegally exported Salvadoran
archeological material, until March 2010. There are some new stipulations
in the Memorandum of Understanding, including the requirement that El
Salvador publish a process by which foreign archeologists can apply to
conduct field research. More information on the State Department’s website
at http://exchanges.state.gov/culprop/.
Early Cities: New Perspectives on Pre-Industrial Urbanism.
The National Academy of Sciences will hold an Arthur M. Sackler colloquium
on Early Cities: New Perspectives on Pre-Industrial Urbanism on May 18-20,
2005. Ten archeological case studies will be discussed by a group of
distinguished scholars from fields such as geography, economics, urban
planning, architecture, and environmental psychology. To facilitate the
participation of younger anthropologists and social scientists, a number of
travel grants will be available for graduate students and postdocs to help
subsidize their travel to the conference. For more information or to
register for the colloquium, please go to www.nas.edu/sackler/earlycities
or email [log in to unmask]
Archeology E-Gram, distributed via e-mail on a regular basis, includes
announcements about news, new publications, training opportunities,
national and regional meetings, and other important goings-on related to
public archeology in the National Park Service and other public agencies.
Recipients are encouraged to forward Archeology E-Grams to colleagues and
relevant mailing lists and new subscribers are accepted. Contact Martha
Graham, Archeology Program, NPS, at (202) 354-2110, [log in to unmask]
|
