The following program announcement may be of interest to those who have encountered burial issues. We welcome comments from everyone.

Marie-Lorraine Pipes
NYAC President
________________________________________________________
Prepared by Linda Stone (Linda Stone [log in to unmask]) and Lisa Anderson ([log in to unmask]):

The upcoming NYAC meeting in Watertown on April 26 will feature a program (3 - 5 PM) focused on the regulations and practice of burial excavation in New York State.  This is a very important and timely program.  The New York State Legislature is reintroducing the Unmarked Burial Protection Bill and the bill's sponsor (Assembly Member Engelbright) is interested in working with NYAC to promote its passage.  Attached is a copy of the bill for your review. 
 
The program will begin with brief presentations from Lisa Anderson (chair of NYAC's Human Remains Committee) and Doug Mackey (NY SHPO).  However, the majority of the program will be interactive with your help.  We need your input based on your experiences with burial sites.  Below are some questions to consider.  Your responses could be key in determining NYAC's support of the bill.  We would also like your questions about the bill and/or burial site issues.  If you cannot make the meeting, please email responses to the questions to Lisa Anderson ([log in to unmask]) and fee l free to add questions as you see fit.  
 
We will share responses that have been received in advance and will solicit answers to your pre-submitted questions from appropriate sources.
 
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in Watertown.
Please feel free to share and/or post.  All are welcome to attend.  
 
Sincerely,
NYAC Program Committee
 
1.  What types of problems have you encountered in the archaeological excavation or protection of unmarked burials?
a.   What types of burials were involved?
 
2.   If you have excavated burials in the last few years, were the same protocols followed for Native American and non-Native American burials? If not, how di d they differ?
 
3.   Do you know of cases in which unmarked burials have been disturbed or destroyed due to a lack of legislation to protect them? Examples will be used by Assemblyman Englebright's office to elicit support from legislators representing districts where incidents have occurred.
 
4.   If you have conducted burial excavations that involved funeral directors:
a.   What was the governing authority that required their involvement?
b.   What was the role of the funeral director in your project?
c.   What limitations were placed on your work as a result of their involvement?
d.   What type of documentation was produced during the project (ie. Report, photographs, drawings, analyses, etc.)?
e.   What was the cost of their involvem ent, if known?
 
5.   If the burial bill is enacted, does your institution or company have a bioarchaeologist on staff who would be willing to respond to discoveries of human remains?
 
6.   What questions do you have about current practices or the proposed bill that should be discussed during the program.