The 1906 Antiquities Act: A Century of Critical Intersections and Dangerous Issues
American Anthropological Association annual meeting
November 15-19, 2006
San Jose, California
(titles are tentative)
Slot 1: Introductory Remarks – Teresita Majewski (AAA Archeology Division, Executive Committee, Member-At-Large; Statistical Research, Inc.)
Slot 2: Legislative History of the Act (situated within the social milieu of the times) – Hilary Soderland (CambridgeUniversity)
Slot 3: Contemporary Application of the Act, part 1 (focus on development of National Monuments) – William Doelle (Center for Desert Archaeology)
Slot 4: Contemporary Application of the Act, part 2 (focus on conflicts between stakeholders and the federal government over implementation of portions of the act) – Sarah Schlanger (Bureau of Land Management)
Slot 5: Public-Private Intersections in Preservation: The Passport in Time Program of the USDAForest Service – Jill A. Osborn (National Coordinator, Passport in Time Program, USDAForest Service)
Slot 6: FieldMuseum Collecting Activity and the 1906 Antiquities Act – Stephen Nash (FieldMuseum of Natural History)
Slot 7: Break
Slot 8: From National to Global: The Challenges and Prospects of the Historic Preservation Movement – Jeffrey H. Altschul (Statistical Research, Inc.)
Slot 9: Worldwide Threats to Historic Preservation in an Era of Military, Social, and Political Conflict – Douglas Armstrong (SyracuseUniversity)
Slot 10: The 1906 Antiquities Act: Leaving a Legacy of Dangerous Political and Social Intersections – Judith A. Bense (University of WestFlorida)
Slot 11: Confronting New Issues in Heritage Protection: A Case Study of Cultural Heritage Management Research in a Rural Alaskan Community – Jason Elser (Representative-At-Large, National Association of Student Anthropologists)
Slot 12: Is the 1906 Antiquities Act a Good Model for the Future? What Have we Learned in a Hundred Years? – Thomas F. King (SWCA Environmental Consultants)
Slot 13: Discussant – Lynne Sebastian (SRI Foundation)
Slot 14: Discussant – Francis P. McManamon (National Park Service)
Slot 15: General Discussion
Session Abstract
One hundred years ago the 1906 Antiquities Act became federal law, providing the first legal mandate for protecting archaeological resources. Subsequently, the act has had a major impact on national and international heritage preservation legislation and practice. This centennial occasion presents a flashpoint, an opportunity for reflection on how this legislation, and the public attitudes behind it, have shaped the country and also the anthropological profession and its practices. What was the role of anthropology in formulating this act and related legislation that followed? How has the discipline of anthropology engaged with other institutions and audiences to fulfill the promises to protect cultural resources? How have anthropologists collided (or colluded) with other groups having their own conflicting or collaborating interests? What are the prospects for the future as we enter a new millennium?
This session brings together academic, private-employed, and government-employed professionals in a dialogue to consider these various angles. The speakers explore the critical intersections engendered by the legacy of,and threats to, the premises of the Antiquities Act in the political, social, military, legal, and anthropological arenas on both national and international levels. Dangerous issues center on the conflicts among stakeholders (anthropologists, Native peoples, members of the public), politicians, and those responsible for creating and enforcing laws and the legacy of the act as it impacts future heritage management issues on a worldwide scale.