The Alexandria Archaeological Protection Code: Managing Archaeology within the Framework of City Development

Summary

Archaeological investigations at 220 S. Union Street are just the first of a series of upcoming excavations along Alexandria’s historic Waterfront. On November 18th, 1989, the City Council of Alexandria, Virginia adopted the one of the first local archaeological protection ordinances in the country, which requires an assessment of the potential archaeological significance prior to "ground disturbing activity" in the City. This framework provides an environment through which Alexandria Archaeology, a department of the Office of Historic Alexandria, has been able to integrate archaeology into the City development process and has brought together City Archaeologists, Cultural Resource Managers, developers, and the public to investigate, document, and preserve the past. Here, we highlight the historic development of Alexandria’s Waterfront and discuss the challenges of negotiating the needs of archaeology as historic preservation with the demands of urban development as required by Alexandria’s Archaeological Protection Code.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archeology Begins Along the Waterfront in Old Town Alexandria   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 696