Research Designs and Damage Assessments: Appropriate Response to Treat Irrevocably Effected Places

Part of: Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Despite efforts by regulatory and law enforcement agencies, damage to important places still occasionally occurs. Often this damage not only affects the scientific value of a place, but also the importance of that place to indigenous communities. The issue we explore here is what are the appropriate and ethical responses that can be employed to "mitigate the adverse effect?" Is further traditional archaeological research (e.g. excavation) a valid response to treat the already damaged portion of the place or site that retains integrity? And is it the only response? We explore the range of treatments available and address the need for regulatory amendments to insure that damaged places are treated appropriately.

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  • Documents (6)

Documents
  • Amity Pueblo: A Different Sort of Horror (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Nina Swidler. Johna Hutira. Joyce Francis.

    In 2011, a portion of Amity Pueblo, located in northeastern Arizona on State land, was extensively damaged by a federally-funded development project. After heavy equipment disturbed features and burials, exposing over 40,000 cultural items, it was no surprise that Arizona permanently cancelled the project. While archaeologists previously evaluated the Pueblo as eligible for listing on the National Register under criterion d for its scientific research potential, four tribes countered that Amity...

  • Applying the Principles of MATRIX in the Real World (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Shereen Lerner.

    In 2001, the SAA received a National Science Foundation grant to revise undergraduate archaeology curriculum to reflect the needs of archaeologists in today’s world. As part of this grant, seven principles were developed: (1) discuss the importance of stewardship, (2) take into account the diverse pasts of stakeholders, (3) articulate the social relevance of the past, (4) include a consideration of archaeological ethics and values, (5) teach effective written and oral communication, (6) provide...

  • Caring for the Honuukvetam Pimuu've: Lessons from the Metropole Project, Avalon, Catalina Island, California (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Desiree Martinez. Cindi Alvitre.

    While conducting necessary structural upgrades to the electrical system in the City of Avalon on Catalina Island, Southern California Edison (SCE) came upon Gabrielino (Tongva) ancestral remains. The ancestral remains were considered a possibility since the work was within the boundaries of a known village site (CA-SCAI-29) and the location had produced ancestral remains in the past. Prior to the start of the project, SCE consulted and worked with the Most Likely Descendant (MLD), as identified...

  • Collaborative Pfforts to Preserve Los Angeles'History: Saving The Campo Santo (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Joseph Ontiveros. Desiree Martinez.

    In October 2010, human remains were uncovered during the development of Los Angeles County land leased to the La Plaza De Cultura y Artes located in the heart of Los Angeles, California. The remains, which were within the well-known Camp Santo historic cemetery, were that of Los Pobladores, Native Americans, indigenous Mexicans, and the Gente de Razon, the very people who founded and built the Pueblo of Los Angeles during the early and mid 1800's. Over 90 individuals were removed, unbeknownst to...

  • Getting Right with the Damage: Archaeological Value and Cost of Restoration and Repair Determinations Archaeological Damage Cases (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Martin McAllister.

    Criminal and civil prosecutions under ARPA require archaeological value and cost of restoration and repair determinations for unauthorized damage to archaeological resources on federal and Indian lands. These determinations also are necessary for archaeological damage cases prosecuted under other applicable federal and state statutes in order to provide monetary measures of the severity of harm. They must be done correctly to meet both the statutory requirements and the legal standards for...

  • Mitigating the Sacred? Examining the Role of Native American Associative Values in Resolving Adverse Effect (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Theresa Pasqual. Kurt Dongoske.

    Under federal historic preservation legislation, mitigating adverse effects to archaeological sites commonly involves treating the site as a materialistic entity from which scientific information about the past is retrieved through systematic data recovery. Native American associative values associated with archaeological sites that view these places as sacred because they are home of ancestors that exhibit physical affirmations of oral histories and collective cultural identities are rarely...