Archeology in the National Park Service 1916-2016

Part of: Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) celebrates two anniversaries: one hundred years of managing archeological resources for the public's benefit and 50 years of the Southeast Archeological Center. As we look to the next century, the history of NPS archeology is something to celebrate for its contributions to the nation and to the world. Archeology was a primary motivator for preserving lands under federal management and it continues to drive cultural resources work as well as interpretation and education. It underlies the most significant issues facing the NPS today and into the future: climate change, relevance to all peoples, population shifts to urban areas, economic benefits of parks, the importance of grants, and site evaluation programs to communities nationwide. Presenters in this session will present on a range of topics looking to the past and to the future of NPS archeology.

Other Keywords
National Park Service • Education • CRM • Public Archaeology • NHPA • Interdisciplinary • Outreach • partnerships • battlefield archaeology • American Revolution

Investigation Types
Heritage Management

Geographic Keywords
North America - Southeast • Caribbean • North America - California

Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-6 of 6)

  • Documents (6)
Documents
  • Archaeological Resource Management and the National Park Service: Historical Perspective, Current, and Future Challenges (2016)
    DOCUMENT Full-Text Francis McManamon.

    The stewardship of archaeological monuments and sites began even before the NPS was created. In the US some of these early efforts occurred at sites that later would become part of the National Park system. The management of archaeological resources has become more scientific and systematic since its earliest days, but we still learn from past efforts and codify what works into contemporary practice. Current efforts focus on the maintenance and protection of archaeological resources; improving...

  • Archaeology in America’s Paradise: Renewing Local and National Interests in Our Nations Parks (2016)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Alicia Odewale. Joshua Torres.

    The national parks on the island of St. Croix (Christiansted National Historic Site, Salt River Bay Historic Park and Ecological Preserve, and Buck Island Reef National Monument) engage thousands of visitors every year and stand out as some of the most historically and ecologically important sites in the Caribbean region. Cultural resource management projects within these parks have a new focus on community outreach and local youth engagement initiatives. Developing more inclusive programming,...

  • Archaeology in the Wilderness (2016)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only David Curtis.

    Yosemite National Park (California) receives an overwhelming four million visitors per year. While most visitors remain in the developed areas of the park, many people venture forth into the 704,556-acre Wilderness areas for recreation and solitude - the sheer frequency of which leads to resource impacts unprecedented in many other Wildernesses. In response, park resource managers developed the “Wilderness Restoration Program” in 1987, a program designed to directly mitigate and alleviate the...

  • The NHPA and the Southeast Archeological Center at 50: Reflections on Learning, Inclusion, and Stewardship. (2016)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Meredith Hardy. David Morgan.

    Sharing a birth year with the National Historic Preservation Act, the National Park Service’s Southeast Archeological Center has served as steward to the cultural resources and archeological heritage for the national park units across the southeastern United States. For 50 years SEAC has overseen and conducted the majority of NHPA-related activities in these parks, provided training and education to both NPS staff and the public. This paper examines the roles SEAC has played in resource...

  • NPS Archeology and Outreach: A Broad View of 100 Years (2016)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Teresa Moyer.

    Over the past 100 years, a range of outreach and education activities have helped the National Park Service to meet its mission while engaging the public's interest in the mystery, fun, and dirt of archeology. From field trips to public digs to web sites, the NPS has aimed to remain engaged and relevant in multigenerational learning. This paper will outline the changing approaches to outreach and education by archeologists in the NPS.

  • Reinterpreting the Battle of Cowpens, 1781 (2016)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Michael Seibert.

    In August 2015, the Southeast Archeological Center undertook a large-scale systematic survey of the core battlefield and surrounding environs of Cowpens National Battlefield. The survey covered over 50 acres using Federal and State archaeologists in conjunction with volunteers from throughout the southeastern United States. The project nearly doubled the footprint of the battle, in addition to uncovering several artifacts that are key to interpreting troop movements and actions across the...