Realities on the Ground: Pasts, Presents, and Futures of the National Historic Preservation Act

Fifty years after implementation, the National Historic Preservation Act shapes the majority of archaeological research and employment in the United States, including the Cultural Resource Management industry. The consultation process of Section 106 of the NHPA has resulted in the identification and preservation of a broad range of historic properties. However, the lack of regulatory mechanisms has resulted in the unmitigated destruction of many resources, including historic properties. Increasing engagement with Native American groups at various levels, most notably the development and growth of Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, has added layers of complexity to the Section 106 process, with varied results. In the twenty-first century, "Section 106 compliance" has created byzantine webs of relationships between archaeologists in the public and private sectors dependent on clients and governmental agencies for necessary resources such as funding, eligibility determinations, or staffing. Client pressures, inter-agency structures, and broader political realities create varied demands on those charged with identifying, researching, evaluating, and/or managing cultural resources in the United States. Authors in this session examine, analyze, and critique the growth of CRM over the last fifty years and explore possibilities for growth and change over the next fifty years.