Section 106 @ Fifty – A Look Back and A Glimpse Ahead

Summary

My first job in cultural resource management was in 1976, the American bicentennial. While I thus missed the first decade of the National Historic Preservation Act and Section 106, I have been actively engaged since. The first fifty years of Section 106 resulted in profound changes to the field of archaeology. From the growth of the cultural resource industry and private sector cultural resource management firms; to NAGPRA and the treatment of human remains; to the creation of Tribal Historic Preservation Offices; to a profusion of archaeology positions in agencies and institutions; to the creation of a cultural resource trade association (ACRA); to the advent of new technologies ranging from the desktop computer and fax to the GPR, GPS, GIS, and LiDAR; to the proliferation of guidelines and regulations; to the recognition that descendant communities deserve a seat at the table; and to the realization that Section 106 has neglected the public; Section 106 has been significantly transformed. My presentation will look at the changes the first fifty years have witnessed while also suggesting some of the trends that may influence the next fifty years.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Realities on the Ground: Pasts, Presents, and Futures of the National Historic Preservation Act

Keywords

Spatial Coverage