Tribal Engagement in Virginia: Lessons Learned from Section 106 Consultation

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Cultural Heritage Laws and Policies, Political Economy, and the Community Importance of Archaeological Sites", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The erasure of Indigenous American tribal communities from the historical record on the East Coast has had long-reaching impacts on the interpretation and perception of Indigenous heritage in Virginia. The relatively recent federal recognition of seven tribes in Virginia presents an opportunity for Virginia Indians to finally have a seat at the table for Section 106 consultation. This is also an opportunity for archaeology consultants to engage in meaningful tribal consultation that not only incorporates the perspectives of Virginia Indian communities, but also welcomes their participation in archaeological excavations. This paper will discuss the lessons learned during the recent excavation of a precontact site in Stafford County, Virginia, including how tribal engagement with both state and federal tribes influenced a multi-factored landscape approach to the methodologies and interpretation of the site.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2024   •
• Cultural Heritage Laws and Policies, Political Economy, and the Community Importance of Archaeological Sites

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow