Archaeology Laws

1906

American Antiquities Act

American Antiquities Act

1st Law for general protection and beginning national preservation policy. Protects archaeological materials on lands owned by U.S. Established penalties (up to $500)

1935

Historic Sites Act

Historic Sites Act

1935. Declared the preservation of historic sites, buildings and objects to be a national policy. Authorized the Secretary of the Interior to obtain information, survey, conduct, research, maintain, and preserve sites with arch. significance. Est. the National Park Service Advisory Council.

1966

National Historic Preservation Act

National Historic Preservation Act

1966. Establishes SHPO'S (+THPO'S) Is it an undertaking? Notification and consultation "lead" agency notifies SHPO/THPO. Mitigation. National Register of Historic Places

SHPO

State Historic Preservation Office: oversight, audit, accountability. Cooperate with federal, state, local government, private and agencies. Maintain inventory. Identify and nominate eligible properties to the register. Prepare, implement and administer Statewide management plan. Public education. Consultation. 50 states and 14 sovereign territories.

THPO

Tribal Historic Preservation Office: Cooperate with federal, state, local government, private and agencies. Maintain inventory. Consultation. More than 700 federally recognized tribes.

National Register of Historic Places

4 Criteria to determine eligibility: association with significant events, person, significant characteristics (architecture), have or will yield important information about history or prehistory

1974

Archaeology and Historic Preservation Act

Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act

1974. Makes federal agencies responsible for mitigating the damage caused by their actions to important archaeological sites. AKA Archaeological Recovery Act and the Moss-Bennet Bill. Builds on the Historic Sites Act of 1935.

1979

Archaeology Resources Protection Act

Archaeology Resources Protection Act

1979. Protects archaeological resources and sites on public (federal) and Indian lands. Calls for preservation of objects associated with records in a repository and confirms resources. Must be material remains of human life at least 100 years old and of archaeological interest. Requires permits. Establishes penalties.

1987

Abandoned Shipwreck Act

Abandoned Shipwreck Act

1987. Establishes governmental ownership over most shipwrecks in nations waters. Shipwrecks covered by statute are significant historical resources that tell compelling stories about the past. Physical remains are vital biological habitats and contribute to state heritage and tourism. Protected from exploitation by commercial salvagers and can be enjoyed by public.

1990

Native American Graves Protection and Reparation Act (NAGPRA)

NAGPRA

Native American Graves Protection and Reparation Act 1990. Specifies treatment for Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects. Illegal trafficking in human remains and cultural items may result in criminal penalties. Provides general protection and consideration of Native American remains

36 CFR 79

Curation of Federal Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections 1990. Provides regulations for care and curation of archaeological collections.