The Archaeological Resources Protection Act, other federal legislation, and the protection of cultural resources in the United States

摘要

Within the past 100 years, the protection of archaeological and other cultural resources have fallen in part under federal jurisdiction. The role of federal legislation and regulations, with particular emphasis on the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA), is evaluated in terms of guidelines, application, and effectiveness. A history of federal legislation is presented, followed by an in-depth review and analysis of ARPA. The relevance and applicability of ARPA and other legislation is reviewed in terms of resource significance, definitions of archaeological material, logistics of law enforcement, and prosecution of violators. A case review is presented and analyzed. The roles of public archaeology and future legislation are discussed as they apply to continued efforts toward preservation of cultural resources.