**The 1906 Antiquities Act: A Century of Critical Intersections and
Dangerous Issues**

**American Anthropological Association annual meeting**

**November 15-19, 2006**

**San Jose, California**

(titles are tentative)

Slot 1: Introductory Remarks -- Teresita Majewski (AAA Archeology
Division, Executive Committee, Member-At-Large; Statistical Research,
Inc.)

Slot 2: Legislative History of the Act (situated within the social
milieu of the times) -- Hilary Soderland (Cambridge University)

Slot 3: Contemporary Application of the Act, part 1 (focus on
development of National Monuments) -- William Doelle (Center for Desert
Archaeology)

Slot 4: Contemporary Application of the Act, part 2 (focus on conflicts
between stakeholders and the federal government over implementation of
portions of the act) -- Sarah Schlanger (Bureau of Land Management)

Slot 5: Public-Private Intersections in Preservation: The Passport in
Time Program of the USDA Forest Service -- Jill A. Osborn (National
Coordinator, Passport in Time Program, USDA Forest Service)

Slot 6: Field Museum Collecting Activity and the 1906 Antiquities Act --
Stephen Nash (Field Museum of Natural History)

Slot 7: Break

Slot 8: From National to Global: The Challenges and Prospects of the
Historic Preservation Movement -- Jeffrey H. Altschul (Statistical
Research, Inc.)

Slot 9: Worldwide Threats to Historic Preservation in an Era of
Military, Social, and Political Conflict -- Douglas Armstrong (Syracuse
University)

Slot 10: The 1906 Antiquities Act: Leaving a Legacy of Dangerous
Political and Social Intersections -- Judith A. Bense (University of
West Florida)

Slot 11: Confronting New Issues in Heritage Protection: A Case Study of
Cultural Heritage Management Research in a Rural Alaskan Community --
Jason Elser (Representative-At-Large, National Association of Student
Anthropologists)

Slot 12: Is the 1906 Antiquities Act a Good Model for the Future? What
Have we Learned in a Hundred Years? -- Thomas F. King (SWCA
Environmental Consultants)

Slot 13: Discussant -- Lynne Sebastian (SRI Foundation)

Slot 14: Discussant -- Francis P. McManamon (National Park Service)

Slot 15: General Discussion

**Session Abstract**

One hundred years ago the 1906 Antiquities Act became federal law,
providing the first legal mandate for protecting archaeological
resources. Subsequently, the act has had a major impact on national and
international heritage preservation legislation and practice. This
centennial occasion presents a flashpoint, an opportunity for reflection
on how this legislation, and the public attitudes behind it, have shaped
the country and also the anthropological profession and its practices.
What was the role of anthropology in formulating this act and related
legislation that followed? How has the discipline of anthropology
engaged with other institutions and audiences to fulfill the promises to
protect cultural resources? How have anthropologists collided (or
colluded) with other groups having their own conflicting or
collaborating interests? What are the prospects for the future as we
enter a new millennium?

This session brings together academic, private-employed, and
government-employed professionals in a dialogue to consider these
various angles. The speakers explore the critical intersections
engendered by the legacy of, and threats to, the premises of the
Antiquities Act in the political, social, military, legal, and
anthropological arenas on both national and international levels.
Dangerous issues center on the conflicts among stakeholders
(anthropologists, Native peoples, members of the public), politicians,
and those responsible for creating and enforcing laws and the legacy of
the act as it impacts future heritage management issues on a worldwide
scale.