The State of Minnesota Archaeology

Scott Anfinson, 2/06

 

Protection of Sites

Good/Fair: DNR and DOT programs; federal programs at USFS, COE, NRCS,

NPS; federal laws; SHPO 106

            Poor: SHPO 138/116 (no local EAWs, no state funded projects, no sale of state

lands); acceleration of urban sprawl and lakeshore development; continued agricultural erosion and over-collection of sites; state laws

Research and Publications

            Good/Fair: a few individual efforts (Michlovic, Gibbon, Mather, grad students);

                        MnDOT initiatives (MnModel, deep sites, farmsteads)

            Poor: no recent archaeology pubs at MHS Press; dominance of business-only

CRM;  lack of Minnesota presence in regional/national journals and

books; little progress on basic research questions in Minnesota; loss of

IMA

Education

            Good/Fair: robust programs at Moorhead, St. Cloud, Mankato; U of M

                        archaeology staff and new Heritage Management program

            Poor: no field school at U of M; no replacement of programs at UMD and

Bemidji; vulnerability of U of M archaeology long term

Relationships: Internal and External (public, avocational, Indians)

            Good/Fair: Cooperative Stewardship Workshops (Indians and Archs);

                        Continued Archaeology Week(?);

            Poor: decline in CMA attendance, decline in civility, decline in professional –

                        Avocational interaction(?); decline in MAS membersjip

 

Overall:  Fair to Poor in every category; no Excellent ratings in any category

            - a few positive actions in last 25 years:

                        - founding of IMA

- SHPO/LCMR surveys (shipwrecks, trails, logging)

- funding for State Archaeologist

                        - strengthening of 307.08

                        - DNR archaeological programs

            - significant losses in last 25 years:

                        - MHS Archaeology layoffs and end of Statewide Archaeological Survey

- loss of IMA

                        - decline in membership and interest in MAS and CMA

                        - lack of archaeology support at statewide institutions (MHS, SMM)

                        - reduction in SHPO funding

                        - loss of several robust university programs

- elimination of field schools at U of M

                        - loss of cultural resource funding though LCMR

                        - lack of public reporting and a national presence

 

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Last update 03-02-2006

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