"We are witnessing a tremendous increase in the commercialization of the human prehistoric and historic record. Archeological sites are being looted to the extent that if something is not done soon to curb this destruction, there will be little of our collective past left for future Americans."

Protecting the Past, edited by George S. Smith and John E. Ehrenhard and published in 1991 by CRC Press, is a collection of 37 contributions from 48 authors that presents some of the current thinking and ongoing work in the field of archeological resource protection. It is written for a diverse audience-archeologists, attorneys, educators, and others-who can most effectively help decrease the amount of archeological resouce crime taking place in America. 

Go to Online version

NOTE: The CRC Protecting the Past publication is out of print. However, SEAC has made text of the articles available on the Internet with links to MS Word files (click here to access). For further information, contact George Smith or John Ehrenhard,  Southeast Archeological Center, 2035 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32310; tel. (850) 580-3011. 

Table of Contents [html format]:

  • CHAPTER 2. ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE LAW
  • CHAPTER 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE DESTRUCTION
  • CHAPTER 5. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PROTECTION PROGRAMS 
    • Operation SAVE: An lntegrated Approach to Protecting the Past

      • Lynell Schalk 
    • Protecting the Past, Protecting the Present: Cultural Resources and American Indians

      • Roger Anyon 
    • The Archaeological Sites Monitoring Program at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, 1986 to 1989

      • Tom Des Jean 
    • Signing as a Means of Protecting Archaeological Sites

      • John H. Jameson, Jr. and Marc Kodack 
    • Protecting Sites at the Local Level: The Responsibility and the Legal Authority Towns Have to Protect their Archaeological Resources

      • Betsy Kearns and Cece Kirkorian
    • Stewards of the Past: Preserving Arizona's Archaeological Resources through Positive Public Involvement

      • Teresa L. Hoffman
    • The Federal Government's Recent Response to Archaeological Looting 

      • Francis P. McManamon
    • Save the Past for the Future: A Partnership to Protect Our Past

      • Kathleen M. Reinburg
    • Saving the Past for Ourselves: The SAA Taos Anti-Looting Conference

      • W. James Judge
    • The Archaeological Conservancy and Site Protection

      • Mark Michel
  • CHAPTER 6. THE FUTURE OF PROTECTING THE PAST 


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