Archaeological Resource Management and the National Park Service: Historical Perspective, Current, and Future Challenges

The stewardship of archaeological monuments and sites began even before the NPS was created. In the US some of these early efforts occurred at sites that later would become part of the National Park system. The management of archaeological resources has become more scientific and systematic since its earliest days, but we still learn from past efforts and codify what works into contemporary practice. Current efforts focus on the maintenance and protection of archaeological resources; improving the care for physical collections, systematic building of resource inventory and related data; and ensuring the appropriate access to and long-term preservation of archaeological data and information. NPS archaeologists, along with colleagues in a variety of other organizations, professions, and specialties need to work cooperatively to meet the current and future challenges.