/ -^ common L 1 li—- im I! 1 1 I "\ i ( ii or five centuries, the legacy of ^ITm^fS^JI KenploweaV pilfered, eroded, and built over, how can the destruction be stopped? m* .->• y vBV «S 3nBk « Gtt volume 1, number 1 / spring 1996 -UdI>J.RiU^J Common Ground FRANCIS P. MCMANAMON f \ f \ OMMON GROUND" refers to space, either physical The world is more complicated than it was in 1906. The or psychological, about which a variety of individ­ advocates of the Antiquity Act could not have foreseen the uals with diverse backgrounds hold similar feelings multitude of perspectives that now must be considered in Cor views. It is a place where people making preservation truly a common endeavor. who might otherwise not have much to agree Increasingly, consulting with Native Americans about can find reasons to work together and, In using these and other ethnic groups with special relation­ perhaps, even come to appreciate the perspec­ ships to archeological sites requires knowledge tives of others. words os this pub­ of ethnographic approaches sensitive to the Common ground encompasses places in concerns of traditional cultures. Often these which many of us have a stake. Ninety years lication's title, we approaches are the key to forging consensus on ago, the people of the United States, acting how to solve otherwise intractable problems— through their elected representatives, resolved aim to underscore in short, finding common ground. In using these words as this publication's title, to set aside archeological sites on public lands that while each as common ground. It was decided that indi­ we aim to underscore that while each segment viduals ought not to dig about haphazardly in segment in our in our audience has its own perspective, there is ancient sites, removing whatever caught their much in common. Our readers work in federal, fancy to keep or sell. To that end, the audience has its state, tribal, and local governments, colleges Antiquities Act, signed into law on June 8, and universities, and private firms; some work 1906, by President Theodore Roosevelt, regu­ own perspective, abroad. They are land managers, curators, TO ISSUE WITIKEBEZI, ONE. lated excavating sites and collecting artifacts. Native Americans, historians, archeologists, Such activity was to be limited to those with there is much in and others. Yet the issues they face cut across elcome to volume 1, number 1, of Common Ground: Archeology and Ethnography the expertise to carry out careful, well-record­ the barriers. Determining the most appropriate ed investigations. Furthermore, in order to common. way to preserve a site. Ascertaining the best in the Public Interest, formerly Federal Archeology. The name change arises from receive permission to do so, investigators had public interpretation for it—or deciding that no to commit to use what they found for public interpretation is best. Making these decisions the formal merger of archeology and ethnography here at the National Park frequently calls for more than one discipline's expertise. All benefit. Investigations were to be conducted "... with a Service. For this new publication, the merger means even broader coverage of the cross-disci­ view to increase the knowledge of such objects," which were perspectives can contribute to the dialogue. to be set aside "for permanent preservation in public muse­ plinary partnership projects that for years have been a staple within our pages. ums." Y SHARING OUR EXPERTISE and views, we make Through the Antiquities Act, Americans accepted the them clearer to others. Clarity does not ensure And starting with this issue, we'll be going beyond the confines of the printed page. Our cov­ agreement among a diverse group, but it can show notion that archeological resources are valuable mainly for the erage of the Delta's Native heritage extends to a World Wide Web site created to take the information they represent. A few sites may contain commer­ Bwhere our interests intersect. Common Ground, like cially valuable artifacts, but this is not the primary benefit its predecessor Federal Archeology, intends to foster this preservation message to the public. Visit the site at http://www.cr.nps.gov. Look for more derived from investigating them. process. We welcome our long-time colleagues in ethnography as for­ such links in the future, both for the general web audience and for the professional readers N THE YEARS SINCE the act was passed, public support mal partners in this endeavor. We renew our commitment to and statutory protection have expanded for all kinds of our other colleagues, our clients, and all our partners in the of this publication. historic properties, often translating to preservation on work of protecting, preserving, and interpreting our common We plan to serve our new audiences just as well as our loyal readers of old. Stay tuned for Iprivate lands. Success in preserving these sites requires ground. working closely with landowners as well as employing regula­ further developments in coming issues. —DAVID ANDREWS AND JOSEPH FLANAGAN, EDITORS tory tools. This is particularly the case for the Delta earth­ Francis P. McManamon is Chief, Archeology and Ethnography works, most of which are privately held, discussed in this issue Program, and Departmental Consulting Archeologist, National of Common Ground. Park Service, Department of the Interior. 2 COMMON GROUND / SPRING 1996 CONTENTS COMMON GROUND: ARCHEOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST is Columns published by the National Park IN CONTEXT 2 Service Departmental Consulting Francis E McManamon Archeologist and Archeology and Ethnography Program. Departments SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR Bruce Babbitt DIGGINGS 6 News, Views, and Recently Noted DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Roger Kennedy SlTEWATCH 8 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CULTURAL RESOURCES Protecting the Nation's Archeological Katherine H. Stevenson Heritage DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTING ARCHEOLOGIST CHIEF, ARCHEOLOGY AND ETHNOGRAPHY NAGPRANEWS 47 Francis E McManamon Implementing the Native American x.vno.vAl, A.Vrillf<>l>OI,<><;!< Al. IU( IIIVKH, S.MITIISOMA.V DESTITUTION Graves Protection and DEPUTY CHIEF Gardener Mound, AR, in detail of 19th century sketch by Cyrus Thomas. Repatriation Act Veletta Canouts GUEST EDITORS Francis E McManamon Veletta Canouts MISSISSIPPI MANAGING EDITOR DESIGNER Monumental Endeavor BY GUY PRENTICE David Andrews Information is scattered, sometimes incomplete, and the plow threatens. In an attempt to preserve ASSOCIATE EDITOR the Delta's heritage for future generations, a first-of-its-kind study has been launched, PAGE 16 Joseph Flanagan CONTRIBUTING EDITORS HlQUeil tllieS BY ROGER G. KENNEDY S. Terry Childs In the lower Mississippi valley, writes Roger Kennedy, "antiquity slumbered while commerce fretted Dan Haas and scratched overhead." And so it has been for years. In an excerpt from his book Hidden Cities, Ruthann Knudson the director of the National Park Service says that today we have a new opportunity to appreciate C. Timothy McKeown the accomplishments of ancient Americans, PAGE 22 David Tarler Richard C. Waldbauer DldllVc V01CCS BY PENNY JESSEL PRINTING COORDINATOR Who are the descendants of the people that built the mounds on the rich, alluvial soil that lines Jerry Buckbinder the lower Mississippi? Native voices speak, PAGE 26 Statements of fact and views are the responsibility of the authors and do Mother Mound BY K^-CANTON not necessarily reflect an opinion or Nanih Waiya is the center of the Choctaw's creation tales, the "Mother Mound." PAGE 32 an endorsement by the editors or the National Park Service. Send comments, articles, address From Ancient Site to Tourist Attraction BY MARY KWAS AND ROBERT MA,^™ changes, and information on confer­ A third-grade teacher tells a jaded group of eight- and nine-year-olds that they are going on a field trip ences, training, and publications to to an archeological park. Can the event capture the attention of the video-enraptured? PAGE 34 Editor, NPS Archeology and Ethnography Program, EO. Box iilyril TldCe, illlJIU l lllie BY SAM BROOKES, EDWIN JACKSON, AND PAT GALLOWAY 37127, Washington, DC 20013- Rising out of the cotton fields, Little Spanish Fort measures over a thousand yards in diameter. It has 7127, (202) 343-4101, fax (202) the awe-inspiring quality of many of the Delta's mound sites—and more, the authors say. PAGE 39 523-1547, e-mail [email protected] or ISPCCQinQ AnCdQ 01 U1L rlOW BY JOE SAUNDERS AND THURMAN ALLEN [email protected]. While the loss of the earthworks proceeds apace, an archeologist and a geologist work on non­ destructive ways to learn without excavating them, PAGE 40 Logotype modeling, cover imaging: Randy Mays. Cover: Emerald Mound, MS; opposite: excavat­ Peril or Potential BYHES™D.WIS ing Emerald, NATCHBS TKACH PAHKWAT / M-S The people who built the ancient mounds belong to the ages now. What's left of their legacy rapid­ ly approaches extinction. Archeology raised its voice in the mid-'60s, but it has taken decades to be heard. Is it too late? PAGE 46 COMMON GROUND / SPRING 1996 5 Pljl| lis, Views, ifl Recently Hotel Digital Eye on Mesa Verde the first in its borders in 90 With help from the Getty years. Last October, nearly Grant Program, the 200 "excess" bison were University of Pennsylvania rounded up from the and the National Park Badlands' 63,000-acre Sage Service are developing one Creek Wilderness. The of the first computer-aided roundup has contributed to strategies to evaluate prehis­ the gradual rebirth of Native toric architectural surfaces. Americans' traditional rela­ The first subject: Mug tionship with the animal. House at Colorado's Mesa The bison were turned Verde National Park. over to tribes with the help The U-Penn/NPS team, of the Oglala Sioux and the thanks to a $42,350 match­ InterTribal Bison Cooperative, formed four ing grant, are developing a I \1\ FRS1TY OF I'K.\\SVI.VA\1A ABCHITEC1 I KAI.