Archeological Resources, Planning, and Construction

Unnecessary destruction of archeological resources and needless risks of construction delays often stem from lack of information and understanding on the part of engineers and planners. The importance of archeological resource studies is pointed out. Questions about the nature of archeology, what archeologists do and how they can be found are addressed. The federal program of archeological resource management is considered, and the most relevant legislative measures and regulations are listed. It is recommended that consideration of archeological resources be incorporated into project planning and execution as an integral part of the overall project. This can best be done by consideration of possible archeological resources during the very early phases of planning, and through the use of well-qualified professional archeologists.