Meeting of the Board of Regents | April 2010

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

The Museum’s Cultural Resources Survey Program

Reason(s) for Consideration

For Information

Proposed Handling

The Regents Cultural Education Committee will obtain an update on the Museum’s federally funded Cultural Resources Survey Program. This long-standing program provides statewide archaeological and architectural services for other state and federal agencies.

Procedural History

The Regents are responsible for the Museum’s research program. Staff of the Cultural Resource Survey Program performs several hundred archaeological and architectural projects annually through its in-house and external consultant agreements. Such projects provide important information on the State’s archaeological resources before destruction through construction projects.

Background Information

The Cultural Resource Survey Program is an applied research program of the Museum's Research & Collections Division that provides archaeological salvage and assessment services for other state agencies as specified in Education Law § 233. This extensive program has assisted agencies with their state and federal historic preservation mandates since 1959. The Cultural Resource Survey Program is the largest outside-funded Museum program completing several hundred projects annually. Since the program’s inception, scientists associated with this program have identified thousands of archaeological sites statewide. The data generated through these projects become part of the museum’s anthropological collections. Dr. Christina Rieth will present an overview of the program and discuss how the program successfully integrates research, service, collections stewardship, education, and public outreach.