Time for me to get up on the soapbox for a bit...

One of the disturbing trends I've witnessed over the past several years is an effort by some politicians to change federal and state laws mandating the protection and evaluation of historic and archaeological sites. Some of these laws have been on the books for 40 years. The prevalent theory is that big business is behind the move, as weakened legislation would give them a green light to bulldoze archaeological sites without prior documentation in their zeal to erect more cell towers and big-box shopping outlets. Granted, the existing laws aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they do provide for the evaluation of cultural resources within a project area under certain circumstances.

If the wanton destruction of archaeological and historic sites is something you're not happy about, please join me in contacting your Congressperson and voicing your displeasure on this issue. There is a discussion on what has been going on with the most recent attack posted on my website at the following link: http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=generaldiscuss;action=display;num=1113407473