Art Landers ~ Lexington Herald-Leader ~ 4/9/1987
Kentucky now has a program to assist landowners who want to preserve archaeological sites on their property.
The Kentucky Archaeological Registry (this later became the Kentucky Archaeological Survey) seeks to help save Kentucky's cultural heritage - most notably the tools, ceramics and remains of prehistoric inhabitants.
"This first year we hope that between 12 and 20 sites will be placed on the registry. The first agreement was signed in March. The fourth one was finalized just today (Monday)," said Thomas Sanders, manager of site protection for the Kentucky Heritage Council (KHC).
Under the program, landowners pledge to preserve and protect the archaeological sites on their property, notifying the KHC of any threats such as vandalism, sale of the property, proposed construction or other ground-disturbing activities. In return, the KHC assists the landowner with site management, conservation information and tax advantages. Landowners enrolled in the program receive a plaque and/or certificate.
David L. Morgan, director of the KHC and State Historic Preservation Officer, said the Kentucky Archaeological Registry is modeled after the Natural Areas Program (administered by the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission), which seeks to identify and preserve lands unaltered by man, such as wetlands, prairies and rare and endangered forest types.
Sanders said that while very few states have laws protecting archaeological sites on privately owned land, federal and state laws (Antiquities Act) (ref. Federal Antiquities Act of 1906, state KRS 164.705-735, 164.990) provide protection for sites in federal, state, local and municipal areas from unauthorized excavation.
"The state's trespassing law and the law which makes it illegal to possess human skeletal remains without a coroner's permit are the only two regulations we have here in Kentucky to stop the indiscriminate digging of sites on private land," Sanders said. "A permit is required to exhume any human body."
Sanders said there are some 11,000 known archaeological sites in Kentucky . "Many times that number aren't documented. A site could range from a small hunting camp or burial mound to a large village. The locations of the known sites are recorded on computer at the state office of Archaeology (in Lexington)" (UK Anthropology Department's Office of State Archaeology), Sanders said.
Sanders said the data base comes in handy during the environmental review process when construction projects threaten archaeological sites. "Just last year Columbia Gas approached us about a pipeline they were building to the Toyota plant. They determined that it would cross a known archaeological site," Sanders said. "That particular situation is a good example of corporate responsibility."
Sanders said Columbia Gas put up the money to have the site excavated professionally by members of the KHC and UK Department of Anthropology, who spent several weeks digging at the site in Bourbon county last fall. "About 12 burials were unearthed," Sanders said.
Morgan said after a site has been excavated by archaeologists and the artifacts have been examined, the archaeologists report on their findings. The artifacts from such digs are often displayed at museums. One such exhibit is at UK's Museum of Anthropology in Lafferty Hall.
Morgan pointed out that Indians not only roamed Kentucky seasonally to hunt wild game and gather edible and medicinal plants, but eventually they built permanent settlements.
Gov. Martha Layne Collins recently honored Murray State University for preserving the Wickliffe Mounds in Ballard County, Kentucky's first National Archaeological Landmark (part of the National Historic Landmarks program). The site, which was known as Ancient Buried City while it was a privately owned tourism attraction, has been reopened to tours, Morgan said.
Sanders said it's a shame that Kentucky doesn't have any state-operated archaeology parks. "It's kind of embarrassing," Sanders said. "There are archaeology parks in Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. It's one of our goals to try to become more involved in interpretive situations with the public."
The Kentucky Archaeological Registry (this later became the Kentucky Archaeological Survey) seeks to help save Kentucky's cultural heritage - most notably the tools, ceramics and remains of prehistoric inhabitants.
"This first year we hope that between 12 and 20 sites will be placed on the registry. The first agreement was signed in March. The fourth one was finalized just today (Monday)," said Thomas Sanders, manager of site protection for the Kentucky Heritage Council (KHC).
Under the program, landowners pledge to preserve and protect the archaeological sites on their property, notifying the KHC of any threats such as vandalism, sale of the property, proposed construction or other ground-disturbing activities. In return, the KHC assists the landowner with site management, conservation information and tax advantages. Landowners enrolled in the program receive a plaque and/or certificate.
David L. Morgan, director of the KHC and State Historic Preservation Officer, said the Kentucky Archaeological Registry is modeled after the Natural Areas Program (administered by the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission), which seeks to identify and preserve lands unaltered by man, such as wetlands, prairies and rare and endangered forest types.
Sanders said that while very few states have laws protecting archaeological sites on privately owned land, federal and state laws (Antiquities Act) (ref. Federal Antiquities Act of 1906, state KRS 164.705-735, 164.990) provide protection for sites in federal, state, local and municipal areas from unauthorized excavation.
"The state's trespassing law and the law which makes it illegal to possess human skeletal remains without a coroner's permit are the only two regulations we have here in Kentucky to stop the indiscriminate digging of sites on private land," Sanders said. "A permit is required to exhume any human body."
Sanders said there are some 11,000 known archaeological sites in Kentucky . "Many times that number aren't documented. A site could range from a small hunting camp or burial mound to a large village. The locations of the known sites are recorded on computer at the state office of Archaeology (in Lexington)" (UK Anthropology Department's Office of State Archaeology), Sanders said.
Sanders said the data base comes in handy during the environmental review process when construction projects threaten archaeological sites. "Just last year Columbia Gas approached us about a pipeline they were building to the Toyota plant. They determined that it would cross a known archaeological site," Sanders said. "That particular situation is a good example of corporate responsibility."
Sanders said Columbia Gas put up the money to have the site excavated professionally by members of the KHC and UK Department of Anthropology, who spent several weeks digging at the site in Bourbon county last fall. "About 12 burials were unearthed," Sanders said.
Morgan said after a site has been excavated by archaeologists and the artifacts have been examined, the archaeologists report on their findings. The artifacts from such digs are often displayed at museums. One such exhibit is at UK's Museum of Anthropology in Lafferty Hall.
Morgan pointed out that Indians not only roamed Kentucky seasonally to hunt wild game and gather edible and medicinal plants, but eventually they built permanent settlements.
Gov. Martha Layne Collins recently honored Murray State University for preserving the Wickliffe Mounds in Ballard County, Kentucky's first National Archaeological Landmark (part of the National Historic Landmarks program). The site, which was known as Ancient Buried City while it was a privately owned tourism attraction, has been reopened to tours, Morgan said.
Sanders said it's a shame that Kentucky doesn't have any state-operated archaeology parks. "It's kind of embarrassing," Sanders said. "There are archaeology parks in Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. It's one of our goals to try to become more involved in interpretive situations with the public."
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