1906: A Remarkable Year for Archaeology.

This year marks the centennial of two significant acts in the history of American archaeology: in 1906 Congress passed the American Antiquities Act, the first major piece of legislation aimed at protecting and preserving archaeological sites and artifacts on federal lands; and two months later the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) was chartered by a special act of Congress. They are intertwined in the early history of efforts to professionalize the practice of archaeology in the U.S. and to shift the focus of the discipline away from antiquarian collecting toward scientific excavation, promotion of knowledge gained from excavation, and responsible curation of finds, all for the benefit of the American public. The Antiquities Act has had a lasting impact on national policy, resulting in the preservation of many archaeological and historic sites such as Chaco Canyon and Fort Sumter National Monuments. It also served as the foundation for later antiquities laws such as the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act (1974), the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (1979), and the National Historic Preservation Act (1966).