A Message from the SHA President

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to you at a challenging time for historical archaeology. As you know, the Society for Historical Archaeology is an international organization dedicated to promoting scholarly research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning historical archaeology.  We also advocate for the ethical practice of historical archaeology, and we are committed to diversifying the practice of historical archaeology and providing a welcoming home for all archaeologists. Many of us are employed in cultural resource management, by federal agencies, and in the academy. The recent spate of executive orders has created a number of challenges for our discipline, regardless of our place of employment.

For those of us in the academy, the Department of Education’s Dear Colleagues letter of February 14 (https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-directs-schools-end-racial-preferences), provides a particular interpretation of a 2023 Supreme Court ruling and argues that DEI activities are discriminatory.  A number of states’ attorneys general have challenged the letter (https://www.mass.gov/doc/multi-state-guidance-concerning-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-employment-initiatives/download).  This issue will, no doubt, be adjudicated in the courts. Universities saw Pell Grants briefly paused, and have lost funding as federal grants have been paused or cancelled. The Society for Historical Archaeology remains committed to research on the myriad topics that fall under the heading of historical archaeology.  We are also committed to diversity in all forms and will continue to work to diversify our membership and provide a supportive environment for all of our members.

Federal agencies have seen probationary employees dismissed, long-term employees asked to justify their work, and seasonal positions terminated.  We are profoundly concerned by these attacks on our colleagues who strive diligently to protect and interpret our shared cultural heritage. The Society for Historical Archaeology recently joined our sister organizations, the SAA, AAA, and ACRA in protesting the USDA/Forest Service laying off of cultural resources/archaeological staff.

Laws that underpin the practice of cultural resource management in the United States are also under fire.  Changes have been proposed to the Antiquities Act of 1906, our oldest piece of preservation legislation, which challenges the President’s authority to designate National Monuments.  Equally concerning, Secretarial Orders (SO) 3417 (Addressing the National Energy Emergency) and 3418 (Unleashing American Energy) speak to reducing government regulation with the goal of increasing energy development on federal lands. SO 3418, specifically notes that department and agency leaders should “review all relevant internal regulations, policies, and guidance to ensure the lawful implementation of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.” The Society for Historical Archaeology joined the SAA, AAA, and ACRA in protesting these secretarial orders: https://documents.saa.org/container/docs/default-source/doc-governmentaffairs/final_secretarial_order_statement.pdf?sfvrsn=634a9f2c_3

The Society for Historical Archaeology is committed to advocating for the maintenance of the laws that protect our shared heritage.  We remain committed to an inclusive historical archaeology, and we support our colleagues whose research or employment has been impacted by recent executive orders.  We are actively monitoring the evolving political landscape in order to assess and respond to issues that affect our discipline and we are in regular communication with our sister organizations, the SAA and ACRA. We encourage members to share their concerns with their elective representatives as we work collaboratively to support the practice of historical archaeology in the United States and beyond.

Sincerely,

Richard F. Veit, Ph.D.

President, Society for Historical Archaeology