In the late nineteenth century, unchecked vandalism
and plundering of ethnic artifacts brought many Native
American ruins and cultural sites to the brink of
permanent destruction. 1 President Theodore Roosevelt
wanted to preserve these invaluable locations. He signed
the American Antiquities Act on June 8, 1906. A sweeping
piece of legislation, the act granted unprecedented and
nearly unrestricted presidential authority to circumvent
Congressional approval and protect public land deemed
to be of historic, scientific, or cultural significance with
a “National Monument” designation and accompanying
federal management. According to many historians, the
Antiquities Act 2 have been one of the most important
steps taken toward preserving cultural artifacts and sites.
The act also, however, posed some serious problems, which
should not be forgotten.
It’s true that the act was groundbreaking public
policy 3 legislation, it created the first legal protection
for any cultural or natural resources in the United States,
indicating a significant shift in the treatment of American
heritage sites. Devils Tower, a geologic feature in Wyoming
and a sacred site for the Lakota and numerous other
Native American tribes, was Roosevelt’s first designated
monument, and seventeen more 4 have followed before
1909. 5 With this in mind, places such as Chaco Canyon,
situated in New Mexico, also came under the purview
of the federal government. The valley contains stunning
examples of ancient Puebloan engineering and architectural
6 feats: multi-level houses, massive stone buildings, water
control systems, and communication devices. 7 The
Antiquities Act forever protected these sites, and others, as
educational centers for everyone and as sacred locations for
native cultures.
8 After the act’s passage, permits for any
archaeological work were required, with the stipulation
that all collected artifacts would be publicly displayed for
all to enjoy. In the eyes of many Native Americans, the
expeditious process of preserving land under the Act
enabled federally sanctioned pillaging of ancestral sites,
a revocation of their tribal rights and sovereignty, and
widespread cultural imperialism. Joe E. Watkins, who is
a Choctaw Indian and an archaeologist, believes that, in
part, the act was “a continuation of government policies
that were aimed at erasing the image of the contemporary
American Indian from the landscape...” More recent
legislation, particularly the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (1990), 9 has been
passed by the government to remedy the government’s past
malfeasance by returning funerary objects, cultural items,
and remains to tribes. The government is continuing to
work with Native groups to strengthen protective laws.
Even with its shortcomings, 10 the continued
preservation of invaluable locales was made possible by
the Antiquities Act of 1906. Supporters maintain that it
broadened public interest in Native American heritage and
prevented the complete destruction of ancient sites. 11
and plundering of ethnic artifacts brought many Native
American ruins and cultural sites to the brink of
permanent destruction. 1 President Theodore Roosevelt
wanted to preserve these invaluable locations. He signed
the American Antiquities Act on June 8, 1906. A sweeping
piece of legislation, the act granted unprecedented and
nearly unrestricted presidential authority to circumvent
Congressional approval and protect public land deemed
to be of historic, scientific, or cultural significance with
a “National Monument” designation and accompanying
federal management. According to many historians, the
Antiquities Act 2 have been one of the most important
steps taken toward preserving cultural artifacts and sites.
The act also, however, posed some serious problems, which
should not be forgotten.
It’s true that the act was groundbreaking public
policy 3 legislation, it created the first legal protection
for any cultural or natural resources in the United States,
indicating a significant shift in the treatment of American
heritage sites. Devils Tower, a geologic feature in Wyoming
and a sacred site for the Lakota and numerous other
Native American tribes, was Roosevelt’s first designated
monument, and seventeen more 4 have followed before
1909. 5 With this in mind, places such as Chaco Canyon,
situated in New Mexico, also came under the purview
of the federal government. The valley contains stunning
examples of ancient Puebloan engineering and architectural
6 feats: multi-level houses, massive stone buildings, water
control systems, and communication devices. 7 The
Antiquities Act forever protected these sites, and others, as
educational centers for everyone and as sacred locations for
native cultures.
8 After the act’s passage, permits for any
archaeological work were required, with the stipulation
that all collected artifacts would be publicly displayed for
all to enjoy. In the eyes of many Native Americans, the
expeditious process of preserving land under the Act
enabled federally sanctioned pillaging of ancestral sites,
a revocation of their tribal rights and sovereignty, and
widespread cultural imperialism. Joe E. Watkins, who is
a Choctaw Indian and an archaeologist, believes that, in
part, the act was “a continuation of government policies
that were aimed at erasing the image of the contemporary
American Indian from the landscape...” More recent
legislation, particularly the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act (1990), 9 has been
passed by the government to remedy the government’s past
malfeasance by returning funerary objects, cultural items,
and remains to tribes. The government is continuing to
work with Native groups to strengthen protective laws.
Even with its shortcomings, 10 the continued
preservation of invaluable locales was made possible by
the Antiquities Act of 1906. Supporters maintain that it
broadened public interest in Native American heritage and
prevented the complete destruction of ancient sites. 11