Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission: GAAC

Mission

GAAC graphic Arizona is a national leader in the development of Public Archaeology and Heritage Tourism programs. The Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission has played an important role in the development of Arizona's multi-component, award-winning educational programs in archaeology. The legislation creating the Commission was signed into effect by Governor Bruce Babbitt on March 26, 1985. The purpose of the Commission is to advise the State Historic Preservation Office on a variety of archaeological issues important to Arizona.

The Commission has assisted the SHPO in creating successful and unique public education programs, including Arizona Archaeology Awareness Month, the Archaeology Expo, and the Site Steward Program. The Commission is working with the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Arizona Humanities Council in promoting and expanding sensitive heritage tourism experiences. As part of this effort, the Commission has produced a document entitled "Guidelines for Archaeological Park Development" to assist public and private agencies in the appropriate and sensitive development of archaeological sites into interpretive public parks. The goal is to promote local economic development through archaeological heritage tourism, while fostering a stewardship ethic and the preservation of these irreplaceable archaeological and historical resources.

GAAC Members

Download statement of locations where all notices of meetings will be posted ( 37 KB PDF)

The statutory Commission is composed of 11 members with expertise in prehistoric or historic archaeology, anthropology and/or ethnography, as well as tourism, public education, economic development, business, and Native American affairs. List updated February 2009.

James E. Ayres - Chair
1702 E. Waverly St.
Tucson, AZ 85719
TEL: 520-325-4435
FAX: 520-620-1480
jammarayre(at)cs.com
(Term Expires 09/01/11)

Charles Adams, Ph.D. - Vice Chair
Curator of Archaeology
Arizona State Museum
University of Arizona, Room 219N
P.O. Box 210026
Tucson, AZ 85721-0026
TEL: 520-621-2093
FAX: 520-621-2976
ecadams(at)email.arizona.edu
(Term Expires 09/01/10)

J. Andrew Darling, Ph.D
Gila River Indian Community
Cultural Resource Management Program
P.O. Box 2140
Sacaton, AZ 85247
TEL: 520-562-7151
j.andrew.darling(at)gric.nsn.us
(Term Expires 09/01/12)

Chris Downum, Ph.D.
Northern Arizona University
Department of Anthropology
Box 15200
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
TEL: 928-523-6275
FAX: 928-523-9135
Chris.Downum(at)nau.edu
(Term Expires 9/01/11)

Vernelda Grant
Tribal Archaeologist
San Carlos Apache Tribe
P.O. Box 653
San Carlos, AZ 85550
TEL: 928-475-5797
FAX: 928-475-2484
apachevern(at)yahoo.com
(Term Expires 9/01/10)

Margerie Green, Ph.D.
President
Archaeological Consulting Services Ltd.
424 W. Broadway Road
Tempe, AZ 85282
TEL: 480-894-5477
FAX: 480-894-5478
mgreen(at)acstempe.com
(Term Expires 09/01/10)

Duane Hubbard
Chief, Resource Management
Tonto National Monument
HC 02, Box 4602
Roosevelt, AZ 85545
TEL: 928-467-2241 / 602-794-3819
FAX: duane_hubbard(at)nps.gov
(Term Expires 9/01/13)

Jonathan Mabry, Ph.D.
Historic Preservation Office
City of Tucson
Dept. of Urban Planning and Design
P.O. Box 27210
Tucson, AZ 85726-7210
TEL: 520-837-6968
FAX: 520-791-4522
jonathan.Mabry(at)tucsonaz.gov
(Term Expires 09/01/10)

Chris M. Roll
Chief Civil Deputy
Pinal County Attorney's Office
P.O. Box 887
Florence, AZ 85232
TEL: 520-866-6912
FAX: 520-866-6521
Chris.Roll(at)pinalcountyaz.gov
(Term Expires 09/01/10)

Donna Ruiz y Costello
21220 N 23rd Ave #108
Phoenix, AZ 85027
TEL: 623-547-5146
lrobertson36(at)cox.net
(Term Expires 9/01/12)

Connie Stone, Ph.D.
Archaeologist, Renewable Energy Coordination Office
Bureau of Land Management
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427
TEL: 602-417-9429
FAX: 602-417-9454
Connie_Stone(at)blm.gov
(Term Expires 9/01/11)

Advisory Committee Coordinator: Ann Howard (602) 542-7138

Three Year Plan 2007–2009

The Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission supports the mission of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) by providing advice regarding archaeological activities and issues. The Commission evolved from an earlier advisory group that primarily had been concerned with stopping vandalism of important archaeological sites in Arizona.

Recognizing the successes of the advisory group, in 1985, the State legislature created a statutory body called the Archaeology Advisory Commission. The Commission's enabling legislation listed the goal of the earlier advisory group as well new objectives, including the promotion of archaeology and the development of a broad base of public support for preservation. The Commission has been highly successful, helping SHPO to initiate the popular Site Steward Program and Archaeology Month activities, as well as providing public education guidelines, a statement of principles regarding cooperation between archaeologists and American Indian tribes, guidelines for archaeological excavations on private property, and a report on the archaeological curation crisis in Arizona.

Arizona is a national leader in archaeological education and preservation programs. To help ensure that Arizona retains this position, the State legislature overwhelmingly passed bills in 1994 and 2004 authorizing the continuance of the Commission.

The Commission is charged with advising SHPO on:

Conducting public education programs to promote archaeology and to inform the public on archaeological issues;
Fostering archaeological law enforcement activities to stop pot-hunting and other activities that damage archaeological sites;
The development of a state plan to protect archaeological sites, including the acquisition of sites and the development of archaeological preserves;
Developing mechanisms to assist private owners of archaeological sites in protecting and managing their sites;
Fostering continued study of Arizona's archaeology to contribute to a better understanding of our cultural history, and
Archaeological activities and related issues within the State.

In consultation with SHPO, the Commission has identified a series of advisory tasks tied to these six topical areas. These tasks will form the basis for Commission activities over the following three years (2007-2009).

I. GENERAL PROGRAM DIRECTION

A. The Commission will inform and advise policy-makers in the state regarding heritage preservation issues.

B. The Commission will support on-going public education programs carried out by SHPO and encourage programs that educate the public about the significance and stewardship of archaeological resources.

C. The Commission will promote professional competency in the practice of archaeology in Arizona by encouraging archaeologists to become trained in historic preservation law and regulation on the national, state, and local levels.

II. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

To more effectively achieve these goals, the Commission will establish a series of subcommittees tied to the general program direction charted for the next three years. The responsibilities of these subcommittees will be to identify emerging issues, to track continuing situations, to gather relevant information, to set priorities for action, and, where appropriate, to work with SHPO in developing solutions to problems. Subcommittees will report to the full Commission at each meeting and provide a written annual report to the full Commission. These subcommittees and their objectives for this planning period are identified below.

The Public Policy Subcommittee will:

encourage governments, tribes, and the public to undertake policy development and long-term planning efforts which identify and preserve the full range of archaeological sites in their communities;
continue to make the Governor and Legislature aware of important issues regarding historic preservation at both the State and National levels; and
continue to gather information and to develop alternatives to address the critical need for additional repository space throughout the State.

The Public Education Subcommittee will:

coordinate with SHPO to make activities associated with the annual Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month, including the Archaeology Exposition, more effective, more widely known, and better attended;
raise awareness of the annual Governor's Archaeology Advisory Commission's Awards in Public Archaeology, increase nominations, improve the award ceremony, and better publicize the winners' accomplishments; and
continue to work with Arizona State Parks to improve the nationally recognized Arizona Site Steward program.

The Professional Competency Subcommittee will:

participate in the annual statewide Historic Preservation Conference organized to highlight issues that include those relevant to archaeology and archaeological site protection;
keep informed of the continued development and maintenance needs of the multi-institutional AZSITE statewide cultural resource inventory. Assist the AZSITE Consortium in building AZSITE into a primary tool for preservation planning; and
assist SHPO in training programs for state agencies and others (both agency employees and private individuals) in historic preservation law and regulations.

The Commission's mandate is to serve in an advisory capacity to SHPO. The new organizational structure described in this three-year plan is an effort to be more proactive and accountable, allowing the Commission to better track it effectiveness and to carry out its responsibilities.

Arizona's Curation Crisis

Download Curation Crisis Executive Summary ( 84 KB PDF)

Download Curation Crisis Final Report ( 398 KB PDF)

Public Outreach and Education

Public outreach and education is a critical component of archaeological site protection in Arizona today. Without an understanding of what the archaeological record represents, the public cannot be expected to appreciate that record, nor support the investment of public resources in its preservation for future generations. We owe it to our children to give them the opportunity of exploring the wonders Arizona's historic and prehistoric past. The Commission is committed to public outreach and education in the service of archaeological site protection. To that end, the Commission will:

Continue to support Archaeology Awareness Month and the Archaeology Exposition by helping to plan for, publicize and participate in related activities.
Continue to recognize people and organizations that have made a difference in protecting Arizona's rich archaeological heritage through an annual statewide awards program.
Participate in the annual historic preservation conference organized to highlight issues that include those relevant to archaeology and archaeological site protection.
Reissue the publication Presenting the Past to the Public: Guidelines for the Development of Archaeological Parks in Arizona, prepared by the Commission in 1998, to assist private landowners in creating and managing archaeological sites as educational and recreational facilities.
Continue to encourage voluntary preservation efforts by private landowners who are interested in protecting archaeological sites on their land. The Commission will work with the SHPO to disseminate information to the public about the importance of these kinds of voluntary activities.
Explore ways in which Arizona's archaeological heritage can become a
more important component of K-12 curriculum.

Technical Training

Historic preservation law and regulation are the primary means by which archaeological sites are considered as a part of land use and development planning that affects both public and private property. It is critical that public agency officials with resource management responsibilities understand these laws and regulations in the state of Arizona. The Commission is committed to educating cultural resources professionals in historic preservation law and regulation. To that end, the Commission will

Sponsor training programs for state agencies in historic preservation law and regulation.
Promote professional competency in the practice of archaeology in Arizona by encouraging archaeologists to become trained in historic preservation law and regulation on the national, state, and local levels.

Research & Planning

Historic preservation rests on a foundation that is established through research and planning. Only through these activities can archaeological sites be located, identified evaluated and properly managed for the future. The ultimate rationale for preserving archaeological resources lies in the potential they offer for knowledge about our collective human past. The Commission is committed to research and planning for the purposes of archaeological site protection and management. To this end, the Commission will:

Continue to support the SHPO in developing National Register context studies to assist researchers and planners in determining National Register eligibility. The Commission will create a task force to organize context forums on topics to be selected by SHPO and Commission.
Support the development of Heritage Areas in Arizona to assist in the planning and protection of cultural resources including archaeological sites.
Support the continued development and maintenance of the multi-institutional AZSITE statewide cultural resource inventory as a primary tool for preservation planning.
Encourage local and tribal governments to undertake long-range planning to preserve critical archaeological resources.

Public Preservation Programs

Arizonans are blessed with a rich archaeological heritage that is the envy of the nation. Archaeological sites in such places as Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Homolovi Ruins State Park, and the City of Phoenix's Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park have become important public assets. The Commission is committed to promoting public preservation programs that are dedicated to the protection of the state's archaeological sites. To this end, the Commission will:

Continue to support the nationally recognized Arizona Site Stewards Program and promote its expansion.
Assist local governments, citizens, and archaeologist with planning efforts to identify the full range of archaeological sites in their communities.
Publicly highlight the status of threatened archaeological sites through notices released to the press and other media outlets as needed

Download Standards for Conducting Archaeological Investigations on Private Land ( 177 KB PDF)

Awards in Public Archaeology

As part of Arizona Archaeology Awarness Month each year, the Commission recognizes individuals and/or programs that have contributed time and energy to promoting the protection and preservation of, and education about, Arizona's non-renewable archaeological resources. Four awards are presented each year in the categories of professional archaeologist, avocational archaeologist, Site Steward, and Program/Other category. The award ceremony is held at the Archaeology Expo each year. See 2010 Winners See List of Winners since 1988

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