NAGPRA and CRM firms create incentive to hide archaeological discoveries

NAGPRA and CRM firms create incentive to hide archaeological discoveries. NAGPRA protects burial goods but not artifact-filled mounds without burials Cultural Resource Management firms hired by corporations to greenline projects CRM firms with consistent artifact findings are not rehired

NAGPRA protects burial sites but Cultural Resource Management firms hired by developers face a troubling dynamic — those consistently finding artifacts reportedly don't get rehired. That's a serious conflict of interest. ⚠️

Key Facts

• NAGPRA protects burial goods but not artifact-filled mounds without burials
• Cultural Resource Management firms hired by corporations to greenline projects
• CRM firms with consistent artifact findings are not rehired
• CRM firms that consistently find nothing are repeatedly hired
• Lake Pere burial island privately owned, known as melusalahi (Shinook word for graves)
• Private construction company owns island and unlikely to report artifacts during development
• Mounds illegal to excavate in America even on private property if identified

Source: Elongated Skull Cover Up in Pacific Northwest? - w/@DeDunking (Dan Richards) by Wandering Wolf