[OR_Archaeology] Mark Michel, President of Archaeological Conservancy, to speak at March OAS mtg.

[Susan White]

Mark Michel, , president and chief executive officer of The Archaeological Conservancy will speak at the March Oregon Archaeological Society meeting being held on the first Tuesday evening of the month. Mr. Michel will talk about The Archaeological Conservancy and the preservation of endangered archaeological sites in the US, with special emphasis on those in the Pacific Northwest.

Mr. Michel was instrumental in passing the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, which is now the principal law protecting archaeological sites.  He is one of the founders of The Archaeological Conservancy and has been its first and only chief executive officer.  

The Conservancy remains the only national nonprofit organization that acquires and permanently preserved endangered archaeological sites on private lands.  It has now preserved some 375 sites of all kinds in 39 states. It operates field offices in five cities in order to cover the entire United States.  In Oregon, the Conservancy has acquired and permanently preserved such varied sites as Fort Rock Cave (now a state park), Mazama Dunes, Bandon Marsh, Umpqua Village, and Columbia South Shore in Portland.

In 1997, Michel launched American Archaeology magazine, the only popular national magazine dedicated to covering the rich archaeology of North America.  American Archaeology has won numerous awards including the prestigious Folio Award for excellence.  He continues as its publisher.

The presentation is at OMSI, 7:45 PM, and is free and open to the public. The talk is preceded at 7 PM by a general business meeting, which is also open to the public.

See www.oregonarchaeological.org or call 503-727-3507 for more information.