Most archaeological sites are first discovered not by professional
archaeologists, but by ordinary people who live or work near the sites.
Usually these people do not know how to report a site to the proper
authorities. If you find a site, you can help protect Louisiana’s
heritage by letting archaeologists know about it. The Division of
Archaeology has prepared a form especially for you to use, and one is in
the center of this booklet.
[Illustration: The first step in recording a site is plotting its
location on a U.S.G.S. topographic quad or other accurate map.]
You should fill out the form as completely as possible, without
attempting to dig in the site. Mark its location on a map, and
photograph the site area. Try to draw the artifacts you see; you don’t
need to be an artist, just trace around them on a piece of paper and
sketch in any designs. If you find artifacts in a protected area where
they are not being disturbed, it is best not to collect them; they may
tell an archaeologist a great deal if they are left in place. If,
however, you do collect something from the site, be sure to store it
carefully with information about exactly where you found it.
Please mail the form, map, photographs, and drawings to the Division of
Archaeology. Your information will be carefully reviewed, and added to
the permanent file stored in Baton Rouge. A staff archaeologist will
write a letter, telling you if the site has been assigned an official
state number, and possibly asking for more information. By reporting a
site, you will be helping to record the history of the state.
If you want to learn more about Louisiana archaeology, you can enroll in
a class at a local university, visit museums, read archaeology books, or
tour one of the state archaeological commemorative areas.
You may also want to join the Louisiana Archaeological Society (LAS).
The Society’s chapters throughout the state have monthly meetings with
programs discussing local and state-wide archaeology. The LAS publishes
a quarterly newsletter with information about current research, and an
annual bulletin with in-depth reports. Often the LAS chapters also are
involved in archaeological survey or excavation. The organization’s
members are both professional and avocational archaeologists who come
together to advance Louisiana archaeology.
You will also find other opportunities to help protect Louisiana’s
heritage throughout the year. You can encourage your elected officials
to support legislation protecting sites. You can help friends record and
preserve sites on their land. Most importantly, you can explain to
others the importance of archaeological sites, and the reasons for
preserving them. By doing these things, you will be working with
concerned people throughout the state to preserve Louisiana’s legacy for
the future.