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ESSAY SAMPLE ON "NATURAL RESOURCES, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT" |
Natural Resources, Cultural Resources and Management
Cultural resources are the traces of all past activities and accomplishments of people
that includes designated historic districts, archeological sites, buildings, structures,
and
objects. These also include less tangible forms like aspects of folklife, traditional or
religious
practices, and landscapes. These nonrenewable resources often yield unique information
about
past societies and environments, and can provide answers for modern day social and
conservation problems.
a ship wreck
an arrowhead
a canon
an Indian campsite
Indian rock art
a tin can a Victorian house
an historic mining town
an irrigation canal
a dam
All of these can be cultural resources. Cultural resources are the physical
remains of a
people's way of life that archaeologists and historians study to try to interpret how
people
lived. Cultural resources are important because they help us to learn about our past.
These
tangible remains help us understand other cultures, appreciate architecture and
engineering,
and learn about past accomplishments. Furthermore, they offer educational and
recreational
opportunities and provide links to our past.
People have lived in North America for at least 12,000 years. Archaeologists and
historians have divided this time span into prehistoric and historic periods. The
prehistoric
period extends from the earliest arrival of humans in North America to the coming of the
European explorers. The historic period begins with the arrival of these explorers and
continues
up to the present.
As you walk across public land, something on the ground catches your eye. You pick up a
piece of pottery or an arrowhead, wondering about the people who made this artifact. Who
were
they? When did they live? How did they live?
If you return the artifact to where you found it, you have left in place a clue that
could
help us answer these questions. If you take the artifact home with you, or just move it
to a
different spot, you may have destroyed a clue to the past. Each artifact is not merely
something to be held and examined; it is also a bit of information which, when taken
together
with other bits, allows us to unravel the mysteries of the past.
The past that belongs to all of us. It is part of our heritage as Americans and human
beings. People who loot or vandalize archaeological or historic sites are stealing not
only
artifacts, but irreplaceable information; they are stealing our past.
People who deface or loot historical sites, disturb Indian burials, or buy or sell grave
goods can be fined or imprisoned under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act,
Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and Department of the Interior
regulations.
You can help protect America's precious cultural resources: Treat historic and
archaeological sites with care and respect when you visit. Take only with your eyes and
heart;
leave them intact for your children's children. If you see someone vandalizing or looting
a site,
notify the regional archaeologist as soon as possible. Do not attempt to confront the
vandal
yourself. Join your local or state archaeological or historical society. You will learn
more about
the archaeology and history of your part of the country. Many states have volunteer
programs
that allow people to be trained and work on archaeological excavations.
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