The Archaeological Conservancy

The Archaeological Conservancy, established in 1980, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving the best of our nation's remaining archaeological sites. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Conservancy also operates regional offices in Mississippi, Maryland, Wisconsin, and California. Every day, prehistoric and historic archaeological sites in the United States are lost forever-along with the precious information they contain. Modern-day looters use backhoes and bulldozers to recover artifacts for the international market. Urban development and agricultural methods such as land leveling and topsoil mining destroy ancient sites. The Conservancy protects these sites by acquiring the land on which they rest, preserving them for posterity. American Archaeology, the Conservancy's quarterly magazine, showcases some of the nation's finest writers and photographers in a beautiful design, tailored for a layperson audience. Readers explore the prehistoric world of North America's earliest inhabitants, the historic past of modern-day cities, and everything in between. American Archaeology also reports on the Conservancy's activities and the preservation cause nationwide.