Archeological Site Protection
The State Archeologist, in coordination with the Historical Society archeology staff, is responsible for the maintenance of site files, which give information on the location and contents of the state's archeological sites. To date over 11,000 Kansas sites are recorded. Find a form record an archeological site. Access the archeological site and survey GIS coverage (password required).
The State Archeologist also works with staff to maintain the archeological collections housed at the Kansas State Historical Society.
There are statutory duties associated with the office. The State Archeologist is the secretary of the Antiquities Commission, charged with protecting archeological sites on state and local government land (Antiquities Act Basics, Antiquities Act Statute), and he/she is chair of the Unmarked Burial Sites Preservation Board, which protects burials not found in cemeteries . He/she also works to keep the Historical Society in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Other duties include working with staff to promote the protection and understanding of archeological resources in the state by working with amateur groups, other professional archeologists, museums, and with school-aged children through the Historical Society's education programs, and teaches at the Kansas Anthropological Association's annual field school. Finally, he/she conducts research and prepares publications on Kansas archeology, participates in and hosts conferences and symposia, and makes sites and collections accessible to qualified researchers.
Contact information:
Bob Hoard
Kansas State Archeologist
Cultural Resources
Kansas State Historical Society
6425 SW 6th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66615-1099
785-272-8681, ext. 269
rhoard@kshs.org