Preservation of Archaeological Sites— de Laguna 59 



recorders or photo-flood lights and would these be tolerated; 

 how does one travel, where can one live, what equipment is 

 necessary; and lastly, how much money is needed for the job. 

 Can such fieldwork be entrusted to relatively inexperienced 

 students, or is the situation such that it demands the veteran? 

 For we must emphasize that the acculurated communities gen- 

 erally require the most patient and tactful approach and often 

 long or repeated visits before confidence is established. The 

 question of small teams representing both sexes and different 

 professional specialities versus the less disruptive visits of single 

 workers can only be decided upon the basis of local knowledge. 

 We should also consider the value of intensive studies at richer 

 and less acculturated settlements as a balance to rapid and more 

 superficial salvaging of data at other localities within the same 

 tribal area. 



In short we need one or two central clearing houses where 

 information can be pooled, plans drawn, and work coordinated. 

 The Arctic Institute of North America and the Bureau of 

 American Ethnology are obviously such centers and could 

 render invaluable service in coordinating the research programs 

 of private institutions and individuals. Time cannot be bought, 

 but were the Congress to realize the urgency and importance of 

 preserving the records of our native Alaskan heritage and make 

 available Federal funds with which to establish firmly the new 

 Arctic Institute and to strengthen and envigorate our world- 

 honored Bureau, they could help us to make full use of the 

 little time that is left. 



