The Antelope Valley Archaeological Society is an avocational organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Antelope Valley history and archaeology.
Our organization works closely with the professional archaeological community and subscribes to the highest levels of ethics and behavior within the profession.
Our membership includes community leaders, students, professional archaeologists, historians, and concerned citizens in general.
Code of Ethics
The Antelope Valley Archaeological Society (AVAS) advocates and endorses utilizing the following practices and principles by its membership for any and all archaeological activities and excavations undertaken by its membership, as follows:
1.
All AVAS field activities, including but not limited to: surveys, excavations and associated laboratory sessions, shall be undertaken only under the direction and approval of a qualified field archaeologist (Principal Investigator) and the supervision of field or site directors approved and selected by the AVAS.
2. Any approved activities as outlined above shall be conducted only following the issuance of the proper permits, the consent and permission of the private landowner and/or public entity legally entitled or empowered to approve the activity, and the submittal of a field research design with the Board of Directors of the AVAS.
3. No archaeological materials will be removed from any site without the completion and filing of the proper permits, and the consent and permission of the private landowner and/or the public entity legally accountable for the site, following approval by the AVAS Board of Directors.
4. Professional methods and forms will be utilized and maintained for all archaeological field surveys, excavations, and laboratory sessions. All such reports are the sole property of the AVAS and will be distributed to other sponsoring entities and/or institutions as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. All such forms and the resulting reports generated from any and all field activities will be securely stored at a location to be determined by the AVAS Board of Directors.
5. Any and all archaeological materials obtained through approved field activities, and the associated site survey and excavation reports will be stored and maintained at a location which shall be selected and determined by the AVAS Board of Directors. Such materials shall be made available for further research to additional agencies, societies or entities as deemed appropriate by the AVAS Board of Directors, unless prior provisions are made for the deposition of such materials.
6.The AVAS shall strive to educate the public concerning the importance of preserving, managing and protecting the limited, non-renewable cultural resources. The AVAS shall discourage the collection and commercial exploitation of archaeological materials. In particular, the public shall be educated about the destructiveness of vandalism and graffiti to sites, the harm caused by unrestricted recreational access to archaeological sites, as well as the loss of data and information which result from vandalism and graffiti and from the looting, trading and illegal sale and collection of artifacts.
7.All AVAS members shall adhere to and comply with City, County, State, and Federal antiquities laws in their entirety.
