October 17, 2011
CELEBRATING NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY DAY
HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO
of MASSACHUSETTS
in the House of Representatives
Monday, October 3, 2011
Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the designation of October 22, 2011, as National Archaeology Day. Throughout the month of October, but particularly on the 22nd, archaeological societies across the country will celebrate the thousands of years of history that have been unlocked through artifacts and discoveries.
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), headquartered at Boston University and comprised of over 235,000 members, will lead 108 of its local societies in a host of public educational activities to demonstrate the value of archaeological pursuits. AIA will also join with the American Anthropological Association, Society for American Archaeology, Society for Historical Archaeology, and American Schools of Oriental Research in collaborative efforts to reach out to over 100 cities across the United States through online events.
America is rich with history, and many exciting artifacts have been discovered over the years that have helped to illuminate that history. However, archaeology is about so much more than one country. Every archaeological discovery opens a door into the past that can reveal important details about how our ancestors lived and what the world around them looked like so many years ago. Archeology also shows us we are united with the global community through shared past and common customs. It affords us a window into our development as a society and provides an opportunity for people of all ages to actively engage in learning about the history of their communities.
Archaeological contributions are key to encouraging greater appreciation of our shared history and cultural heritage. Congress should do all we can to support these efforts. I am proud to join with communities across the country in recognizing October 22nd as National Archaeology Day.
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