ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the history of the River Basin Surveys (RBS) and Interagency Archaeology Salvage Program (IASP) and their contributions to American archaeology. It explores the relationship between the Smithsonian Institution (SI), the RBS, the National Park Service (NPS), and the IASP. The book examines the activities of each of the individual offices and the projects in their respective regions. It considers the contributions of the programs to physical anthropology, historical archaeology, and paleontology. The book examines the social impacts of the programs, specifically impact to Native Americans and the role of women in the RBS. Native Americans living along the Upper Missouri River lost tribal lands under the Flood Control Act. The magnitude of the program and its potential impact to archaeological sites awakened the archaeological community.
