(a) Until such time as a State Archaeologist is appointed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the trustees of The University of Connecticut shall designate a member of the faculty of said university to serve as State Archaeologist, who shall serve without additional compensation. He shall conduct research in the ethnohistory of the Indians of this region and of their archaeology, and shall cooperate with agencies of this state and of the federal government and with private individuals and corporations in an effort to protect and preserve archaeological remains which are threatened with destruction or loss by the construction of dams or highways or otherwise.

(b) The Board of Directors of the State Museum of Natural History shall appoint a State Archaeologist and staff for the Office of Archaeology established pursuant to section 10a-112a. The State Archaeologist shall have the following powers and duties: (1) To supervise the care and study of the archaeological collection of the State Museum of Natural History; (2) to coordinate (A) the archaeological salvage of properties threatened with destruction, (B) public and private archaeological research and the encouragement of the highest possible standards in archaeological investigations, and (C) the preservation of native American and other human osteological remains and cemeteries with the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Indian Affairs Council and other state agencies; (3) to conduct research on the state's prehistory and history and disseminate the results of such research through publications and other means; (4) to educate the public about the significance and fragility of archaeological resources; (5) to respond to inquiries about the state's archaeological resources; and (6) to maintain comprehensive site files and maps.

(1963, P.A. 304; P.A. 87-466, S. 1; P.A. 03-278, S. 26; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 210(e); P.A. 04-20, S. 3; 04-205, S. 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 30; P.A. 11-48, S. 159.)

History: Sec. 10-132a transferred to Sec. 10a-112 in 1983 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system; P.A. 87-466 added Subsec. (b) which specified the duties of the state archaeologist and designated museum of natural history board of directors as appointing authority on and after October 1, 1987; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (b), effective July 9, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-20 replaced Connecticut Historical Commission with Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-205, effective June 3, 2004, and May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, effective May 12, 2004, both replaced Connecticut Commission on Arts, Tourism, Culture, History and Film with Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (b)(2)(C) to replace “Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism” with “Department of Economic and Community Development”, effective July 1, 2011.