(A) For the purpose of conducting archeological and anthropological research on behalf of the State, there is created the South Carolina Institute of Archeology and Anthropology, which must be under the general control of the University of South Carolina, but administratively separate from any other academic unit of the university below the level of college or school, and under the executive control of the director of the institute.
(B) The director of the institute must be experienced in archeological administration and must be a professor in the university system. The director of the institute is responsible to the State and on behalf of the institute, under appropriate state and university policies and procedures, may enter into contracts and agreements and accept grants and gifts and expend funds to conduct or cause to be conducted archaeological or anthropological research, or both, at prehistoric and historic sites and on land or beneath state waters or outside the State that may be expected to be beneficial to the State and that will preserve the archaeological and anthropological heritage of the State and contribute to an understanding of that heritage. Through the usual state and university policies and procedures the director may develop facilities and employ professional and support staff, including an associate director, appropriate for carrying out the responsibilities of this section and shall manage the day-to-day activities of the institute in the best interests of the State.
The director shall cooperate with the Department of Anthropology and other academic departments of the University of South Carolina in ways that are feasible and mutually agreeable in the conduct of the academic program, including teaching by the director and by the qualified members of the institute staff when the teaching does not interfere with the primary purposes of the institute.
(C) The director shall appoint the State Archeologist who must be a classified employee in the university system and who shall:
(1) create and maintain the:
(a) South Carolina Statewide Archeological Site Inventory;
(b) site numbering system for the inventory;
(c) curation of the archeological collections of the State;
(2) advise the State Historic Preservation Officer for ensuring the adequacy of all archeological research and the resulting reports of archeological research carried on in the State by an individual, organization, or other entity whether private or public;
(3) conduct or cause to be conducted archeological field or laboratory investigations, or both, on behalf of and in the best interests of the State, at prehistoric and historic sites.
(D) The director shall appoint the State Underwater Archaeologist who must be a classified employee in the university system and who shall:
(1) create and maintain a research database of state underwater archaeology sites;
(2) oversee and implement the Underwater Antiquities Act;
(3) act in concert with the State Historic Preservation Officer for ensuring the adequacy of all underwater archaeological research and the resulting reports of underwater archaeological research carried on in the State by an individual, organization, or other entity whether private or public;
(4) shall conduct or cause to be conducted underwater archaeological field or laboratory investigations, or both, on behalf of and in the best interests of the State at prehistoric and historic sites.
(E) In making the appointments or filling a vacancy for the Director of the Institute of Archeology and Anthropology, the usual search committee procedures in effect at the University of South Carolina apply.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 9-331; 1963 (53) 358 [479]; 1967 (55) 719; 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 22; 2000 Act No. 315, Section 1.