The purpose of this Certification and Training program for Archaeological Technicians is to actively train the public in the activities and goals of scientific archaeology and cultural resource management The aims of the program are to provide useful knowledge of the archaeological process to the public and facilitate active participation in the understanding and management of Virginia's constantly decreasing cultural resources. The following ethical standards shall serve as a basis for participation in this program:
(1) Since archaeological resources are non-renewable, all participants shall strive for the highest methodological standards to ensure the most complete and highest quality results from their work.
(2) All participants shall conduct themselves above reproach on matters within the scope of the program's purpose and goals. The buying, selling, exchanging, or unscientific collection of artifacts is cause for dismissal from the program.
(3) To ensure high standards of research consistent with COVA, all archaeological work by participants will be under the supervision of, or at the request of, and coordinated with a professional archaeologist.
(4) All participants will coordinate with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and/or Regional Offices by reporting archaeological information for which they have knowledge not duplicated in VDHR files.
