Archaeologist John W. Martin joins State Historic Preservation Office staff
On Jan. 2, 2019, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ State Historic Preservation Office welcomed archaeologist John W. Martin as the newest member of its team of cultural-resource professionals who are working to preserve Delaware’s historic places and unique cultural identity.
Martin’s responsibilities at the division include consulting with federal, state and local agencies and applicants concerning the effects of their projects on historic properties; reviewing archaeological work involving the identification, evaluation and treatment of sites; and supporting and participating in public outreach activities. In addition, he is advising agencies and constituents on appropriate delineation of cemeteries, and coordinating the division’s response to discoveries of unmarked burials.
A native Delawarean, Martin has been working in historic preservation for 39 years and is a Registered Professional Archaeologist. His varied résumé includes work as an archaeologist for the Delaware Department of Transportation; the University of Delaware Center for Archaeological Research; and a number of private consulting firms based in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Over the course of his career, he has supervised archaeologists and architectural historians on hundreds of projects in ten states.
Martin served as the chair of the Delaware State Review Board for Historic Preservation until joining the division staff, serves on the Delaware Council on Greenways and Trails and is a life member of the Archaeological Society of Delaware. In addition, he was an executive-board member of Preservation Delaware, Inc. for seven years, serving as both vice president and interim president. He holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in anthropology from Rutgers University.