Checking the list of
previously recorded archaeological sites at the State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO) is usually one of the first steps of a “Phase I/Class I, etc.
archaeological survey”. Background research
like this prepares the archaeologist for the types of sites that might occur in
the survey area.
The problem comes
when such lists make up the only source
of background research. SHPO archives are full of these reports. This is perfectly okay
of course, assuming that the only type of archaeological site you wish to know
about are those:
- located in
area of the previous surveys;
- recognizable
to the expertise and interest of the archaeologist who performed the survey,
and;
- properly
recorded as archaeological sites in the SHPO records.
On the other hand,
if your goal is to develop better expectations about the types of sites that
might be expected in the project area, additional resources warrant
consideration.
The following
suggestions, shown in no particular order, do not represent an exhaustive list,
nor are they appropriate for every situation. Simply, they are additional
sources you can use to help provide a clearer picture of the types of
archaeological resources that may be present in a particular area.
1 - Consider what types of resources that might be
affected by the project
The
first, and perhaps, most important source is the project itself. You may not be
an expert in archaeology, but you can make a good faith effort to think about
what types of archaeological sites might be impacted by your project.
Will
the project create something very tall, or will it be something in the ground;
is it something long and linear, or something restricted to a small parcel?
Don’t forget about effects that might extend beyond your project boundaries –
like noise, visual, or atmospheric effects.
If your project involves extensive excavation, it has the potential to
impact sites that may not be visible on the ground surface.
Which
is important to know since during previous archaeological surveys in your
project area the archaeologists simply walked over the ground, looking for
sites on the surface, unaware of the prehistoric sites deeply buried by flood
deposits.
2 - Consult historic maps
Historic
maps can provide information about previous land use and the location of
features that may no longer be immediately obvious.
A
map might tell you that the lonely county road intersection once was a crossroads
town with a half-dozen structures, or that the cluster of trees in the farm
field is really close to the mapped location of a small family cemetery.
3 - Consult local histories
Local
histories can add more information about events that shaped places in your area.
Perhaps explaining that the crossroads
town declined when it was bypassed by the railroad, in favor of the next town
over. Or that the family cemetery contained some of the county’s earliest
settlers.
4 - Talk to local historians
Similarly,
local historians can provide additional detail and information that may not be
widely available.
The historian might be able to show you sources
explaining that most of the buildings from the crossroads town were carefully
dismantled and moved after the railroad went in to the next town.
5 - Talk to long term local residents
Local
residents can provide perspective that is simply unavailable to someone from
outside the community.
They can share their concerns about a particular site,
they can tell you the rectangular depression is a borrow pit for topsoil dug
within the last 20 years, not a historic feature. They can also tell you about
the stories their grandfather told them about the earthen mound back in the
woods.
6 - Talk to tribal elders
Federal
agencies have special responsibilities toward Indian Tribes because federally
recognized tribes are sovereign governments entitled to “government to
government consultation”. This is a formal process, but can be as informal as
the tribe and agency agree. Regardless of who conducts the consultation, tribal
elders can provide unique information about the history of your area.
The can communicate their concerns about parts of the landscape with
spiritual meaning. Particularly important if these areas lack the types of
artifacts or features recognizable to archaeologists.
7 - Conduct a “windshield survey”
Simply
driving through the area looking for sites or buildings that look old can help.
Sometimes the intense focus on the specific project limits can cause you to
miss things that are just outside the boundaries.
A windshield survey can help
you spot the cemetery located downhill and around the corner from the area
planned planned for dewatering discharge.
8 -Talk to artifact collectors
Like
local residents, artifact collectors can know more about your project area than
any specialist.
They can tell you about the artifacts eroding out of the creek
bed or how they used to find artifacts every time it rained before the local
farmers switched to no-till planting.
9 - Review environmental information
Information
about the geology, physiography, and past climates is important to understand
where sites may occur.
People in the past may have been using places that no
longer even exist – like the former banks of the now-channelized stream in your
project area.
10 - Conduct remote sensing
Remote
sensing provides information not visible from the ground.
Aerial photography,
satellite imagery, or other similar information can help locate the stream
bank, or reveal the presence of prehistoric earthworks leveled by years of
agricultural activity.
Conclusion
In addition to
learning the locations of previously recorded sites background research can
also help you:
- determine
what types of sites might occur in your project area;
- understand
what these sites might look like;
- learn
what environmental, historic, or other factors might have influenced their
location;
- decide
what sort of expertise might be needed to locate and evaluate them, and;
- develop
sufficient expectations about how to manage them.
Background research
is integral to any archaeological project, but unless the information shows it
is nearly impossible for archaeological sites to be present, research alone
rarely eliminates the need for field investigation. Field verification
is still necessary to confirm the background information, much of which may be
subject to error and bias. But comprehensive
background research can better prepare you to predict what types of
archaeological sites are located in your project area and equip you to manage
them.
These are just a few
of the places you can look for background information about your project area.
Each of these sources can provide unique information about the types of
archaeological resources that might occur in or near your project. Some of them
are more passive or are limited in the information they provide – historic maps
for example, either will or won’t show certain types of information by their
very nature.
The take home point
here is to take the information from these, or other sources, and actually
think about it. Put some genuine effort into the “good faith effort” necessary
for meaningful consultation. It will help identify aspects of the
archaeological record people care about and contribute to more informed
decision-making.
Copyright J Ryan Duddleson 2014. All rights
reserved.
