Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 25 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Part I - Office of Cultural Development
Chapter 1 - Division of Archeology
Subchapter A - Regulations
Section I-102 - Minimum Qualifications for Professional Archaeologists
Universal Citation: LA Admin Code I-102
Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024
A. The following information outlines the basic educational and training requirements that a person must have to direct archaeological investigations on state property. In addition to basic educational requirements, the person must demonstrate expertise in historic archaeology if the project is mainly historical in nature or in prehistoric archaeology if the resources are primarily prehistoric. If the resources are underwater, the person must demonstrate expertise in underwater archaeology. These minimal qualifications parallel in large part those included in the "Archeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines" (Federal Register, Vol. 48, Number 190 September 29, 1983) and in the Guide to the Society of Professional Archaeologists, "Requirements for Membership and Certification" (1993). A person who wishes to conduct archaeological investigations on state property must document that s/he has the education, training, and appropriate expertise listed below.
1. Basic Educational
Requirements. To meet the basic educational requirements, a person must have
designed and executed an archaeological study as evidenced by a thesis or
dissertation, and must have been awarded an advanced degree, such as an M.A.,
M.S., Ph.D., or D.Sc., from an accredited institution in archaeology,
historical archaeology, anthropology with a specialization in archaeology, or
history with a specialization in archaeology. If the thesis or dissertation is
not based primarily on field research in archaeology, the person must have
designed and executed an archaeological study or report based on field research
equivalent in scope and quality to an M.A. or M.S. thesis or Ph.D. or DSC.
dissertation.
2. Basic Training
Requirements for Each Area of Expertise
a.
Historical Archaeology. Historical archaeology is defined as the application of
archaeological techniques to sites relating either directly or indirectly to a
literate tradition. Historical archaeology is most often devoted to the study
of sites that date to the expansion of literate populations since the fifteenth
century. To qualify as a historical archaeologist, a person must:
i. document a minimum of one year of field
and laboratory experience with sites and artifacts of the historic period,
including 24 weeks of fieldwork, of which no more than 12 can be survey, and
eight weeks of laboratory work under the supervision of a professional
archaeologist, and an additional 20 weeks in a supervisory or equally
responsible capacity;
ii. document
a historical archaeological report on field research, prepared wholly or in the
majority by the person requesting recognition as a professional historical
archaeologist;
iii. demonstrate
experience or training in primary archival research under the supervision of a
competent specialist as documented by a report, a course transcript, or a
letter of reference;
iv. show the
design and execution of a historical archaeological study as evidenced by an
M.A. or M.S. thesis, Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation, or a report equivalent in
scope and quality; and
v. be
knowledgeable about the recovery and interpretation of both archaeological and
archival data, and be familiar with the material remains including artifactual
components and with their conservation and preservation.
b. Prehistoric Archaeology. Prehistoric
archaeology is defined as the application of archaeological techniques to sites
relating to preliterate or nonliterate Native American traditions. Prehistoric
archaeology is most often devoted to the study of Native American sites of the
time before Europeans arrived, but it may also relate to Native American
archaeology of the contact period. To qualify as a prehistoric archaeologist, a
person must:
i. document a minimum of one year
of field and laboratory experience with sites and artifacts of the prehistoric
period including 24 weeks of fieldwork, of which no more than 12 can be survey,
and eight weeks of laboratory work under the supervision of a professional
archaeologist, and an additional 20 weeks in a supervisory or equally
responsible capacity;
ii. document
a prehistoric archaeological report on field research, prepared wholly or in
the majority by the person requesting recognition as a professional prehistoric
archaeologist;
iii. show the design
and execution of a prehistoric archaeological study as evidenced by an M.A. or
M.S. thesis, Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation, or a report equivalent in scope and
quality; and
iv. be knowledgeable
about the recovery and interpretation of archaeological data and be familiar
with the material remains including artifactual components and with their
conservation and preservation.
c. Underwater Archaeology. The term
underwater archaeology is used to mean archaeological investigations in
situations where scuba or surface supplied air equipment is required.
Generally, this will apply to sites that are totally submerged in the Gulf of
Mexico or in lakes, rivers, or bayous. Underwater archaeology can be divided
into prehistoric sites, historical sites, and nautical sites (ships and their
related harbor structures). To qualify as an underwater archaeologist, a person
must:
i. document a minimum of one year of
field and laboratory experience with underwater sites and related artifacts,
including two weeks of field experience and training in underwater survey
techniques and demonstrate familiarity with the general theory and application
of varied remote-sensing technology;
ii. document both 24 weeks of supervised
underwater fieldwork and 20 weeks of supervisory underwater archaeological
fieldwork;
iii. show experience or
training in the recovery and interpretation of both archaeological and archival
data and, for nautical archaeology, familiarity with the history and technology
of navigation and shipbuilding;
iv.
document the design and execution of an underwater archaeological study as
evidenced by an M.A. or M.S. thesis, or Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation, or a
report equivalent in scope and quality; and
v. be knowledgeable in dealing with
water-saturated artifacts and preservation and conservation methods;
vi. for persons specializing in underwater
prehistoric sites, experience and training comparable to that specified in the
Section entitled "Prehistoric Archaeology" should be documented. For persons
specializing in underwater historical sites, experience and training comparable
to that specified in the Section entitled "Historical Archaeology" should be
documented. Persons specializing in nautical archaeology must be knowledgeable
about both archaeological and archival data pertaining to ships.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 41:1601-1614.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
