Code of Massachusetts Regulations
312 CMR - BOARD OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Title 312 CMR 2.00 - Massachusetts Underwater Archaeological Resources
Section 2.04 - Definitions

Artifact. Object showing human workmanship.

Assemblage. A collection of associated artifacts, the significance of which is defined in large part by their association.

Board. The Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources.

Buffer Zone. An area around a permitted area within which no field investigation may be undertaken without permission of the Board.

Conservation. The stabilization of an artifact (by chemical or other means) to prevent deterioration or destruction after removal from the site.

Date of Salvage. See Project Completion Date.

Demonstrable Proof. Clear and convincing evidence of the presence of an underwater archaeological resource.

Director. Director of the Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources.

Excavation Activities. Field investigation which may entail major documentary research and systematic removal of the underwater archaeological resources or scientific, prehistoric, historic or other archaeological data from a given site or sites.

Exempted Sites. An underwater archaeological resource for which neither a reconnaissance permit nor an excavation permit can be obtained and of which any major disruption is prohibited.

Field investigation. The study of the traces of human culture at any underwater site by means of surveying, digging, sampling, excavating, or removing surface or subsurface objects, or going on such a location with that intent.

Historical Value. Importance or significance to local, regional, national, or international history or pre-history, as determined by the resource's: association with events that significantly contributed to the broad pattern of our history; association with the lives of persons significant to our past; embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or have yielded, or may yield, information important to history or prehistory.

Isolated Find. A single unassociated artifact.

Museum. A professional institution which is accredited by the American Association of Museums or meets equivalent standards or which is associated with an accredited educational organization or other organization dedicated to the preservation, study, interpretation and display of significant objects and which operates as a preservation and educational institution in the public interest.

Person. As this term applies to "applicant" or "permittee", person may mean any natural person at least 18 years of age, a legal entity or a combination thereof. If more than one permittee exists for any one site, all permittees shall be considered one person for purposes of permit activities.

Preserve. See Underwater Archaeological Preserve.

Project Completion Date. The date on which the Board has approved the final project report and the valuation of recovered resources.

Reconnaissance Activities. Field investigation which may entail documentary research and small scale, non-disruptive field investigation for the purpose of locating and identifying the underwater archaeological resources which exist within a given area, or for monitoring and preserving previously identified resources.

Remote Sensing. The body of scientific techniques which reveal the presence of underwater data without direct physical contact with such data. Remote sensing techniques include, but are not limited to, magnetometry, acoustic, optical, chemical or other forms of sensing.

Resource. See Underwater' Archaeological Resource.

Shipwreck. The remains of a ship, boat or other vessel and its anchors, cargo, gear, hull, rigging, sails, spars, superstructure and any other equipment or contents of the vessel or any portion thereof.

Site. An area designated for permitted reconnaissance or excavation activities.

Special Use Activities. Exploration for or collection of underwater archaeological resources associated with environmental review and public planning purposes or for scientific purposes and where underwater archaeological resources remain the property of the Commonwealth.

Underwater Archaeological Resource. Any of the following which have historic value and are located within the inland or coastal waters of the Commonwealth or the lands under such waters: abandoned properties, artifacts, treasure trove, or sunken ships which have remained unclaimed for 100 years or more or that are determined to have a value of $ 5,000 or more; or other objects, 100 years old or more or judged by the Board to have historical value, that are located inside, upon, or around underwater archaeological resources.

Underwater Archaeological Preserve. Underwater archaeological sites of substantial historical value designated by the Board as a protected area of archaeological or historical importance.