New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 10 - CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Part 11 - ISSUANCE OF PERMITS TO EXCAVATE UNMARKED HUMAN BURIALS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Section 4.10.11.13 - REPORTING GUIDELINES

Universal Citation: 4 NM Admin Code 4.10.11.13

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 6, March 26, 2024

A. Reporting requirements:

(1) Within 12 months of the completion of fieldwork, all permittees are required to submit 2 copies of a final report on the excavations of a human burial or burial ground conducted under the permit to the SHPO. If, as a result of unforeseen circumstances, the final report cannot be submitted within this period, the permittee shall submit 2 copies of an interim report to the SHPO, giving an estimated completion date for the final report.

(2) Upon acceptance of the final report by the permitting authority, the SHPO shall send written notification to the permittee of the completion of the permit responsibilities. All reports submitted in fulfillment of the permit requirements shall conform to report guidelines set forth in this section. The permittee shall submit 2 copies of the final report on the excavations of human burials or unmarked burial grounds.

(3) If, due to unforeseen circumstances, a permitted excavation is not undertaken, the permittee shall notify the SHPO in writing and request a cancellation of the permit or permit activation notification. This request, which shall contain a statement that no fieldwork was conducted and state the reason for the request, shall be accepted in lieu of the above required report, and the SHPO shall notify the permittee in writing of the cancellation.

(4) Failure by a permittee to submit the required reports in a timely manner or in conformance with current reporting guidelines shall be considered adequate reason for denial of future permits.

B. Minimal standards for human burial excavation reports:

(1) Abstract or summary shall provide brief information with regard to who, what, where.

(2) Provenience information:
(a) General project area: Provide a brief verbal description of the location of the burial with reference to township, range, and section (to the 1/4 1/4 section). Ownership of the land should be clearly stated. Surface lessee should be indicated if known.

(b) Map: Include a map of the general area showing major terrain reference points and project location. UTM coordinates may be given for the location of burial excavations. Maps should include a copy of a USGS topographic quadrangle. All maps should include project identification, name of person preparing map, scale and north arrow.

(3) Excavation methodology shall include a description of excavation and recordation techniques. The field personnel should also be identified.

(4) Description of burials:
(a) Physical description: Discuss the nature of the burial, associated remains, relation of the burial to other cultural features in the immediate area. Note any particular characteristics of the human remains and associated funerary objects (e.g., flexed burial oriented to the cast, covered in a woven blanket of hair, with a mano positioned near the feet).

(b) Cultural/temporal affiliations: State and discuss the criteria used to make this determination.

(c) Plan: Depict the positioning of the human remains and associated funerary objects in relation to the burial. This may be accomplished by a sketch map, but should include a north arrow, scale, and key to map symbols.

(d) Inventory: A list of all funerary objects, material objects and artifacts associated with the burial. The inventory list should be accompanied by scaled, labeled photographs of each item.

(e) Photodocumentation: All burials should be photographed and the photos cataloged. The report should explicitly describe where the photographs will be stored. Glossy black and white photographs are preferred.

(f) Analysis summary section: Analysis of human remains and associated funerary objects, material objects and artifacts will be discussed. The results of the analysis will also be presented.

(g) Final disposition: Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects, material objects and artifacts will be described. If the human remains are reinterred, the exact location of the reinterment site should appear in the disposition plan but not in the final report. If curated, the location of human remains or funerary objects, material objects or artifacts associated with the burial should be identified in the report (e.g., museum of New Mexico, or artifacts in the possession of a landowner, including address).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico 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.
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