Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 6, March 26, 2024
Prepare a technical report for all surveys that identify
archaeological sites, historic structures and buildings, isolates and other
cultural properties. Letter reports are prohibited. Include the results of any
limited tests conducted. A standard survey report shall contain the following
sections unless indicated as optional below. The length of each section shall
be appropriate to the complexity and scale of the survey project. State
agencies may have additional report requirements.
A.
Title page. List the
following information:
(1) NMCRIS number in
the upper left-hand corner;
(2)
report title, author(s) and the principal investigator if different from the
author;
(3) name of the
organization that performed the survey;
(4) agency(ies) requiring and receiving the
report;
(5) state permit number and
other permit numbers for project; and
(6) report date (month, day and
year).
B.
Abstract. Complete all sections of the NMCRIS investigation abstract,
which serves as the report abstract.
C.
Table of contents (required
only for reports with more than 10 pages of text). Include:
(1) list of major report sections,
subheadings and appendices with page numbers;
(2) list of figures and plates with page
numbers; and
(3) list of tables
with page numbers.
D.
Introduction and Project Description. Discuss the purpose of the
survey and project background. Include the following information:
(1) purpose of the survey and project
background;
(2) project description
and location;
(3) description of
the project area and survey area (if different from the project area or the
APE);
(4) size of the project area
and size of area surveyed in acres and hectares;
(5) name of each public agency and the
portion of surveyed land owned by each in acres and hectares; privately owned
land may be reported as a cumulative total in acres and hectares rather than by
each private land owner; if multiple areas and land jurisdictions are involved,
the information may be presented in a table; if a project falls under the
jurisdiction of multiple state and federal agencies, discuss the relationship
between the various agencies;
(6)
the township, range, section and quarter section and protraction; for state
trust land identify the section to nearest 40-acre parcel;
(7) map showing the general project location
within the state or region (and land jurisdiction if more than one
owner);
(8) project personnel: the
names and position titles of the individuals who participated in the survey,
including crewmembers and any analytical or support staff who did not
participate in the fieldwork but assisted in preparing information for the
report; the client or sponsor; and
(9) exact dates of the survey.
E.
Environmental setting of
the project area. The length of each of the following discussions shall
be appropriate to the complexity and scale of the survey project, and should
include representative photographs of environmental features as appropriate.
(1)
Natural environment.
Describe the topography, geology and soils; contemporary flora and fauna; and
current climatological conditions. Discuss the effect of current environmental
conditions and past environmental processes (such as erosion or deposition) on
the visibility and preservation of archaeological remains.
(2)
Cultural environment.
Identify modern land use impacts such as mining, logging, agricultural
activities or urban development and discuss the effect that modern land uses
have on the visibility and integrity of archaeological sites and other cultural
properties. Note evidence of vandalism or looting.
F.
Results of records check.
Summarize the results of all records checked for the project area and 500-meter
or 1000-meter buffer. List all known previous surveys or investigations and
summarize their results. List each archaeological site, national and state
register property, historic structure and building and other cultural
properties located in the project area and all archaeological sites within the
500 meter or 1000 meter buffer. Provide a brief summary of these resources. The
lists may be presented in tabular form. Include the date when the records check
was conducted and name of the individual performing the check.
G.
Culture history, literature review
and research orientation. The length and detail of this section shall be
appropriate to the type and scale of the project and the findings.
(1) Discuss the past human occupation of the
survey area in its regional context within established culture-historical
frameworks or chronologies for all periods of occupation. Based upon current
research, describe the cultural and historic developments for each major period
of time, the archaeological evidence (site types, types of artifacts)
characteristic of each time period and the major research questions associated
with each period with a goal to aid in the understanding and evaluation of
resources identified during the project. Tailor discussion to the types of
cultural resources found during survey. For example, if only sites dating to
the U.S. Territorial period were located, then the culture history section
should be devoted to the cultural and historic developments of late nineteenth
and the early twentieth centuries. The discussion of other periods of
occupations should be abbreviated.
(2) Incorporate results of the pre-field
literature review. Reference statewide and regional cultural-historical
overviews and research designs, published archaeological, ethnographic and
historical monographs and articles, cultural resource management technical
reports, field reports (both positive and negative survey reports) and historic
maps and records, as appropriate, given the results of the project. Incorporate
the results of the records check.
H.
Research design (required
for surveys under a project-specific permit; optional for surveys under a
general permit). Detail the problem orientation and specific
research issues and questions that guided the survey.
I.
Field methods. Include the
following information:
(1) the size of the
survey crew;
(2) the transect
interval(s) and transect method;
(3) field conditions during survey, including
access, lighting, ground cover and other factors affecting identification or
recording of cultural properties;
(4) methods of site location (maps, global
positioning system, topography);
(5) methods of site recording (compass and
pace, compass and tape, instrument mapping);
(6) types of photographs taken and the media
used (black-and-white prints, color transparencies, color prints or digital
images);
(7) any additional
documentation methods, such as video recording, illustration of artifacts and
features, remote sensing, or specialized in-field artifact analysis;
(8) strategies employed for collection or
limited tests, including the strategies employed for the location of collection
or limited test units, the rationale for the collection or test unit size used
and the choice of testing implements; and
(9) list the types of documents and other
media used for all types of recording.
J.
Description of cultural resources
and analysis of survey results. The results of the survey shall be both
descriptive and interpretive and contribute to the public's knowledge of the
cultural heritage of the state.
Describe all archaeological sites recorded during the survey,
all historic structures, buildings and other cultural properties and all
isolates and discuss them in relationship to the culture history of the area.
Include the results of any limited tests conducted. Include illustrations and
photocopied or digitally reproduced photographs to augment the text.
(1)
Location of cultural
properties. The public disclosure of the location of archaeological
sites on state and private lands is prohibited by Section
18-6-11.1
NMSA 1978. The public disclosure of the location of archaeological sites on
federal lands is prohibited by
36 CFR
296.18. Include all detailed locational
information (UTM coordinates, township, range and sections) whether in
narrative or maps in an appendix for easy removal so that the report may be
made available to members of the public.
(2)
Descriptions of archaeological
sites. Provide a description of each site. The description should
summarize rather than duplicate information contained in the LA archaeological
site record. Discuss the environmental setting of the site; the site condition;
the nature and distribution of site features; and the nature and distribution
of artifacts. Discuss the nature and potential of subsurface deposits and the
basis for the description. Include in the body of the report a copy of the site
plan if it aids in understanding the narrative description of the site. Include
illustrations and photocopied or digitally reproduced photographs of features
and artifacts specific to the site. If the site was previously recorded,
discuss briefly the recording history of the site and summarize any changes in
the physical condition of the site since it was last recorded.
(3)
Descriptions of archaeological
sites not relocated. Provide a brief description of the site as it was
last recorded. Discuss efforts to try to locate the sites and the possible
reason why the site could not be relocated (for example, the artifacts on the
surface of the site were collected or the site was destroyed by
development).
(4)
Descriptions of other cultural properties. Describe all other cultural
properties, including but not limited to historic structures, buildings, and
cultural landscapes identified during the survey area or properties that may be
directly or indirectly affected by the project. Discuss the condition and
integrity of the properties. Incorporate information obtained from archival
sources to place the property in its historic context.
(5)
Descriptions of isolates.
Information on isolates may be presented in narrative or tabular format.
Include all qualitative and quantitative observations relevant to the artifact
class and make type or series identifications when possible. If the isolate
consists of more than one item, include the distribution area. Include
information on physiographic location or vegetation in the immediate area and
the depositional or erosional context of the isolate.
(6)
Interpretive summary.
Discuss the results of the survey in the context of the regional occupation of
the area and knowledge of the cultural heritage of the state.
K.
Evaluation and statement
of significance. Apply the criteria for integrity and significance to
evaluate each property identified during the survey pursuant to 36 CRF Part
60.4 and in conformance with 4.10.15.16 NMAC. Depending on the complexity and
scale of the project, present evaluations in both narrative and tabular
form.
L.
Effect
determination. If not a research survey, identify whether the project
has the potential to affect the cultural properties located during the survey
and provide a statement on how the project will affect the properties. Discuss
how the historic values or significant characteristics of each property will or
will not be affected by the project. Discuss how properties may be avoided or
protected and whether it will be necessary to develop a mitigation program if
the properties cannot be avoided or protected. Depending on the complexity and
scale of the project, present evaluations in both narrative and tabular
form.
M.
Summary and
recommendations.
(1) Discuss the survey
results in relation to the archaeology and history of the area as described in
the culture history section. Include isolates as well as sites in the
discussion. The size and scale of the discussion should be relative to the size
of the survey and its findings. Place the sites and isolated artifacts within
the context of the currently known pattern of archaeological remains in the
general area of the survey.
(2)
Explain how the survey findings contribute to the understanding of the current
research problems defined for the area. If the findings were not consistent
with the known culture history of the area (for example, if fewer sites were
found than would be expected, or site types not previously known to occur in
the area were located), possible explanations for these anomalous findings must
be explored.
(3) Any concerns
expressed through tribal consultation shall be discussed in general terms.
Detailed information on traditional cultural places, if any, and other
properties shall be included in an appendix for easy removal so that the report
may be made available to members of the public.
(4) Discuss any management concerns or
recommendations for future study.
N.
References cited. List all
references cited in the report.
O.
Appendices. Mark as confidential all pages that discuss or depict
exact locations of archaeological sites or traditional cultural places pursuant
to Section
18-6-11.1
NMSA 1978. At a minimum include the following:
(1) a project map(s) depicting the exact
location of the project area, survey area and exact location of all
archaeological sites, historic structures, buildings and other cultural
properties, water delivery systems (acequias) and other cultural properties
identified during the survey; isolates may be plotted on this map or a separate
map at the same scale; the map shall be at the equivalent of a USGS 7.5-minute
(1:24,000) topographic quadrangle scale;
(2) a list of all isolates, detailed
information on each isolate if this information has not been included in the
body of the report, and GPS location. Include photographs and illustrations, as
appropriate; and
(3) a list of
artifacts collected during the survey project. Include provenience information
and associated illustrations and photographs;
P.
Attachments. Mark as
confidential all pages that discuss or depict exact locations of archaeological
sites pursuant to Section
18-6-11.1
NMSA 1978. Append the following to the report:
(1) a copy of the NMCRIS map server
map;
(2) LA archaeological site
records consistent with 4.10.15.11 NMAC for all newly recorded sites, all
relocated sites and all sites that could not be relocated, as appropriate;
attach a site plan map and a copy of the portion of a USGS 7.5-minute
(1:24,000) topographic quadrangle map showing the site location to each LA
archaeological site record; include any other site-specific records generated,
such as in-field artifact analysis forms or analysis forms for collections; if
coded analysis forms are attached, place a copy of the code key with every site
form; do not include copies of site records obtained as part of the records
check;
(3) HCPI form consistent
with 4.10.15.12 NMAC for all historic structures, buildings and other cultural
properties recorded during the survey;
(4) all archivally packaged photographic
materials and photographic logs consistent with the standards in 4.10.15.11 or
4.10.15.12 NMAC;
(5) oversize
(greater than 11x17 inches) maps and plans of individual sites; do not attach
these materials to the LA archaeological site record; and
(6) engineering plan maps, aerial photographs
and other nonstandard source graphics.
Q. Report review. The report shall be
reviewed in conformance with 4.10.8.18 NMAC. If collections were made during
survey, the permittee shall curate the collections in accordance with the
procedures outlined in 4.10.8.18 NMAC.
