New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 10 - CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Part 16 - STANDARDS FOR EXCAVATION AND TEST EXCAVATION
Section 4.10.16.12 - EXCAVATION STANDARDS
Universal Citation: 4 NM Admin Code 4.10.16.12
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Excavation shall be designed to recover information about those significant values for which a property is considered eligible for inclusion in the national register or listed on the state register. Excavation shall be guided by an explicit research design that identifies specific research topics, research questions and appropriate analyses. Field studies may include collection of surface and subsurface artifacts, subsurface tests to identify buried cultural lenses and features, controlled excavation of features and activity areas, and collection of specialized samples and specimens (radiocarbon, archeomagnetic, dendrochronological, flotation, pollen, paleoenvironmental, source materials). Use of mechanical earth-moving equipment may be appropriate. Laboratory analyses and analytical tasks include processing, cataloguing, analyses and curation of materials, analysis of specialized samples and preparation and production of technical and popular reports summarizing the results of the excavation program. All excavation and shall be performed under the direct supervision of an archaeologist listed in the SHPO directory of qualified supervisory personnel (4.10.8.11 NMAC).
B. The research design establishes the standards for excavation. Example standards are provided below. Exceptions to these standards may be proposed but shall be explained and justified in the research design.
(1) Site
maps shall be produced with high-quality optical transit, total station or
alidade. Prepare a map for each site and depict the grid layout, the location
of the datum, the location and shape of all features, artifact concentrations,
test excavation units, point-provenienced artifacts, site boundaries and the
relationship of the site to nearby physiographic and man-made features. Each
map shall contain the site number, north arrow, numbered metric scale, legend
for symbols used on the map, name(s) of the recorder(s) and date of
recording.
(2) Controlled surface
collections shall be accomplished using a grid system or by point provenience.
The size of the grid system is determined by the needs of the research design
and shall be clearly justified and supported. Use of a grid system with 1-by-1
meter spatial control is standard. Maintain tight spatial control.
(3) All features visible on the surface shall
be completely excavated unless the research design proposes a sampling
strategy. Any decision to sample features shall be fully explained and
justified in the research design. Consider whether the sample will produce
sufficient specimens and special samples for analysis and if the sampling will
provide sufficient relevant data to address the research questions. Features
shall be excavated in profile in order to obtain a view of the cross section
and shall be recorded in three dimensions. Profiles of the cross section shall
be recorded by scale diagram and color transparencies. Plan view and cross
section drawings of each excavated feature shall be prepared. All structures
and features shall be recorded noting size, shape, construction detail, fill,
probable function and relationship to other features and artifact activity
areas. Separate feature forms shall be prepared for each feature. All features
shall be numbered and labeled to correspond to the feature form.
(4) Excavation shall be conducted by natural
stratigraphy or arbitrary levels until natural strata are defined. Proposals to
use levels greater than 10-centimeter control shall be clearly justified and
supported in the research design. Consider maintaining 10-centimeter control
within natural strata.
(5)
Sediments removed from all hand-excavation units shall be passed through a
screen of no greater than one-quarter inch (6.35mm). Consider using a smaller
screen size. Do not screen sediments from thermal features; collect
thermal-feature fill for laboratory analysis. Additionally, sediments from a
minimum of one hand-excavation unit comparably placed and of the same size to a
unit that produced moderate to high artifact yields shall be passed through a
screen of no greater than one-eighth inch (3.175 mm). Proposals to exclude
sediments from being screened shall be clearly justified and supported in the
research design.
(6) Stratigraphic
profiles shall be recorded by scale diagram, photographs and narrative
descriptions. Deposit descriptions include but are not limited to sediment
color, texture, moisture content, nature of inclusions, organic content, and an
inventory of cultural materials, if any. Describe the color using Munsell
terminology.
(7) Mechanical
excavation units may be used to define stratigraphy, locate subsurface features
and cultural deposits and remove sterile overburden. Trenches excavated with
mechanical earth-moving equipment shall conform to the following standards:
(a) collect surface artifacts prior to
excavation of trenches or scraping areas with mechanical earth-moving
equipment;
(b) depths for
mechanically excavated trenches shall conform to OSHA standards for excavation
safety ( 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P);
(c) document the location, depth, soil
profile, artifact yield and other pertinent information;
(d) clean at least one profile with a shovel
or trowel and inspect the profile for cultural features and material
remains;
(e) document the profile
in narrative, profile drawing and photographs; deposit descriptions include but
are not limited to sediment color, texture, moisture content, nature of
inclusions, organic content, and an inventory of cultural materials, if
any;
(f) examine the excavated area
after the removal of each extracted bucket load; and
(g) examine backdirt for the presence of
artifacts.
(8)
Post-excavation mechanical excavation. Mechanical stripping or scraping
may be employed following excavations. The stripping serves the purpose of
disclosing features not found during the testing, trenching or excavation and
provides a check on the reliability of the excavation sampling design. Features
exposed during the mechanical stripping shall be mapped in relation to the site
datum. All features shall be fully described and a sample of datable specimens
and artifacts shall be collected. If all features are not proposed to be
excavated, explain how features will be chosen for excavation and why.
Sufficient analytical studies shall be performed to interpret
function.
(9) The bottom of the
excavation units and trenches shall be lined with landscape cloth or marked in
some other fashion to indicate depth of disturbance, unless the site will be
destroyed by construction.
(10)
Photographs may be in black-and-white print, color print, color transparency or
digitally captured images. For greatest archival stability, black-and-white
prints are recommended. At a minimum, photograph features and
profiles.
(11)
Human
burials. If human burials are encountered, all work shall stop
immediately in the area of the discovery. Notify local law enforcement pursuant
to 4.10.11 NMAC. Do not excavate human burials if they can be left in place. If
excavation of human burials proves necessary, such excavation shall only be
conducted pursuant to 4.10.11 NMAC.
(12)
Backfill. After completion
of excavation, the site shall be backfilled and restored as nearly as possible
to the pre-excavation condition, unless other provisions have been made in the
permit application pursuant to 4.10.8 NMAC.
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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