Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
These requirements constitute the minimal standards for the
reports on the test excavation or excavation of sites located on state land.
The length of each section and discussion shall be appropriate to the
complexity and scale of the project. State agencies may have additional
reporting requirements.
A.
Title Page. The title page shall contain the following information:
(1) the NMCRIS number in the upper left hand
corner;
(2) the report title,
author(s) and the principal investigator, if different from the
author;
(3) the name of the
organization that performed the work;
(4) the agency or agencies requiring and
receiving the report;
(5) the state
permit number and other permit numbers for the project; and
(6) the report date (month, day,
year).
B.
NMCRIS
investigation 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) major report sections, subheadings and
appendices with page numbers;
(2) a
list of figures and plates with page numbers; and
(3) a list of tables with page
numbers.
D.
Introduction and description of project. State the purpose of the
investigation and include a brief description of the following:
(1) the name(s) of the project sponsor(s) or
funding source(s);
(2) the nature,
purpose and location of the project and a list of the excavated
sites;
(3) a description of the
site(s) prior to excavation and a discussion of any previous work at the
site(s);
(4) indicate if the
project is being implemented in phases and identify the relationship of the
current work to the overall project; and
(5) include a table that lists all of the
project sites with field numbers, LA numbers and land status; include a brief
description of each site and the work undertaken in this table.
E.
Environmental
setting. The length of the discussion shall be appropriate to the
complexity and scale of the excavation project.
(1) Describe the natural environment.
Describe the topography, geology and soils; contemporary flora and fauna;
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) Describe the 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.
(3) Include photographs of the physical or
cultural environment of the project area as appropriate.
F.
Culture history and literature
review.
(1) Discuss the past human
occupation of the general area in which the project was conducted referencing
established culture-historical frameworks or chronologies for each period
relevant to the sites investigated. Reference statewide and regional cultural
historical overviews, regional research designs, published archaeological,
ethnographic and historical monographs and articles, cultural resource
management technical reports, field reports and historic maps and records and
other archival sources as appropriate, given the results of the
project.
(2) Present a culture
history of the area with reference to the previous archaeological work in the
vicinity and types of sites investigated during the project. Culture histories
shall be specific to the general project area and region and sites
investigated.
G.
Test excavation plan or research design. Summarize major elements of the
approved test excavation plan or approved research design. Explain any
significant differences between the work proposed and the work performed in the
field or during analysis. If applicable, explain the relationship of your
project to the research design of an on-going or larger mitigation or research
project. If the site(s) being excavated represent a sample of a larger
population of sites within a project area, describe the methods used to derive
the sample.
H.
Field
methods, data collection and analysis strategies. Discuss the methods
used to:
(1) map the site(s);
(2) record the features;
(3) excavate the units. Describe the
implements, size of screens, size of excavation units employed Define arbitrary
or natural excavation units and levels;
(4) collect and analyze the artifacts from
the surface and from the excavation units;
(5) collect and analyze chronometrical,
botanical, faunal and other specimens and the techniques used to preserve these
materials; and
(6) explain the
extent to which each of these and any other special techniques were
employed.
I.
Data
presentation for each site.
(1)
Describe the layout, configuration and appearance of the site(s) including a
description of any pre-excavation surface remains.
(2) Describe the specific environmental
setting of the site(s) supplemented with appropriate illustrations and
references to relevant publications.
(3) Describe each excavation unit with regard
to stratigraphy and contents. Multiple units with the same stratigraphic
sequence may be grouped. The relationship between the excavation units shall be
discussed.
(4) Present the results
of the analyses in the context of the test excavation plan or the research
questions in the research design. Include a summary of the numbers of artifacts
by category and provenience. Differentiate between surface and subsurface
materials. Discuss the types of analyses conducted for each artifact class and
any sample and present the results by analytical units or strata. Provide
narrative and tabular summaries for chronometrical, botanical and other
specialized analyses. Integrate the results of these analyses in the discussion
of the results of the investigation.
J.
Results and recommendations.
Summarize the results of the study and contributions to the knowledge of the
cultural heritage of the region and the state.
(1) Evaluate project results with regard to
the approved test excavation plan or research design. Discuss substantive
deviations from original plan.
(2)
Discuss the cultural affiliation of the site(s) and the relationship of the
site(s) to the culture history of the area.
(3) Provide a synopsis of the data recovered
from the excavations, the artifacts and samples.
(4) Discuss and analyze the interface between
archaeological and documentary evidence for historical archaeological
sites.
(5) For test excavation
projects, evaluate the research potential of the site(s). This evaluation will
serve as the basis for developing a research design for excavation, if
necessary.
(a) Identify future research
potential. Discuss research issues, problems or topics that can be
realistically addressed through future study. The discussion shall be synthetic
and comprehensive in scope, oriented toward realistic goals. Document how the
research potential has been determined and why the current level of study is
not sufficient to address or resolve these issues. Research questions shall
take into account broad regional research needs and shall strive to fill gaps
in current state of knowledge. Place the sites within the context of the
currently known pattern of archaeological remains in the project area. Discuss
recommendations with the state agency prior to including in the
report.
(b) Discuss whether or not,
in the opinion of the investigator, the site is or continues to be eligible for
the national register and whether the site should be placed on the state
register. Apply the criteria for integrity and significance to evaluate each
property pursuant to 36 CRF 60.4. Identify the property as a district, site,
building, structure or object. Indicate whether the property should be listed
on the state register or should be determined as eligible for national register
listing pursuant to 4.10.15.16 NMAC.
(6) For excavation projects performed under a
research design:
(a) evaluate the success of
the research design and any significant deviations during the field or
analyses;
(b) discuss what was
learned from the excavation and analyses in relation to the pre-existing
archaeology and history of the area. Place the sites within the context of the
currently known pattern of archaeological remains in the project area. If the
findings were not consistent with the known culture history of the area,
possible explanations for these anomalous findings must be explored;
and
(c) discuss how much of the
site is preserved, unexcavated and undisturbed. Suggest future research and
management strategies.
K.
Illustrations and
photographs.
(1) Include a map showing
the location of the project within the state of New Mexico.
(2) Include site maps, which shall be drawn
to scale at a legible size and contain a north arrow (true or magnetic) and
scale. All excavation units (rooms, trenches, test pits, collection areas)
shall be labeled on the map and accurately related to the text. Previously
excavated portions of the site shall be clearly identified. Remaining,
unexcavated portions of the site shall also be shown; all relevant natural,
archaeological and modern features shall be clearly marked as well as any areas
of disturbance.
(3) Plans, drawings
and photographs of stratigraphic profiles with explanations shall be included.
Illustrations of representative, unusual and unique features or other
manifestations shall be included as appropriate to the complete understanding
of the narrative discussion.
(4)
Illustrations and photographs of unusual and diagnostic artifacts are required
as necessary to insure complete understanding.
M.
Appendices. At a minimum,
provide:
(1) a project map depicting the
location and boundaries of the site(s) tested or excavated by LA site number,
land ownership boundaries, north arrow (true or magnetic), key to map symbols
and name of appropriate USGS 7.5-minute (1:24,000) topographic quadrangle(s);
mark as confidential all pages that discuss or depict exact locations of
archaeological sites pursuant to Section
18-6-11.1
NMSA 1978;
(2) a list of collected
artifacts and specimens; and
(3)
reports from laboratories and consultants.
N.
Attachments.
(1)
Site records. Submit
updated LA archaeological site records for each site consistent with the
standards in 4.10.15 NMAC. Include a site plan map and a reproduction of a USGS
7.5-minute (1:24,000) topographic quadrangle map showing the site location(s)
and attach to each LA site form. Include any other site-specific records
generated, such as artifact analysis forms. If coded analysis forms are
attached, place a copy of the code key with every site form.
(2)
Photographic materials. Do
not append photographs to site forms. All archivally packaged photographic
materials and photographic logs shall be submitted to the approved curatorial
facility consistent with the standards for that repository.
(3)
Oversize maps and plans.
Attach oversize (greater than 11x17 inches) maps and plans of individual sites
to the survey report, not to the LA site record. Oversize project and survey
area maps should be attached as appendices and not attached to the body of the
report.
(4)
Other location
materials. Engineering plan maps, aerial photographs and other
non-standards source graphics may be attached to the report.
O.
Report review.
The report shall be reviewed in conformance with 4.10.8.18 NMAC. The permittee
shall curate the collections in accordance with the procedures outlined in
4.10.8.18 NMAC.