Demystifying the Archaeological Process
The archaeological process is an investigation whereupon each stage builds upon the results of the preceding stage. In other words, before an archaeologist puts a shovel in the ground, he or she must complete a sensitivity assessment, in order to have an idea whether archaeological resources are present or suspected to be present. Archaeological resources encompass the entire range of human occupation in Northern New England from the Native American cultural periods to the more recent Euroamerican habitation of the area. Archaeological resources may range from Paleoindian fluted points more than 11,000 years old, to farmsteads, gas stations, and drive-in theaters a half century old.
Archaeology in New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, the archaeological process has four main stages:
• Phase IA Archaeological Sensitivity Assessment
• Phase IB Intensive Archaeological Investigation
• Phase II Determination Of Eligibility (DOE)
• Phase III Data Recovery
Laws governing archaeological survey in New Hampshire:
• Federal Law Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800)
• New Hampshire State Law (RSA), Title 19: Public Recreation/Chapter 227C: Historic Preservation/Section 227-C (also includes provisions to protect unmarked burials)
• RSA 635:6 – protects known burial sites
Archaeology in Maine
In the state of Maine, professional archaeologists must be approved according to emphasis of study by the Maine State Preservation Commission (MHPC). More specifically, an archaeologist will be listed either as a Pre-Contact (prehistoric) archaeologist or a Post-contact (historic) archaeologist. Key personnel on our staff hold positions on these lists: Three are listed with Level 2 Post-contact (historic) archaeological expertise and the fourth is on the Level 1 Pre-Contact (prehistoric) archaeologist approved list.
The archaeological process in Maine has three main stages:
• Phase I Reconnaissance Survey (Phase 0 or Phase IA)
• Phase I Reconnaissance Survey (Phase IB)
• Phase II Intensive Level Survey
• Phase III Mitigation (Data Recovery)
Laws and regulations governing archaeological survey in Maine:
• Federal Law: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800)
• Code of Maine Rules (CMR) 94-089 Chapter 100: Rules For Implementing an Act to Preserve Maine’s Archaeological Heritage
• Code Of Maine Rules (CMR) 94-089 Chapter 812: State Historic Preservation Officer’s Standards for Archaeological Work in Maine
NEW HAMPSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PHASES
Phase IA Archaeological Sensitivity Assessment:
Archaeologists evaluate whether any known or potential sites are within the project area. Archaeologists examine state records for existing (known) archaeological sites in the project area; within the river drainage; or analogous settings. They also conduct cartographic analysis (looking at landforms, soils, land use features); review historic maps, photographs, and local secondary sources; conduct a site inspection. The final product is an assessment of high, moderate, or low archaeological sensitivity. If a project area is evaluated with low sensitivity for both Native American and Euroamerican archaeological resources, then no further archaeological survey is recommended. If high or moderate, archaeologists will then proceed to the next level of survey.
Phase IB Intensive Archaeological Investigation:
In areas of known or suspected sites, archaeologists conduct Phase IB survey to confirm whether archaeological resources are present or absent within an area of potential effect (APE). Archaeologists conduct fieldwork and excavate shovel test pits (50 cm by 50 cm or approximately 2 ft square), to look for artifacts or features indicating that humans had previously lived in the project APE. If we find nothing, then the archaeological component is completed. If we do find something, we make a recommendation about whether the developer can avoid it (by moving buildings, roads, septic systems, detention ponds to one side or out of the way of the archaeological site), or if the site will require a Phase II evaluation.
Phase II Determination of Eligibility (DOE):
Once a site has been found, archaeologists must determine whether it is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Listing on the National Register must satisfy one of four criteria (A, B, C, or D) that are enumerated by the Secretary of the Interior, and which must be approved by a panel of reviewers from the State Historic Preservation Office. Listing must meet stringent standards, so the archaeology conducted to answer questions of significance requires larger areas to be excavated. At this level, we often excavate in 1-m-square test units (3.3 ft by 3.3 ft) or larger areas, and we excavate considerably more horizontal area than in the Phase IB survey. We must address questions of site size, activity loci, subsistence, seasonality, trade systems, or other research questions about past lifeways.
Phase III Data Recovery:
When a site is determined to be eligible for the National Register and cannot be avoided by a proposed undertaking, archaeologists conduct the most intensive level of archaeological survey, the data recovery. This phase of work is intended to mitigate the effect of losing the resource, and clients can expect that as much as 10-20% of a site will need to be excavated in order to capture as much information about the past, before the undertaking will destroy it. Data recovery projects require the excavation of large horizontal areas, with a particular focus on features. Features often contain high quantities of artifacts (lithic debitage at Native sites, homestead refuse at Euroamerican sites), which must be processed and analyzed. Data recovery projects are built around specific research questions that may be answered in terms of specialized sampling and analysis (e. g., faunal, floral, carbon-14, minimum vessel counts, lithic attribute studies).
MAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PHASES
Phase I Reconnaissance Survey often has two separate components and can be further subdivided as Phase 0 or Phase IA and Phase IB.
Phase I Reconnaissance Survey (Phase 0 or Phase IA):
At the Phase IA level, survey is primarily at the documentary level, as archaeologists examine state site inventories; maps; local histories; and primary documents such as deeds, probate records, and aerial photographs. This first phase of study permit the archaeologist to determine whether any known or potential sites are within the project area. Archaeologists review state records for existing (known) archaeological sites in the project area; within the river drainage; or analogous settings. They also conduct cartographic analysis (looking at landforms, soils, land use features); review historic maps, photographs, and local secondary sources. A critical component of the Phase IA assess is a site inspection to search for surface evidence of sites (artifacts or features) and to evaluate the amount of disturbance that has taken place. The final product is an assessment of high, moderate, or low archaeological sensitivity. If a project area is evaluated with low sensitivity for both Native American and Euroamerican archaeological resources, then no further archaeological survey is recommended. If high or moderate, archaeologists will then proceed to the next level of survey.
Phase I Reconnaissance Survey (Phase IB):
In areas of known or suspected sites, archaeologists conduct Phase IB survey to confirm whether archaeological resources are present or absent within an area of potential effect (APE). Archaeologists conduct fieldwork and excavate shovel test pits (50 cm by 50 cm or approximately 2 ft square), to look for artifacts or features indicating that humans had previously lived in the project APE. If we find nothing, then the archaeological component is completed. If we do find something, we make a recommendation about whether the developer can avoid it (by moving buildings, roads, septic systems, detention ponds to one side or out of the way of the archaeological site), or if the site will require a Phase II evaluation.
Phase II Intensive Level Survey:
Once a site has been found, archaeologists must determine whether it is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Listing on the National Register must satisfy one of four criteria (A, B, C, or D) that are enumerated by the Secretary of the Interior, and which must be approved by a panel of reviewers from the State Historic Preservation Office. Listing must meet stringent standards, so the archaeology conducted to answer questions of significance requires larger areas to be excavated. At this level, we often excavate in 1-m-square test units (3.3 ft by 3.3 ft) or larger areas, and we excavate considerably more horizontal area than in the Phase IB survey. We must address questions of site size, activity loci, subsistence, seasonality, trade systems, or other research questions about past lifeways.
Phase III Mitigation (Data Recovery):
When a site is determined to be eligible for the National Register and cannot be avoided by a proposed undertaking, archaeologists must conduct the most intensive level of archaeological survey, the mitigation of data recovery. This phase of work is intended to mitigate the effect of losing the resource, and clients can expect that as much as 10-20% of a site will need to be excavated in order to capture as much information about the past, before the undertaking will destroy it. Data recovery projects require the excavation of large horizontal areas, with a particular focus on features. Features often contain high quantities of artifacts (lithic debitage at Native sites, homestead refuse at Euroamerican sites), which must be processed and analyzed. Data recovery projects are built around specific research questions that may be answered in terms of specialized sampling and analysis (e. g., faunal, floral, carbon-14, minimum vessel counts, lithic attribute studies).