Alabama Administrative Code › Title 460 - ALABAMA HISTORICAL COMMISSION › Chapter 460-X-9 - ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS › Section 460-X-9-.02 - Survey And Testing

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
Introduction. This policy has been developed to aid
				archaeologists conducting archeological intensive survey (Phase 1) or testing
				(Phase II) projects that are required as elements of cultural resource
				assessments for compliance with federal laws and regulations, including the
				National Historic Preservation Act (as amended); Executive order 11593; the
				National Environmental Policy Act of 1966; Department of the Interior
				regulations  36 CFR 60,  36 CFR 63,  36 CFR 66  and  36 CFR 79 ; and the Advisory
				Council on Historic Preservation regulations  36 CFR 800 . We also request that
				this Policy be followed by federal agency archaeologists who are exempted from
				this by federal regulations. Phase II investigations shall not be initiated
				without consultation with the Alabama State Historic Preservation Office
				(ALSHPO) and the approval of a testing program. The purposes of these standards
				are to specify clearly and unequivocally the minimum requirements necessary to
				complete an archaeological survey, and to provide standardized criteria by
				which the State Historic Preservation Office will evaluate the archaeological
				segments of cultural resource assessments. The current State Historic
				Preservation Office for Alabama is the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC).
				These standards are designed for application to normal field situations likely
				to be encountered during intensive survey and testing projects; deviation from
				these standards is acceptable when dictated by circumstances, and requires only
				that the report contain justification of the procedures employed in that
				instance. Four aspects of archaeological survey standards are addressed in this
				document; (1) professional qualifications, (2) field work, (3) laboratory
				analysis and curation, and (4) reports:
(1) Professional Qualification Guidelines. It
			 is highly recommended that applicants involved in the process required in
			 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act hire a principal
			 investigator who meets the minimal professional qualifications in archaeology
			 as set forth in the Interior Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional
			 Qualifications Standards for archaeology. These were first referenced in  36 CFR
			 Part 61  and defined by the National Park Service. Cultural resource review
			 history has demonstrated that surveys done by archaeologists who meet the
			 Federal Standards have a greater success rate than other surveys. Further, some
			 federal agencies require that field work be conducted by individuals who meet
			 these standards. For example the Federal Communications Commission included
			 such a requirement in their programmatic agreement regarding cellular towers
			 (September 2004). The Secretary's (Historic Preservation) Professional
			 Qualifications Standards as defined by the National Park Service for
			 archaeologists are as follows:
"The minimal professional qualifications in archaeology are a
				graduate degree in archaeology, anthropology or closely related field,
				plus:
1. At least one year of
			 full-time professional experience or equivalent specialized training in
			 archaeological research, administration or management.
2. At least four months of supervised field
			 and analytic experience in general North American archeology; and
3. Demonstrated ability to carry research to
			 completion."
In addition to these minimum qualifications, a professional in
				prehistoric archeology shall have at least one year of full-time professional
				experience at a supervisory level in the study of archeological resources of
				the prehistoric period. A professional in historic archeology shall have at
				least one year of full-time professional experience at a supervisory level in
				the study of archeological resources of the historic period. Documentation (in
				the form of official graduate transcripts and/or a curriculum vitae) should be
				submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office prior to the commencement
				of fieldwork or should accompany the survey report.
All reports submitted to the AHC are subject to peer review.
				All reports prepared by investigators who do not meet the standards will be
				circulated for peer review. The opportunity to participate in the peer review
				process shall be open to any person who meets the above stated criteria and who
				has previously notified the AHC in writing of their interest in reviewing
				reports. The peer review process is not intended as a substitute for the review
				responsibility of the AHC under section 106 of the National Historic
				Preservation Act of 1966.