Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts › Part 3 - Historic Preservation Division › Chapter 12 - Mississippi Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations › Rule 16-3-12.3.4 - Supplemental Guidelines for Nominating Archeological Sites and Districts to the National Register of Historic Places

Current through June 25, 2024
This guidance is for use in conjunction with the National
				  Register Bulletin
Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering
				  Archeological Properties
. If we have not commented on an item in the
				  instructions below, follow the appropriate National Register Bulletin.
Keep in mind that one goal of nominating archeological sites
				  and districts to the National Register of Historic Places is to increase the
				  "visibility" of archeology for the public; therefore, the nomination should be
				  concise and comprehensible to the layperson. The nomination is not meant to be
				  a technical report; however, the nomination can include a technical report as
				  an appendix.
In the narratives, do not give exact locational information,
				  unless the location is generally known or if the locational information should
				  be available for research or education or tourism, etc. All other information
				  that should be restricted (see National Register Bulletin 29,
Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric
				  Resources
) should be placed on a separate continuation sheet. In
				  addition, do not enter the property owner information on the form. Provide this
				  information on the notification sheet.
On the form, enter N/A for all categories that do not apply
				  to the site or district.
Writing a Physical Description for an Archeological
				  Site or District
1.
				Introductory Paragraph: The introductory paragraph is a critical part of the
				narrative. Write it so that it can stand on its own as an abstract that reads
				as a concise overview of the resource. Provide an overview of the physiography,
general
location(s), topography, and setting of the site or
				district. Identify the time period or archaeological period of occupation. End
				the introduction with a brief discussion of the site's or district's integrity,
				including approximately how much of the site has been impacted, both by
				excavation and by other impacts.
2. Describe, in a general way, the physical
				characteristics of the site or district, including site size(s) (both the
				horizontal and the vertical extent), site type(s), datasets present or
				potentially present (e.g. artifacts, ecofacts, features) and absolute or
				relative date(s). For multi-component sites or districts, describe each
				significant component separately, including vertical location(s) and extent(s)
				for stratified sites.
3. Describe
				the current and past setting and appearance of the site or district. Describe
				the current setting, appearance, topography, climate, vegetation, and wildlife.
				Then, if different, describe the setting, appearance, topography, climate,
				vegetation, and wildlife for each period of significance. Include a discussion
				of the site's geomorphology, sedimentation, and soil development, as well. This
				description should not cover every period during which the site was occupied,
				but should cover only the period(s) identified as significant in Section 8.
4. End the description with an
				explanation of the property's overall physical integrity. Summarize all natural
				and cultural impacts to the site or district. In this discussion, include an
				overview of all previous research at the site, both professional and
				avocational/amateur. Include background research, extent and purpose of any
				fieldwork and mapping, dates, and researchers and their affiliation. You must
				then assess how these impacts affect the property's ability to reflect its
				significance. If the site is eligible under Criteria other than D, the preparer
				will need to discuss each aspect of integrity (as applied to archaeological
				sites; see
3.2.
Assessing the National Register Integrity of
				  Archaeological Sites
) individually, then summarize overall integrity. If
				  the site is eligible under only Criterion D, the preparer must discuss the
				  archaeological integrity.
SECTION 8 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Significant Dates (Form)
For prehistoric sites or districts, if several radiocarbon
				  dates were obtained, place them in a table on a continuation sheet. The table
				  should include the lab number, 
				  14C date, and provenience of the
				  sample. For historical archeological sites or districts, list the significant
				  dates as you would for other properties; these can be based on artifacts,
				  historic documents or maps, etc.
Narrative
1. Introductory paragraph: Begin the
				narrative Statement of Significance with a Summary of Significance. List the
				Criteria and Areas of Significance for which the site or district is
				significant. For each dataset identified in the Physical Description, briefly
				explain how it demonstrates the site's significance. This information should be
				expanded upon and justified in subsequent paragraphs. Identify the Period(s) of
				Significance and briefly explain how the beginning and ending dates were
				chosen.
2. Summarize the
				property's history in one or a few paragraphs. For Criterion D, to establish
				the importance of the information from the site, provide an overview of the
				current state of knowledge for the Period(s) of Significance. Remember, an
				archaeological site can be significant under Criteria other than D. For
				examples of archaeological sites that are significant under Criteria A, B, or
				C, consult the National Register Bulletin
Guidelines for Evaluating and
				Registering Archeological Properties
or
3.2. Evaluating
				Archaeological Sites Under Criteria other than D
.
3. Next, for each Criterion and Area of
				Significance explain why the property is significant. Compare the property to
				others of the same or similar period, characteristics, or association. For
				examples of other properties used in comparison, be sure to use their name or
				site number,
general
locations, and brief descriptions. For
				multi-component sites, treat each component separately within the nomination.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION
Sketch Map/District Map
For archeological sites or districts, submit two copies of a
				  site plan labeled with historic name, county and state. Include a
				  clearly-labeled National Register boundary, north arrow, and scale bar. Be sure
				  to locate all contributing and noncontributing resources and number/vantage
				  point of each photo, where applicable. Also submit maps labeled with historic
				  name, county and state. Include the clearly labeled National Register boundary,
				  north arrow, scale bar, and location(s) of previous fieldwork.
Black and White
				  Photographs
Submit
two sets
of black and white
				  photos, properly labeled (
How to Complete the National Register
				  Registration Form
, page 64). One set is for state files, the other for
				  the National Park Service files in Washington, D.C. If a continuation sheet is
				  used for photo information, the resource name, county, state and photo number
				  must be labeled on each photograph.
Photographs must be processed
				  according to the
National Register's Photographic Imaging
				  Policy.
Provide photos of the setting, representative features (plan
				  and profile); representative wall profiles, if applicable; and representative
				  artifacts.