Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts › Part 3 - Historic Preservation Division › Chapter 12 - Mississippi Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations › Rule 16-3-12.3.3 - Assessing the National Register Integrity of Archaeological Sites

Current through June 25, 2024
The following is a brief overview of how to apply the
				  National Register's seven aspects of integrity (location, design, materials,
				  workmanship, feeling, setting, and association) to archaeological sites
				  nominated under any of the four Criteria of significance. It provides general
				  guidance as to what aspects of integrity are most important under each of the
				  Criteria, keeping in mind that different aspects of integrity may mean slightly
				  different things or have more or less weight, depending on the Criterion or
				  Criteria under which the site is significant, as well as its area(s) of
				  significance. For Criterion D, the research questions being asked of the site
				  are a very important consideration when assessing integrity.
For Criterion D, integrity of location, materials, design,
				  and association are generally of paramount importance. Location is relatively
				  straightforward; if the site remains in the place it was formed, it can be said
				  to retain integrity of location. The place where the site formed is important,
				  not necessarily the place where the archaeological remains were recorded (i.e.
				  redeposited materials). Materials refers to the degree to which artifacts,
				  ecofacts, and features have survived and is dependent on the research questions
				  being asked. For example, if the research questions focus on the importance of
				  floral resources in the diet, the site would need to yield seeds, cultivars,
				  processing tools, etc. to retain integrity of materials. Design refers to the
				  relationships or patterning of artifacts, ecofacts, and features. For example,
				  a plowed site may retain integrity of design if the relationships between
				  artifacts, ecofacts, and features remain as they were historically or
				  prehistorically. Association under Criterion D refers to the relationship
				  between the data present at the site and the research questions being asked.
				  For example, if the research questions focus on status, the site would need to
				  yield ceramics, personal items, etc. that are indicators of status. Remember,
				  while a discussion of the National Register's seven aspects of integrity is
				  helpful in establishing an argument for archaeological integrity under
				  Criterion D, a nomination does not have to have such a discussion if the
				  property is only nominated under D. As long as the nomination discusses the
				  level of preservation or quality of information contained within a district,
				  site, or excavated assemblage in relation to the important research questions
				  the property can answer, this is sufficient.
For Criteria A and B, location, design, setting, feeling and
				  association are, generally, most important. As mentioned above, location means
				  that the site remains in the place where it was formed. For archaeological
				  sites significant under Criterion A or B, design means something slightly
				  different; it refers to the layout or plan of a site. For example, if a
				  military encampment site retained its avenues, tent platforms, and general
				  layout, it would be said to retain integrity of design. To retain integrity of
				  setting and feeling, the environment of the site should remain as it was
				  historically. For example, if a site was originally a rural farmstead and the
				  surrounding area remains a primarily rural, agricultural area, the site could
				  be said to retain integrity of setting and feeling. For archaeological sites
				  significant under Criterion A or B, association means something slightly
				  different; it refers to the site's relationship to the historic event/trend or
				  person for which it is significant. For example, a farmstead site significant
				  for its role in an important battle would need to yield artifacts and features
				  related to the battle to retain integrity of association for Criterion A. Under
				  Criterion C, design, materials, and workmanship are most important. As with
				  Criteria A and B, design for Criterion C refers to the layout or plan of a
				  site. For example, a stockaded village that represents a significant example of
				  a type would be said to retain integrity of design if it retains its historic
				  or prehistoric design and layout. For archaeological sites significant under
				  Criterion C, integrity of workmanship is a reflection of the builder(s)'s or
				  designer(s)'s skill in producing the original resource. For example, a house
				  site that clearly shows the hand of a skilled architect or builder would retain
				  integrity of workmanship, whether there are above-ground remains or not. For
				  archaeological sites significant under Criterion C, integrity of materials is a
				  reflection of the elements used to create the original resource. For example, a
				  house site consisting of well-preserved architectural remains could be said to
				  retain integrity of materials under Criterion C, regardless of whether the
				  house is still standing or not.
As mentioned previously, this guidance is not meant to
				  produce an exhaustive description of the seven aspects of integrity as they
				  apply to archaeological sites. The evaluation of integrity is based on several
				  factors including the Criterion or Criteria under which the site is being
				  nominated, as well as the Area(s) of Significance. Further discussion of the
				  aspects of integrity as they apply to archaeological sites is available in the
				  National Register Bulletin
Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering
				  Archeological Properties
and
Assessing Site Significance: a
				  Guide for Archaeologists and Historians
by Donald L. Hardesty and
				  Barbara J. Little (Published by AltaMira Press, California, 2009).