Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts › Part 3 - Historic Preservation Division › Chapter 12 - Mississippi Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations › Rule 16-3-12.6.3 - Archaeological Survey and Methodology

Current through June 25, 2024
Visual Inspection/ Visual Pedestrian Survey
When field conditions warrant, systematic visual inspection
				  of plowed fields and surface collection of artifacts has proven to be a highly
				  effective and efficient method of site survey. Systematic surface collection is
				  encouraged after re-plowing and disking of previously plowed fields to a depth
				  no greater than the previous disturbance prior to inspection. However, even in
				  previously plowed areas, the clearing of trees and large brush to facilitate
				  surface collection has the strong potential to disturb sub-plowzone soils and,
				  therefore, is not regarded as an acceptable methodology. All exposed surfaces
				  are to be inspected. If an area has greater than 50¢ surface visibility
				  but is in a dynamic depositional environment (e.g., the foot of a slope or
				  adjacent to an aggrading waterway) or the scope of work includes
				  substantial/significant sub-plowzone disturbance, then 30-m (~100-ft.) interval
				  subsurface testing is required.
Highly eroded areas, where subsoil is visible at or just
				  below the surface, as well as recently plowed fields are the most common
				  instances where such high visibility exists. The archaeologists' judgment
				  concerning visibility is especially critical in fallow or dry fields, where
				  close-interval (30 m) subsurface testing will be necessary. In general,
				  pedestrian survey will be systematic in coverage, with the maximum interval
				  between surveyors not exceeding 30 m.
Surface visibility and topography alone do not sufficiently
				  define a site. When an archaeological site is identified by visual inspection
				  alone, excavation of at least two shovel test pits (STPs) is needed to assess
				  site depth and the presence or absence of intact cultural strata and/or
				  feature, and assist in boundary delineation. However, low probability areas
				  (for example, poorly drained soils and steep slopes, generally with a grade
				  greater than 15%) and extensively disturbed (for example, previously subjected
				  to land-leveling, clearing and grubbing activities, and other similar
				  earthmoving activities) non-floodplain areas need only be subjected to visual
				  inspection. If the visual survey locates natural benches, quarries, or other
				  cultural features, the visual testing is to be augmented with additional,
				  selectively or judgmentally placed, STPs.
Surface Collection
At the survey level, a complete surface artifact collection
				  should not normally be made unless the site contains few artifacts or shows
				  evidence of previous and/or active looting or vandalism. If a surface
				  collection is made, an appropriate sampling method should be utilized and based
				  on the investigator's assessment of field conditions as well as the type and
				  density of artifacts present. An investigator's collection strategy should be
				  specified in field notes, for example: all diagnostics and a representative
				  sample of other observable materials, or controlled and repeatable samples of
				  every surface artifact in designated locations, or a minimum number of each
				  type of historic ceramic and glass plus other diagnostic items, etc. Surface
				  collection is not a valid survey strategy on sites where ground visibility is
				  less than 50%.
Surface visibility and topography alone do not sufficiently
				  define a site. Although a surface collection may help to define horizontal site
				  limits, it should be supplemented with more traditional subsurface testing,
				  particularly when surface visibility is discontinuous or variable. Subsurface
				  testing also provides information about stratigraphy, the vertical distribution
				  of material, and site integrity which cannot be obtained from pedestrian survey
				  data alone.
Subsurface Survey
Although a surface collection may help to define horizontal
				  site limits, it must be supplemented with subsurface testing, particularly when
				  surface visibility is discontinuous or variable. Subsurface testing also
				  provides information about stratigraphy, the vertical distribution of material,
				  and site integrity, which cannot be obtained from visual survey alone and is
				  necessary to establish the extent of a site even when surface visibility is
				  unrestricted, and topographic changes indicate a possible boundary. Excavation
				  of STPs (Shovel Test Pits, square in profile and not smaller than 12 inches [30
				  cm] in width) remains one of the most reliable means of site identification in
				  areas of low surface visibility. Whenever possible, STPs are to be tied to a
				  known datum or fixed reference point, with their location clearly marked on
				  appropriate maps.
As a general rule, STPs are to be excavated at intervals no
				  greater than 30 m and will continue to culturally sterile subsoil, if possible.
				  Thirty-meter interval shovel tests can be used to establish the general
				  boundaries, with two consecutive negative shovel tests establishing the edge of
				  the site. Thus, the interval between two distinct sites will be at least 60 m
				  (197 ft.).
Different site types, as well as soils and topography, may
				  justify differing STP intervals. A shorter/tighter interval is recommended if
				  small, low-density sites are encountered. Shorter intervals may be utilized
				  after consultation with and approval from MDAH archaeology staff. The standard
				  30-m interval for STPs may also be augmented by judgmental testing in high
				  probability areas such as promising landforms or areas containing vegetation or
				  cultural landscape features associated with known or suspected sites locations.
Archaeological site boundaries are to be established by
				  excavating radial shovel tests in no less than four directions. When these
				  resources are identified, it is recommended that the consultant implement a
				  close-interval (5-10 m [16-33 ft.]) shovel-testing strategy to delineate both
				  the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the resources within the survey area.
				  Close interval shovel testing should be continued within the survey area until
				  two sequential negative tests are completed. This may be achieved through the
				  use of a cruciform delineation (i.e. in all four directions from a site datum)
				  or grid strategy as long as the spacing of between 5 and 10 m is maintained to
				  establish site boundaries. Additionally, 5-10 m intervals should be excavated
				  to determine whether individual artifacts recovered from lone or single STPs
				  with no adjacent positive STPs represent isolated finds or small low-density
				  sites.
All soils from STPs must be screened through --inch hardware
				  cloth. All artifacts fifty years of age and over are to be retained with the
				  exception of materials such as brick, shell, charcoal, etc., which may be
				  quantified in the field, a sample retained, and the remainder discarded. Shovel
				  tests are to be excavated to a depth of at least 70 to 80 cmbs (centimeters
				  below surface) (2.3 to 2.6 ft.) or until impenetrable substrate (i.e., bedrock
				  or clay), known culturally sterile subsoil, or the water table is reached (see
6.4. Special Environment Surveys
). If excavation
				  exceeds this depth, an auger or Oakfield soil probe should be employed from the
				  base of shovel test excavation to a maximum depth of 120 cmbs (3.94 ft.).
Notes on all STPs and trenches will be recorded and are to
				  include information on survey/site/transect identification and location, with a
				  representative profile drawing or detailed description of strata, soil types,
				  Munsell descriptions, depth measurements, and a listing of artifacts (both kept
				  and discarded). Note the environmental conditions under which any testing
				  strategy was employed (for example, adverse weather, condition of ground
				  surface, etc.). A detailed map is to be prepared showing areas surveyed, areas
				  eliminated from survey due to disturbance, slope, wetness, etc., and the
				  location of the positive and negative STPs.
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing should be used to augment more traditional
				  survey methods by identifying high potential areas for subsurface testing.
				  Remote sensing (using metal detectors, proton magnetometers, ground penetrating
				  radar, etc.) is recommended for sites associated with the Contact Period or
				  Civil War, and is particularly useful for identifying burials. In underwater
				  survey, remote sensing is often effective in identifying targets for later
				  diver verification. A specific case is to be made in the research design for
				  the use of remote sensing and its relationship to other survey methods made
				  explicit.
Four geophysical techniques are principally employed in
				  archaeology: magnetometry, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic conductivity
				  (EM), and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). For a discussion of each approach,
				  their suitability in various environments, and the latest advances in the field
				  of geophysical methods (see
Geophysical Surveys as Landscape
				  Archaeology
by Kenneth L. Kvamme).