Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts › Part 3 - Historic Preservation Division › Chapter 12 - Mississippi Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations › Rule 16-3-12.4.0 - Criteria for Qualified Professional Archaeologists

Current through June 25, 2024
Any archaeological investigation in Mississippi is required
				  to be conducted by qualified archaeological professionals who meet the
Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualification
				  Standards
. Archaeological investigations conducted pursuant to federal
				  and state laws must be conducted by qualified professionals. For additional
				  information on these standards, see
http://www.nps.gov/history/local-law/arch_stnds_9.htm
Throughout the duration of the archaeological investigation,
				  either the Principal Investigator or Field Director shall be present in the
				  field directing and monitoring the activities of the Field Crew. To meet the
				  minimum professional qualifications in archaeology:
The
Principal Investigator
must:
1. Have a graduate degree in
				anthropology, archaeology, or closely related field, plus:
2. At least one year of full-time
				professional experience or equivalent specialized training in archaeological
				research, administration, or management;
3. At least four months of supervised field
				and analytic experience in general North American archaeology;
4. Have demonstrated ability to carry
				research to completion.
In addition to these minimum qualifications, a Principal
				  Investigator in prehistoric archaeology shall have at least one year of
				  full-time professional experience at a supervisory level in the study of
				  archaeological resources of the prehistoric period. A Principal Investigator in
				  historical archaeology shall have at least one year of full-time professional
				  experience at a supervisory level in the study of archaeological resources of
				  the historic period.
The
Field Director/s
shall
				  also have a graduate degree in anthropology, archaeology, or closely related
				  field, and have considerable experience and demonstrated ability to
				  successfully function in a supervisory capacity. This person should possess
				  formal training and considerable experience in archaeological theory,
				  methodology, analysis, interpretation, and report preparation, and have
				  demonstrated the ability to recognize and evaluate both historic and
				  prehistoric cultural features.
Field Crew Member/s
shall have
				  an undergraduate degree in anthropology, archaeology, or closely related field,
				  or possess considerable experience and have demonstrated the ability to
				  recognize and evaluate both historic and prehistoric cultural features and
				  artifacts.
Any archaeologist conducting archaeological research (Phase
				  I, II, and III) should have access to:
1. Adequate field and laboratory equipment to
				conduct the survey, excavation, or other research; and
2. Adequate facilities to properly treat,
				analyze, and temporarily curate cultural material obtained as a result of the
				investigation.
The following requirements are those used by the National
				  Park Service, and have been previously published in the Code of Federal
				  Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61. The qualifications define minimum education and
				  experience required to perform identification, evaluation, registration, and
				  treatment activities. In some cases, additional areas or levels of expertise
				  may be needed, depending on the complexity of the task and the nature of the
				  historic properties involved. In the following definitions, a year of fulltime
				  professional experience need not consist of a continuous year of full-time work
				  but may be made up of discontinuous periods of full-time or part-time work
				  adding up to the equivalent of a year of full-time experience.
History
The minimum professional qualifications in history are a
				  graduate degree in history or closely related field; or a bachelor's degree in
				  history or closely related field plus one of the following:
1. At least two years of full-time experience
				in research, writing, teaching, interpretation, or other demonstrable
				professional activity with an academic institution, historic organization or
				agency, museum, or other professional institution; or
2. Substantial contribution through research
				and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of history.
Archeology
The minimum professional qualifications in archeology are a
				  graduate degree in archeology, anthropology, or closely related field plus:
1. At least one year of full-time
				professional experience or equivalent specialized training in archeological
				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.
4. 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.
Architectural History
The minimum professional qualifications in architectural
				  history are a graduate degree in architectural history, art history, historic
				  preservation, or closely related field, with coursework in American
				  architectural history, or a bachelor's degree in architectural history, art
				  history, historic preservation or closely related field plus one of the
				  following:
1. At least two
				years of full-time experience in research, writing, or teaching in American
				architectural history or restoration architecture with an academic institution,
				historical organization or agency, museum, or other professional institution;
				or
2. Substantial contribution
				through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the
				field of American architectural history.
Architecture
The minimum professional qualifications in architecture are
				  a professional degree in architecture plus at least two years of full-time
				  experience in architecture; or a State license to practice architecture.
Historic Architecture
The minimum professional qualifications in historic
				  architecture are a professional degree in architecture or a State license to
				  practice architecture, plus one of the following:
1. At least one year of graduate study in
				architectural preservation, American architectural history, preservation
				planning, or closely related field; or
2. At least one year of full-time
				professional experience on historic preservation projects.
3. Such graduate study or experience shall
				include detailed investigations of historic structures, preparation of historic
				structures research reports, and preparation of plans and specifications for
				preservation projects.
National Historic
				  Preservation Act, Section 112 (a)