Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts › Part 3 - Historic Preservation Division › Chapter 12 - Mississippi Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations › Rule 16-3-12.3.1 - Evaluation Checklist for Archaeological Properties

Current through June 25, 2024
SIGNIFICANCE
CRITERION D
____ Define the relevant context and level of significance
				  (local, state, or national). This may be done simultaneously with the next
				  step.
____ Review the archaeological literature (gray and
				  scholarly) pertaining to sites of this type.
____ Identify the important research questions/themes that
				  can be addressed by sites of this type.
____ Demonstrate what this site could potentially add to
				  that body of knowledge (e.g. datasets recovered or potentially available).
For CRITERION A, B, OR C refer to Section
				  3.2. Evaluating Archaeological Sites
				  under Criteria other than D.
____ Consider all Criteria that may be applicable to the
				  property (Ask, what other values does the property have besides information
				  potential?) and demonstrate the strength of association between that event,
				  person, architectural feature, or other value and the property. A comparative
				  context is useful in these evaluations.
INTEGRITY
CRITERION D
____ If there has been excavation, demonstrate that the
				  quality of the data (e.g. horizontal spatial relationships, stratigraphic
				  relationships, etc.) is sufficient to answer the important research questions
				  identified.
____ It may be helpful to consider the National Register's
				  seven aspects of integrity as they apply to archaeological properties. However,
				  it is not necessary if a discussion of archaeological integrity is provided.
				  Refer to
Section 3.3. Assessing the National Register
				  Integrity of Archaeological Sites
or the National Register Bulletin,
Guidelines for
				  Evaluating and Registering Archeological Properties
for further
				  guidance.
____ If there has been no excavation, demonstrate that there
				  is a high likelihood that the site retains integrity (e.g. a land-use history
				  demonstrating that the site has not been subjected to impacts that would
				  compromise its integrity), and any additional information with regard to
				  determining archaeological integrity. For example, information such as
				  artifacts collected or mapping from a walkover survey, identification of above
				  ground features such as swales, depressions, foundations, or other ruins, and
				  comparison with historic maps, if possible. Comparison with similar sites or
				  site types may also provide information on potential or expected data sets.
				  Non-invasive methods of survey or inventory can also be helpful, such as Ground
				  Penetrating Radar (GPR), Side Scan Sonar, Soil Resistivity, or other remote
				  sensing techniques.
CRITERION A, B, OR C
____ It is important to consider the National Register's
				  seven aspects of integrity and specifically, how they apply to archaeological
				  properties. Refer to
Section 3.3. Assessing the National Register
				  Integrity of Archaeological Sites
, or the National Register
				  Bulletin,
Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Archeological
				  Properties
for further guidance.
A NOTE ABOUT INTEGRITY
An evaluation of integrity
always
comes
				  after an evaluation of significance. Integrity is a relative measure and its
				  definition depends upon the historic context and significance of the
				  archaeological property. For Criterion D evaluations, for instance, a property
				  may not have good stratigraphic integrity, but may still be able to answer
				  significant questions. A rare site type, for instance, may have disturbed
				  deposits, but may still be eligible because of the information it contains.
A NOTE ABOUT CONTEXT FOR CRITERION D
The importance of the information, as well as the degree of
				  integrity necessary is oftentimes related to the area of significance of the
				  property, the amount of research in a given area and the level of significance
				  (local, state, or national). For instance, a lithic scatter in some parts of
				  Mississippi may not be significant, while a lithic scatter in other parts of
				  Mississippi may be.