New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 10 - CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION › Part 15 - STANDARDS FOR SURVEY AND INVENTORY › Section 4.10.15.16 - EVALUATION AND STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
Evaluate each property identified during the survey in
				  conformance with this section and document in the technical report and on the
				  LA archaeological site record or HCPI form. Depending on the complexity and
				  scale of the project, present evaluations in both narrative and tabular
				  form.
A. Apply the criteria for
				integrity and significance to evaluate each property over 50 years old
				identified during the survey pursuant to 36 CRF Part 60.4. Identify the
				property as a district, site, building, structure or object. Indicate whether
				the property should be listed on the state register or should be determined as
				eligible for national register listing. Properties less than 50 years old
				should be evaluated if it is apparent that they will be eligible for the state
				or national registers within 5 years of the date of survey. Properties less
				than 50 years old that may be eligible for inclusion in the national register
				based on exceptional significance should be evaluated using national register
				criteria consideration G. If a property has been previously nominated for
				either the state or national registers, discuss the register status of the
				property.
B. Significance
				statement. Prepare a clear statement of significance for each archaeological
				site, historic structure or building, or other cultural property identified
				during the project. Indicate the level of significance as local, state or
				national and include in the technical report.
(1) If the cultural property is recommended
				as not significant or not eligible for listing, provide a clear discussion and
				complete documentation to support the recommendation. For archaeological sites,
				the discussion shall demonstrate that the site has been thoroughly studied,
				that surface artifacts and features have been recorded and that sufficient
				subsurface tests have been performed to support a conclusion that the site is
				unlikely to contribute important information. The lack of subsurface deposits
				is not in itself sufficient to support a recommendation that a site is not
				significant or not eligible. If the cultural property is from the historic
				period, provide basic archival documentation to augment field information and
				support the significance evaluation.
(2) If the cultural property is recommended
				as significant or eligible for listing, provide evidence supporting its
				significance including reference to historic contexts and scholarly research in
				the region. Include a specific, evidence-based argument, linked to specific
				research topics and characteristics (historic values) observed. The
				recommendation shall be documented on the LA archaeological site record, HCPI
				form or other HPD-approved inventory form. For archaeological sites provide
				detailed descriptions of the types and numbers of surface artifacts and the
				types and numbers of features visible on the surface or in arroyos or road
				cuts. The presence of a large artifact scatter or the potential for subsurface
				deposits is not sufficient information to support an eligibility recommendation
				without additional discussion. If the cultural property is historic, include
				the results of archival research to support the evaluation.
(3) Survey data alone may not be sufficient
				to evaluate the property. For archaeological sites, it may be necessary to
				conduct more extensive test excavations, beyond survey-level study and limited
				tests, to gather sufficient information to evaluate the specific research
				potential to support a recommendation for listing or not listing the property
				on the state or national registers. Additional archival research and detailed
				documentation may be necessary to evaluate the specific potential and criteria
				for historic structures, buildings and engineering features. Provide a clear
				explanation that details the need for additional information. Document the
				recommendation on the LA archaeological site record, the HCPI form or other
				HPD-approved inventory form.