New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 10 - CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION › Part 16 - STANDARDS FOR EXCAVATION AND TEST EXCAVATION › Section 4.10.16.13 - RESEARCH DESIGNS FOR EXCAVATION PROJECTS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
A.
Purpose
. A research design
				explains the purpose of the project, the scope of work proposed and how the
				fieldwork and analysis of the archaeological site(s) or area(s) of historic and
				scientific interest contributes to a greater understanding of the cultural
				heritage of the state. Research designs shall take into account broad regional
				research needs and strive to fill in gaps in current state of knowledge.
				Research designs shall be realistic and attainable from the nature of the
				site(s) to be investigated and shall be flexible enough to accommodate
				unanticipated discoveries. At a minimum, a research design shall include the
				following components and shall be prepared consistent to the excavation
				standards in 4.10.16.12 NMAC.
B.
Components.
The length of each section shall be appropriate to
				the complexity and scale of the study.
(1)
Title page.
Do not obtain a NMCRIS number for research
				designs.
(2)
Table of
				contents, lists of figures and tables
. Prepare for documents with more
				than 10 pages of text.
(3)
Purpose of the study
. Provide a succinct overview of the proposed study
				including:
(a) goals, name and brief
				description of the history of the project;
(b) list of sites to be studied by LA number
				and land status;
(c) the project
				sponsor (client), state agency and other land jurisdictions if any;
				and
(d) project location and
				project map depicting the location and boundaries of the site(s) to be
				excavated by LA site number, land ownership boundaries, north arrow, key and
				name of appropriate 7.5-minute USGS source quadrangle(s).
(4)
Research context.
The
				context provides a foundation for the development of specific research
				questions. Scale the discussion to the complexity, size and limitations of the
				proposed study. The length of each discussion may vary but include the
				following elements:
(a) review of pertinent
				literature including, but not limited to, statewide and regional
				cultural-historical overviews and historic contexts, research designs,
				published archaeological, ethnographic and historical monographs and articles,
				cultural resource management technical reports and field reports sufficient to
				identify gaps in the current state of knowledge;
(b) query NMCRIS database and map server to
				identify sites of similar types and age in the project area to establish
				baseline information for comparative purposes;
(c) discussion of the theoretical orientation
				and assumptions guiding the proposed research;
(d) identification of general research
				problems and topics relevant to the region; discuss the research problems in
				the context of the culture history and knowledge of the area and current
				research gaps; draw on existing knowledge of research conducted at similar
				types of sites near the project area; and
(e) specification of research questions;
				provide a clear link between the questions and the theoretical
				assumptions.
(5)
Current knowledge of the site(s)
. Summarize previous work at the site,
				the site's national register eligibility, immediate environmental setting, site
				size, the number and type of known features, the types and quantity of
				artifacts and activity areas, the potential depth of cultural deposits in
				different areas of the site, and site integrity and extent of disturbed versus
				unexcavated areas.
(6)
Specific research questions.
Provide a clear link between the research
				questions and the general research problems. Identify the specific kinds of
				data needed to address the questions and explain how the site(s) to be
				excavated are likely to contain data relevant to address the questions. Take
				into account current knowledge of the site or site type in this
				discussion.
(7)
Specific
				procedures to test or excavate the site(s)
. If more than one site is to
				be excavated, specify the activities to be performed at each site. Discuss the
				proposed methods to:
(a) determine site
				limits;
(b) identify, document and
				assess features;
(c) define surface
				artifact distributions, densities and intrasite activity areas; and
(d) determine the depth of cultural
				deposits.
(8)
Procedures to operationalize the plan.
At a minimum, discuss:
(a) procedures used to map the
				site;
(b) methods for surface
				collections and recordation; specify the method of collection, grid size or
				point provenience, in-field analysis if proposed, the minimum number of grid
				units to be collected and recorded and sampling fraction (percent of site area
				to be collected and recorded);
(c)
				the type(s) of hand excavation units and sampling fraction (the percent of site
				area to be excavated for each unit type); for systematic auger holes, explain
				the placement, interval, and minimum number of units and size of the area
				excavated in square meters; for excavation units and trenches, specify the size
				(dimensions), placement and minimum number to be excavated;
(d) the type, placement and minimum number of
				mechanical excavation units (trenches) and their length, width and depth;
				specify the percent of site area to be excavated with mechanical equipment
				including horizontal scraping;
(e)
				specialized samples (radiocarbon, pollen and other samples or specimens);
				specify the methods and conditions under which samples will be collected,
				processed and analyzed;
(f)
				procedures if human burials are encountered consistent with 4.10.11
				NMAC;
(g) procedures for monitoring
				during construction will be implemented; the proposed monitoring shall be
				consistent with the standards in 4.10.17 NMAC; and
(h) procedures for notification in the event
				of contingencies for unanticipated discoveries.
(9)
Backfill.
Discuss
				procedures to backfill and stabilize the site.
(10)
Analytical procedures
.
				Provide a specific link between the research questions, data needed to address
				the research questions and proposed analytical procedures to generate the
				necessary data from observations and material remains recovered from the site.
				Specify the types, quantities and quality of data needed to address the
				research questions. Discuss the descriptive and comparative analyses for each
				class of artifact and type of specimen expected to be recovered from the sites.
				Include the proposed typology that will be used to describe the assemblage
				content and specific attributes to be observed. Consider the kinds of
				measurement that will be used, justifications for sampling and minimum
				thresholds for statistical validity. Include copies of all analysis forms in
				the appendix if they differ from the forms provided in the application
				submitted pursuant to 4.10.8 NMAC. Discuss sampling strategy and sampling
				fraction if all artifacts and specimens collected will not be analyzed. Explain
				the provisions that will be made for the collection and analysis of data that
				are not directly related to your stated research problems. Minimally, a
				representative sample of all recovered materials shall be analyzed.
(11)
Schedule
. Explain the
				expected time frame to implement the field, analysis and reporting phases of
				the project.
(12)
Personnel.
Identify all supervisory personnel and analysts who will
				perform the fieldwork, laboratory analyses and prepare the report. Include
				subcontractors if any are proposed and off-site laboratories for proposed
				specialized analyses. If specific personnel or subcontractors have not been
				identified for all activities, provide a list of personnel or subcontractors
				who may be retained, or list the minimum qualifications of the personnel that
				will be retained.
(13)
Curation
. Identify the proposed repository; if the repository will not
				be the MIAC, provide justification pursuant to 4.10.8 NMAC.
(14)
References
				cited.
(15)
Appendices,
as needed
.