California Preservation Foundation January 2016 ...

California Preservation Foundation January 2016

Archaeological Integrity

John M. Foster, RPA

Greenwood and Associates

GREENWOOD-ASSOCIATES.COM

Determining Integrity, the Process: The National Register bulletin How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, recommends the following sequence for evaluation:

1. Categorize the Property;

2. Determine which historic context(s) the property represents;

3. Determine whether the property is significant under the National Register Criteria;

4. Determine if the property represents a type usually excluded from the National Register.;

5. Determine whether the property retains integrity.

In order to decide whether a property is significant within its historic context, determine:

1. the facet of history of the local area, state, or the nation that the property represents;

2. whether that facet of pre-contact or post-contact history is significant;

3. whether it is a type of property that has relevance and importance in illustrating the historic context;

.4 how the property illustrates that history; and

5. whether the property possesses the physical features necessary to convey the aspect of pre-contact or post-contact history with which it is associated.


CRITERION D: INFORMATION POTENTIAL 1. Identify the property's data set(s) or categories of archeological, historical, or ecological information.

2. Identify the historic context(s), that is, the appropriate historical and archeological framework in which to evaluate the property.

3. Identify the important research question(s) that the property's data sets can be expected to address.

4. Taking archeological integrity into consideration, evaluate the data sets in terms of their potential and known ability to answer research questions.

5. Identify the important information that an archeological study of the property has yielded or is likely to yield.


Let’s Add Some Complexity Because of the complexity of the archeological record and the myriad of cultural and natural formation processes that may impact a site, the definition of archeological integrity varies from property to property. For properties eligible under Criterion D, integrity requirements relate directly to the types of research questions defined within the archeologist's research design.

Archeological sites may contain a great deal of important information and yet have had some disturbance or extensive excavation (and, thereby, destruction). For example, sites that have been plowed may be eligible if it is demonstrated that the disturbance caused by plowing does not destroy the important information that the site holds.


Albinger Site, Ventura


Peirano’s Market, Ventura


Lavanderia Under Peirano Market


Peirano Planviews


Cedar Street Aqueduct


Mission Garden Wall


Garden Wall Foundation at Santa Clara


Reviewers Obligations: Questions of Archaeological Integrity are complex and you can expect many different interpretations from your archaeological consultants. Reviewers must understand that integrity interpretations can be challenged by other archaeologists and having a well qualified archaeologist at the beginning will save you headaches down the road.



Questions

California Preservation Foundation January 2016 ...

Documents

Transcript of California Preservation Foundation January 2016 ...