N.M. Code R. § 4.10.16.15

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 11, June 11, 2024

Section 4.10.16.15 - FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT STANDARDS

These requirements constitute the minimal standards for the reports on the test excavation or excavation of sites located on state land. The length of each section and discussion shall be appropriate to the complexity and scale of the project. State agencies may have additional reporting requirements.

A. Title Page. The title page shall contain the following information:

(1) the NMCRIS number in the upper left hand corner;

(2) the report title, author(s) and the principal investigator, if different from the author;

(3) the name of the organization that performed the work;

(4) the agency or agencies requiring and receiving the report;

(5) the state permit number and other permit numbers for the project; and

(6) the report date (month, day, year).

B. NMCRIS investigation abstract. Complete all sections of the NMCRIS investigation abstract, which serves as the report abstract.

C. Table of contents (required only for reports with more than 10 pages of text). Include:

(1) major report sections, subheadings and appendices with page numbers;

(2) a list of figures and plates with page numbers; and

(3) a list of tables with page numbers.

D. Introduction and description of project. State the purpose of the investigation and include a brief description of the following:

(1) the name(s) of the project sponsor(s) or funding source(s);

(2) the nature, purpose and location of the project and a list of the excavated sites;

(3) a description of the site(s) prior to excavation and a discussion of any previous work at the site(s);

(4) indicate if the project is being implemented in phases and identify the relationship of the current work to the overall project; and

(5) include a table that lists all of the project sites with field numbers, LA numbers and land status; include a brief description of each site and the work undertaken in this table.

E. Environmental setting. The length of the discussion shall be appropriate to the complexity and scale of the excavation project.

(1) Describe the natural environment. Describe the topography, geology and soils; contemporary flora and fauna; current climatological conditions; discuss the effect of current environmental conditions and past environmental processes (such as erosion or deposition) on the visibility and preservation of archaeological remains.

(2) Describe the cultural environment. Identify modern land use impacts such as mining, logging, agricultural activities or urban development and discuss the effect that modern land uses have on the visibility and integrity of archaeological sites and other cultural properties. Note evidence of vandalism or looting.

(3) Include photographs of the physical or cultural environment of the project area as appropriate.

F. Culture history and literature review.

(1) Discuss the past human occupation of the general area in which the project was conducted referencing established culture-historical frameworks or chronologies for each period relevant to the sites investigated. Reference statewide and regional cultural historical overviews, regional research designs, published archaeological, ethnographic and historical monographs and articles, cultural resource management technical reports, field reports and historic maps and records and other archival sources as appropriate, given the results of the project.

(2) Present a culture history of the area with reference to the previous archaeological work in the vicinity and types of sites investigated during the project. Culture histories shall be specific to the general project area and region and sites investigated.

G. Test excavation plan or research design. Summarize major elements of the approved test excavation plan or approved research design. Explain any significant differences between the work proposed and the work performed in the field or during analysis. If applicable, explain the relationship of your project to the research design of an on-going or larger mitigation or research project. If the site(s) being excavated represent a sample of a larger population of sites within a project area, describe the methods used to derive the sample.

H. Field methods, data collection and analysis strategies. Discuss the methods used to:

(1) map the site(s);

(2) record the features;

(3) excavate the units. Describe the implements, size of screens, size of excavation units employed Define arbitrary or natural excavation units and levels;

(4) collect and analyze the artifacts from the surface and from the excavation units;

(5) collect and analyze chronometrical, botanical, faunal and other specimens and the techniques used to preserve these materials; and

(6) explain the extent to which each of these and any other special techniques were employed.

I. Data presentation for each site.

(1) Describe the layout, configuration and appearance of the site(s) including a description of any pre-excavation surface remains.

(2) Describe the specific environmental setting of the site(s) supplemented with appropriate illustrations and references to relevant publications.

(3) Describe each excavation unit with regard to stratigraphy and contents. Multiple units with the same stratigraphic sequence may be grouped. The relationship between the excavation units shall be discussed.

(4) Present the results of the analyses in the context of the test excavation plan or the research questions in the research design. Include a summary of the numbers of artifacts by category and provenience. Differentiate between surface and subsurface materials. Discuss the types of analyses conducted for each artifact class and any sample and present the results by analytical units or strata. Provide narrative and tabular summaries for chronometrical, botanical and other specialized analyses. Integrate the results of these analyses in the discussion of the results of the investigation.

J. Results and recommendations. Summarize the results of the study and contributions to the knowledge of the cultural heritage of the region and the state.

(1) Evaluate project results with regard to the approved test excavation plan or research design. Discuss substantive deviations from original plan.

(2) Discuss the cultural affiliation of the site(s) and the relationship of the site(s) to the culture history of the area.

(3) Provide a synopsis of the data recovered from the excavations, the artifacts and samples.

(4) Discuss and analyze the interface between archaeological and documentary evidence for historical archaeological sites.

(5) For test excavation projects, evaluate the research potential of the site(s). This evaluation will serve as the basis for developing a research design for excavation, if necessary.

(a) Identify future research potential. Discuss research issues, problems or topics that can be realistically addressed through future study. The discussion shall be synthetic and comprehensive in scope, oriented toward realistic goals. Document how the research potential has been determined and why the current level of study is not sufficient to address or resolve these issues. Research questions shall take into account broad regional research needs and shall strive to fill gaps in current state of knowledge. Place the sites within the context of the currently known pattern of archaeological remains in the project area. Discuss recommendations with the state agency prior to including in the report.

(b) Discuss whether or not, in the opinion of the investigator, the site is or continues to be eligible for the national register and whether the site should be placed on the state register. Apply the criteria for integrity and significance to evaluate each property pursuant to 36 CRF 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 pursuant to 4.10.15.16 NMAC.

(6) For excavation projects performed under a research design:

(a) evaluate the success of the research design and any significant deviations during the field or analyses;

(b) discuss what was learned from the excavation and analyses in relation to the pre-existing archaeology and history of the area. Place the sites within the context of the currently known pattern of archaeological remains in the project area. If the findings were not consistent with the known culture history of the area, possible explanations for these anomalous findings must be explored; and

(c) discuss how much of the site is preserved, unexcavated and undisturbed. Suggest future research and management strategies.

K. Illustrations and photographs.

(1) Include a map showing the location of the project within the state of New Mexico.

(2) Include site maps, which shall be drawn to scale at a legible size and contain a north arrow (true or magnetic) and scale. All excavation units (rooms, trenches, test pits, collection areas) shall be labeled on the map and accurately related to the text. Previously excavated portions of the site shall be clearly identified. Remaining, unexcavated portions of the site shall also be shown; all relevant natural, archaeological and modern features shall be clearly marked as well as any areas of disturbance.

(3) Plans, drawings and photographs of stratigraphic profiles with explanations shall be included. Illustrations of representative, unusual and unique features or other manifestations shall be included as appropriate to the complete understanding of the narrative discussion.

(4) Illustrations and photographs of unusual and diagnostic artifacts are required as necessary to insure complete understanding.

L. References cited.

M. Appendices. At a minimum, provide:

(1) a project map depicting the location and boundaries of the site(s) tested or excavated by LA site number, land ownership boundaries, north arrow (true or magnetic), key to map symbols and name of appropriate USGS 7.5-minute (1:24,000) topographic quadrangle(s); mark as confidential all pages that discuss or depict exact locations of archaeological sites pursuant to Section 18-6-11.1 NMSA 1978;

(2) a list of collected artifacts and specimens; and

(3) reports from laboratories and consultants.

N. Attachments.

(1) Site records. Submit updated LA archaeological site records for each site consistent with the standards in 4.10.15 NMAC. Include a site plan map and a reproduction of a USGS 7.5-minute (1:24,000) topographic quadrangle map showing the site location(s) and attach to each LA site form. Include any other site-specific records generated, such as artifact analysis forms. If coded analysis forms are attached, place a copy of the code key with every site form.

(2) Photographic materials. Do not append photographs to site forms. All archivally packaged photographic materials and photographic logs shall be submitted to the approved curatorial facility consistent with the standards for that repository.

(3) Oversize maps and plans. Attach oversize (greater than 11x17 inches) maps and plans of individual sites to the survey report, not to the LA site record. Oversize project and survey area maps should be attached as appendices and not attached to the body of the report.

(4) Other location materials. Engineering plan maps, aerial photographs and other non-standards source graphics may be attached to the report.

O. Report review. The report shall be reviewed in conformance with 4.10.8.18 NMAC. The permittee shall curate the collections in accordance with the procedures outlined in 4.10.8.18 NMAC.

N.M. Code R. § 4.10.16.15

4.10.16.15 NMAC - N, 1/01/06