Appendix_C.pdf

Appendix C

Archaeological Site Condition Assessment Guide

Environmental Division Cultural Resources Phoenix Area Office (PXAO) Phoenix, Arizona

Contents

Bureau of Reclamation (PXAO) Site Condition Assessment Guide Archaeological Site Condition Assessment Guide Instructions Site Designator/Location Site Number GPS and Datum Site Location Source T., R., Section Site Management Previous Assessments Collections/Excavations National Register Status Environment Best Access Site Information Site Condition Site Impacts Site Threats Management Recommendations Site Information Property Type Site Class Cultures/Dates Site Type Site Narrative

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, PXAO

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE CONDITION ASSESSMENT FORM

Enter and/or Highlight all that apply Append to site record

Form Completed By: Site Visit Date:

Name of Firm/Organization/Agency: Reclamation Project:

SITE DESIGNATOR/LOCATION

Site Number: Site Name:

Alternate Site Number/s:

State County

GPS Coordinates (UTMs) Zone: Northing: Easting:

Datum Used: NAD83 NAD27 Other:

Site Location Source: GPS Digitized Map/Aerial Map/Compass Other (describe)

Township: Range: Section: ¼ ¼ ¼ (Enter in form but not GDB)

SITE MANAGEMENT

Date of Previous Assessment: Date of Initial Site Recording:

Collections/Data Recovery: Collections: Diagnostic Sample Complete Excavation: Testing Monitoring Data Recovery

References:

National Register Status:

Listed Unevaluated Determined Eligible Determined Not Eligible Contractor Recommended Eligible Contractor Recommended Not Eligible Site Not on Reclamation Land Site Destroyed on Reclamation Land Site Not Relocated

Criteria Used for Determination:

Site Eligibility Report Reference:

Environment:

Has the environment changed since last assessment/ recording? Yes No Describe:

Best Access (describe):

Site Condition: Undisturbed Disturbed Destroyed

Site Impacts: Erosion Mechanical Animal Vandalism Inundation Other Destroyed Following Mitigation Destroyed Without Mitigation

Threats to Site (describe):

Management Recommendations (describe):

SITE INFORMATION:

Property Type: Archaeological Site Building Structure Landscape/District Object Other (describe)

Site Class: Prehistoric Proto-historic Historic

Multi-Component TCP Other (describe)

Cultures/Dates

Pre Formative: Unknown Prehistoric Paleoindian Unknown Archaic

Early Middle Late Archaic Archaic-Formative

Formative: Anasazi Casas Grandes Cohonina Fremont Hakataya Hohokam Patayan/Yuman Prescott Mogollon Salado Tincheras Verde Tradition Other (describe)

Phases/Periods/Dates:

Modern Native American (describe):

Site Type:

Site Narrative:

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE CONDITION ASSESSMENT FORM

INSTRUCTIONS

The following instructions and definitions are to be used when completing the Bureau of Reclamation, PXAO Archaeological Site Condition Assessment form.

The guide is intended to document site condition and does not constitute, or substitute for, the official site inventory record. The assessment form should be treated as a stand-alone document that will be appended to the site record. All sections should be completed. If a site has had a condition assessment in the past, this assessment will be used to update that information. In accordance with Reclamation’s Cultural Resources Management Directive and Standard (LND 02-01), professionally qualified individuals are responsible for implementing Reclamation’s cultural resources programs. This includes site condition assessments. In order to accurately document site condition, information should be based on first-hand observation in the field. Any supplemental information, such as photographs, necessary to convey site condition information should also be attached to the assessment form.

Section I: Site Designator/Location. Information used to find, track and relocate the site.

Site Number:

Only one site should be documented on each assessment form. If a site has been assigned more than one number, those numbers will be entered into the Alternative Site Number field. Multiple or concordance numbers should can be included on the same form.

GPS and Datum:

GPS collections are in UTMs and entered in the assessment form.

It is critical to report the datum of the coordinate system (usually either NAD27 or NAD83), as well as the UTM zone. Reclamation uses the “North American Datum 1983” (NAD83) as the standard point of reference. If using ArcView or ArcGIS, you should report the ESRI-standard projected coordinate system as well.

Specific GIS/GPS standards and instructions are included in all contracts and PXAO’s GIS coordinator is available to answer questions.

Site Location Source This information is related to location accuracy based on either current mapping or legacy data.

Accurate and current GPS data is required to update past site plots that used map and compass and especially computer generated digitized site locations.

Township, Range, Section Enter these coordinates on the site assessment form. However, it is not necessary to enter this data into the GDB.

Section II: Site Management. Information used to manage and protect the site.

Previous Assessments Fill out if there is a previous site assessment. Also fill in the date of the original site record. If no previous condition assessments completed, only complete the original site recording date.

Collections/Excavations:

Identify any previous work at the site and reference relevant reports.

National Register Status:

Use standard National Register nomination criteria. Why is the site eligible, or not eligible, based on context studies, site type, etc.? When a site cannot be relocated, explain in detail. Identify if a site is not located on Reclamation land. When sites are evaluated, ensure that all portions located on Reclamation land are examined. The site can be determined eligible but if the portion of the site on Reclamation was destroyed, this needs to be explained. An unevaluated determination is only acceptable if the site cannot be relocated.

Environment:

Compare the previous environment to the current landscape, vegetation and any developments.

Has anything changed? What is there now?

Best Access:

Indicate the most efficient way to reach the site. Identify travel routes, landmarks, roads and best access. Does access require passing through gates or fences; is a key or landowner permission required? Photographs should include noted landmarks and reference points.

Site Condition:

Condition assessments tend to be subjective. Therefore, this section does not have standard number values but is rather divided into three categories with a required explanation for each.

The following are general guidelines: Undisturbed denotes minimal disturbance since original recording or last assessment. Disturbed follows with any significant impacts and Destroyed is a professional determination that the site no longer has data potential or scientific research value to warrant further archaeological monitoring, investigation or management.

Site Impacts:

Identify impacts from list and explain.

Site Threats:

A threat is a prediction of future disturbances expected to be harmful. Examples include soil or wind erosion that may expose or damage a site, increased public visitation, or new development.

Management Recommendations:

Based on field assessments, explain any ideas or thoughts on how to better manage and protect the resource.

Section III: Site Information. Information used to update the original site recording.

Property Type:

This is standard NHPA terminology. It is likely that most properties will be archaeological in nature with a lesser number of landscapes and districts.

Site Class:

This is standard terminology used to identify similar temporal or cultural groupings. Pick from the list and describe any others.

Cultures/Dates:

Identify pre-formative, formative, proto-historic and historic cultures, phases, periods and dates.

Site Type:

Use standard terminology, for example: lithic scatter, ceramic scatter or artifact scatter and culturally specific components such as alcove house, pithouse or house in pit.

Site Narrative:

Describe in detail the archaeological remains, assemblages, unique aspects, cultural components and other information not captured in previous sections. Address current research questions if possible.

Appendix C