B12_MISC_(SOW-_Attachment_1).docx

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Chillicothe, OH

SCOPE OF WORK:

ARCHEOLOGICAL OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT

Dated:

23 May, 2023

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

INTERIOR REGIONS 3/4/5

MIDWEST REGIONAL OFFICE MAJOR ACQUISITION BUYING OFFICE

SCOPE

Performance Period: The work of this task agreement shall be completed within 18 months from the date of the contract award.

Confidentiality: Information developed under this contract will include the locations of sensitive archeological properties; this data shall be shared with project proponents as required but will otherwise be kept in strict confidence.

Project Identification: The work of this project shall consist of the services described below for the referenced project. In all related documents, the project shall be referred to as “Archeological Overview and Assessment, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park”.

INTRODUCTION

The National Park Service (NPS) is contracting an Archeological Overview and Assessment (AOA) for Hopewell Culture National Historical Park (HOCU) in Chillicothe, Ohio. The project involves conducting a thorough investigation of existing records, documents, and reports to produce an overview of the archeological resources associated with HOCU. The Contractor shall prepare draft and final versions of the AOA that include maps depicting the results of the study.

The report shall follow guidance for preparing AOAs as identified in NPS Director’s Order (DO) 28 and described in Resource Manual NPS-28 Cultural Resource Management Guideline which describes the basic components of an AOA as a basic part of a park’s Archeological Resource Management Program. The document shall, at a minimum, thoroughly examine existing records, documents, and reports to describe and evaluate the known and potential archeological resources in an area. The AOA is baseline park documentation that will be used to inform other planning documents.

“This report describes and assesses the known and potential archeological resources in a park area. The overview reviews and summarizes existing archeological data; the assessment evaluates the data. The report assesses past work and helps determine the need for and design of future studies. It is undertaken in a park or regional geographical framework and may be a part of multi-agency planning efforts.” (NPS 28)

“An Archeological Overview and Assessment (AOA) is intended to give the current state of knowledge about known archeological resources within a park boundary and assess the full range of potential site types and associated cultures. Since many new parks may have few known archeological sites, a cultural history of the region and the analysis of potential sites will be critical. The AOA should have a list of affiliated tribes to be contacted when archeological projects take place, and the assessment section should be flexible enough for the addition of information as new resources are identified. AOAs should be reviewed every five years to determine if they reflect current research and assess all known archeological resources in a park, and an electronic version of the final AOA report should be entered into IRMA or its successor. “(WASO memo on cultural resource funds 2021)

BACKGROUND

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park includes 1,828.1 acres within its legislated boundary in Ross County, Ohio, at six separate sites: Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Seip Earthworks, Hopeton Earthworks, High Bank Works, and Spruce Hill Works. Each site preserves the remains of mounds and earthworks in the Scioto River watershed that were constructed between approximately 1,600 and 2,000 years ago by the people of the American Indian culture today known as Hopewell. The park also protects artifacts related to the Hopewell culture. As of November 2014, 1,187.8 acres are in NPS ownership. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding declared the Mound City Group site a national monument to preserve prehistoric mounds of “great historic and scientific interest.” Congress expanded the monument in 1980 by adding a portion of the nearby Hopeton Earthworks and authorized the investigation of other regional archeological sites to determine their suitability for preservation. The National Park Service recommended four additional sites. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park was established in 1992 by a law that renamed Mound City Group National Monument, expanding boundaries at Hopeton Earthworks, and included High Bank Works, Hopewell Mound Group, and Seip Earthworks. Spruce Hill Works was added to the park’s boundary in 2009. The park protects the remains of a dynamic social and ceremonial phenomenon that flourished in the woodlands of eastern North America between AD 1 and AD 400. The term Hopewell describes a broad network of economic, political, and spiritual beliefs and practices that linked different American Indian groups throughout the Eastern Woodlands. The culture is characterized by the construction of monumental enclosures made of earthen walls, often built in precise geometric patterns and aligned to solar and lunar standstill events on the horizon. Hopewell is known for wide ranging social networks, which stretched from the Atlantic Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Materials such as mica, shark’s teeth, obsidian, copper, and ocean shells moved through these networks to Ohio. These enormous sacred places were built and used by societies without hereditary leadership or intensive maize agriculture: rather these people lived in a social and economic landscape between bands and chiefdoms; between foraging and farming. This differed markedly from later Mississippian mound-building societies in North America such as Cahokia, where powerful chieftains ruled over urban centers fueled by maize agriculture. (HOCU 2017 Foundation Document) According to their 2017 Foundation Document:

The purpose of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is to preserve, interpret, and research the archeological record of a distinctive and influential American Indian culture known today as Hopewell, including earthworks, artifacts, other archeological resources, the cultural landscape, and ethnographic information.

Additionally, the park as its mission seeks to:

· Preserve, protect, and interpret the remnants of a group of once extensive archeological resources that might be lost if not protected, including mounds and earthworks, artifacts, the archeological context, the cultural landscape, and ethnographic information.

· Promote cultural resource stewardship and understanding of the importance of the resources to present and future generations.

· Promote, coordinate, conduct, and synthesize anthropological research that focuses on the major questions about the Hopewell culture.

· Educate the public about the Hopewell peoples’ daily lives, contributions, perceived values, and dealings with other peoples and the environment around them.

· Understand past societies and foster an appreciation of past, present, and future societies.

HOCU is unique in its Special Mandate from Congress:

Section 701(c) of PL 96-607 (December 28, 1980) directed the National Park Service to investigate other regional archeological sites for their suitability for preservation. “The Secretary shall, in consultation with interested organizations and individuals, investigate other sites in the region which contain archeological data illustrating the prehistoric Hopewellian civilization that flourished in the Eastern United States, and as a part of this investigation he shall identify those sites which he determines should be protected as part of the Mound City Group National Monument.” This section also stated that the acquired areas were not to exceed 150 acres. Also stipulated was access to the land in the vicinity of the earthworks by existing roadways could not be encumbered by acquisition or administration of the park. ·· Section 4 of PL 102-294 (May 27, 1992) included a mandate for additional studies:

-- “The Secretary shall conduct archeological studies of the areas added to the park by section 2(a) and adjacent areas to ensure that the boundaries of those areas encompass the lands that are needed to provide adequate protection of the significant archeological resources of those areas.”

-- “The Secretary shall conduct archeological studies of the areas described as the ‘Spruce Hill Works,’ the ‘Harness Group,’ and the ‘Cedar Bank Works,’ and may conduct archeological studies of other areas significant to Hopewellian culture, to evaluate the desirability of adding them to the park, and shall report to Congress on any such areas that are recommended for addition to the park.16 USC 410uu-3.”

·· Section 7109 of PL 111-11 (March 30, 2009) states that the Seip addition and Spruce Hill Works could be acquired from willing sellers or donation only.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY, COLLABORATIVE, AND CONSULTATIVE APPROACH

It is important that this project takes a multi-disciplinary, collaborative, and consultative approach to the resources at HOCU. In addition to literature review of historical and archeological works from many different types of sources, research for the AOA may require interviews with HOCU, Ohio History Connection (OHC), and Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC) staff, local residents/artifact collectors, and Federally recognized tribal members. Staff from these institutions may offer their working knowledge of relevant topics, along with literature and archival materials not available to the general public. Local community members, especially the very active artifact collector community in Ross County, Ohio may offer inside knowledge about sites unavailable from these institutions. Tribal communities originally from the Ross County area, and those that see their cultures as descendant of Hopewell may offer invaluable information regarding the meaning of the resources and because of their current involvement at the park will be helpful when looking at future directions for research.

HOCU honors articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) to which the United States is a signatory. Especially applicable is Article 11:

Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.

Since many of the tribes forcibly removed from what are now park lands consider Hopewell ancestral both culturally and intellectually, it is important that any project regarding cultural heritage incorporate these cultural descendants. HOCU consults on most projects with a set of 11 tribes: Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Seneca-Cayuga Nation, The Osage Nation, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Shawnee Tribe, and Wyandotte Nation. The Contractor will arrange with HOCU a virtual meeting at the beginning of the project to which these tribes will be invited and near the end of the project when there is a >90% draft in editing. All consultation will be conducted as official park business through the HOCU Superintendent. If any tribal members wish to be more involved with the project, the Contractor will be encouraged to aid in that involvement to the best of their ability.

This Scope of Work provides a template for the AOA, but the details of how this project is conducted will rely on consultation with the parties discussed here.

PURPOSE AND ANTICIPATED BENEFITS

Archeological sites at HOCU represent some of the longest studied in North America. Much of that archeological work occurred in the nineteenth century and has not continued in the modern era of scientific methods and techniques. Overall, the pattern of inventory and investigations at the areas of High Bank Earthworks, Hopeton Earthworks, Hopewell Mound Group, Mound City Group, Seip Earthworks, Spruce Hill is spotty at best. Park managers who have spent their careers studying these large archeological complexes have a working knowledge of what has and has not been done at each site, but for changing staff or outside parties trying to understand the park, it is a significant challenge to understand the history and complexity of archeological research and the resources encountered.

The archeological landscape at HOCU represents unique challenges both in preservation and interpretation of sites that have been mostly obliterated above grade but contain rich resources and data below grade. This problem has been partially resolved through geophysical location of features throughout these landscapes; but knowing what these geophysical data represent—the nature of what is being preserved—will require targeted excavations throughout the park’s short and long-term future. A well-researched Archeological Overview and Assessment will help identify what data gaps exist, which are highest priority, and what sites are at highest risk for data loss due to preservation/management issues.

HOCU is also one of only a few National Parks nominated for UNESCO World Heritage site status and is likely to be inscribed by 2023. How these sites and those managed by OHC as part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks nomination may be impacted by more visitation and increased research interest will be major questions in the near future. This overview and assessment will act as a reference document when the park is making decisions about priority research or infrastructure related to World Heritage status.

The AOA shall:

· Identify the need for additional field surveys or excavations to locate, evaluate, and document resources

· Describe the area's environment and culture history

· List, describe, and evaluate its known archeological resources

· Describe the potential for as-yet-unidentified archeological resources

· Summarize and evaluate past research in the area or region

· Outline relevant research topics

· Provide recommendations for future research

· Summarize the location of collections of archeological materials and associated records related to park resources

· Contain a comprehensive bibliography

HOCU geospatial data is officially managed my MWAC. If research results in updated geospatial data, the Contractor will coordinate with the MWAC staff about updates to GIS layers and Cultural Resources Inventory System (CRIS) data. If there are new site delineations recognized during the research, the Contractor will coordinate with the Ohio SHPO to update/establish new entries in the Ohio Archaeological Inventory (OAI). The Contractor will assess the current status of HOCU archeological entries in the National Register of Historic Places and make recommendations for any updates deemed necessary.

PROJECT METHODS

1) Communication is important in insuring that the AOA project is successful. This Scope of Work provides a template for the AOA, but the important details will be accomplished through communication with park staff and other stakeholders. A start-up meeting will be held through a conference call to review each item of the Scope of Work and any issues relevant to its successful execution. An on-site visit to the parks would also be very helpful in gaining a grasp of the park, its resources, and landscapes that can inform the overview. The Contractor may also be invited to a tribal consultation meeting during the site visit. Meetings or conference calls will also be utilized for updates on project progress and to discuss draft submittals.

2) Detailed historical research will be a part of the work required to produce the AOA. The research will help develop a framework of significance for known and potentially preserved archeological resources establishing the appropriate cultural contexts as defined by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. Sources of information will include but are not limited to previous surveys, historic resource studies, cultural landscape reports, LiDAR images, historic maps, and town and county histories. This information can be found on-line, at local libraries, the Ohio SHPO, The Ohio History Center, the Ross County Historical Society, the Midwest Archeological Center, and at HOCU. NPS documents may also be found on-line at the Integrated Resource Management Applications website at https://irma.nps.gov/Portal/. The Contractor should document, based on historical research, and the HOCU Ethnographic Overview and Assessment the Native American Peoples affiliated with the park’s landholdings. A digital copy of all maps and pertinent historical documents located during the research that are not available at MWAC or the park will be a project deliverable. In addition to the historical maps, maps documenting utilities or other disturbances should be located and reviewed to assess site integrity. Utility and development maps can be accessed at the Technical Information Center and searched through eTIC https://etic2.nps.gov/

3) Accessing key sources on history, previous archeological surveys and documented archeology sites for review will be a part of the project. These sources include archeological studies as well as some primary sources such as field notes and artifact collections; periodic access to the offices of the Ohio SHPO and OHC will be required for this project. Once collected, past archeological and geophysics site reports, field notes, and park archeology compliance files should be evaluated. These resources should also be utilized to evaluate the potential levels of significance and sub-surface integrity of potentially significant archeological sites.

4) The AOA will also include GIS maps that identify known sites, existing archaeological resources, areas that have been previously investigated archaeologically for prehistoric and historic resources. Data can be retrieved from MWAC, HOCU, and/or the Ohio SHPO interactive GIS database. MWAC and HOCU will supply the Contractor with a geodatabase containing the relevant data. If there are updates to geospatial data or site delineation, or any new symbology or cartographic data, the Contractor will supply a geodatabase with these updates to the NPS via MWAC at the end of the project.

5) Remote sensing data from the German Archaeological Institute (DAI) will be integral to understanding future research directions at the park. These data will be available to the Contractor during the development of this document. However, use of these images in the document will require permission from DAI. A discussion of data management for these valuable data should be assessed.

6) At the park and management unit level recommendations for future research should be developed and prioritized. Thematic areas, short comings in the existing data, and ways to improve the CRIS records should also be identified.

7) The results of the research, data collection and data synthesis will ultimately be submitted in the report.

REPORT CONTENT

The report must contain the following components:

i) Table of Contents

ii) List of Figures

iii) List of Tables

iv) List of Appendices

v) Abstract will be no more than a two-paragraph summary of the research methods and principal findings

vi) Acknowledgements

1) Introduction

2) Natural Setting. This section only needs to be a summary as this has been covered extensively in the literature.

3) Cultural History. This section only needs to be a summary as this has been covered extensively in the literature.

4) Management Units. Each management unit at HOCU (High Bank Earthworks, Hopeton Earthworks, Hopewell Mound Group, Mound City Group, Seip Earthworks, and Spruce Hill) will have a section on the following:

a. Each management unit chapter should include a summary of the natural setting, pre- and post-contact Native American history, and colonial history unique to that area of the park.

b. Evaluation of Previous Archeological Work. Each management unit chapter must list, describe, and provide a brief evaluation of each previous archeological project conducted within the specific units at HOCU. Critical evaluations will be made concerning survey methods, excavation strategy, results, reporting, cataloging and storage of artifacts, and implementation of any report recommendations within the unit. Previous archeological work should also include summaries of collections/lab work pertinent to the unit.

c. Documented Disturbances. The chapter will discuss construction and environmental disturbances that can be documented either through plans, textual citations, photographs, or interviews, which have affected the integrity of archaeological deposits at the park. Extensive map and construction documentation research will be required to assimilate the necessary information. Interviews with park staff may also be needed.

d. Known and Potential Archeological Resources. This chapter will identify known and potential archaeological resources based on the collection of maps, photographs, textual information, and archeological survey/excavation. The chapter should include known and potential archaeological resources for both the historic and pre-contact periods. Overlay maps should be developed (historic maps produced to digitally overlay a current base map) to illustrate the evolution of the park unit and its cultural resources. The results of the documented disturbances should be brought to bear on the identification of archaeological resources. This chapter should contain information pertinent to the CRIS database and should briefly describe all CRIS sites and sub-sites.

e. Recommendations. Each management unit chapter must summarize those sites that have the highest research and /or public significance for each of the periods and contexts. This chapter must include a list of important research questions for each unit that the archeological resources of the park can address. Recommendations should be made for additional documentary research, geophysical survey and subsurface testing, and prioritized by site. This chapter must include management recommendations for individual and groups of sites and identify potential threats to them. Recommendations should also be made for scholarly and public educational initiatives and activities. This chapter must be prepared in active consultation with the NPS and stakeholders (THPOs and SHPO).

A draft chapter for a management unit must be delivered between 6 and 11 months after startup. Comments will be provided 30 days after submission. A draft report will be submitted for review within 16 months after startup. The final report will be based on the comments received on the draft report.

GIS LAYER PREPARATION

Several GIS layers will be created from the documents gathered during research and all layers will be compatible with ArcGIS Pro 2.9.2 or greater. These GIS layers could include georectified scans of selected historic maps, and aerial photographs not already maintained at MWAC or the parks. Additional GIS layers will include known archaeological resources, structures and roads, previous cultural resource study areas, and a base map. Base maps including this information are currently maintained at MWAC and are in good condition, but additions may be required. The MWAC geodatabase and base map will be provided to the Contractor.

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables for the project will include:

· an electronic draft of a management unit chapter in Word format

· an electronic copy of the draft report in Word format

· 15 hard copies of the final report, including 1 unbound copy on acid-free archival paper

· a complete electronic version of the final document in 508 compliant Adobe pdf format

· digital copies of all maps and pertinent historical documents discovered during the project research for which the park or MWAC does not have copies

· updated GIS geodatabase of archeological site and survey information

All digital data and GIS information will be delivered on a flash or external drive.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

Following the award of the contract, NPS Staff will schedule a kick-off meeting within thirty (30) working days to finalize the project schedule and work plan.

Day 1: Project Start-up Meeting, including relevant stakeholders, i.e. THPOs, SHPO

0-6 Months: Site visit and perform preliminary research, review and begin collection of site data, previous reports, and artifact collection status. Submit outline for trial management unit. Call at end of 6 months to discuss outline, progress, and schedule.

6-11 Months: Continue research and submit draft chapter for trial management unit.

12 Months: Meeting/Call to discuss progress and get input on a draft management unit chapter.

16 Months: Submit draft report.

16-17 Months: NPS review of draft report. Meeting/call at end of month to discuss comments on deliverables and finalizing report.

17-18- Months: Contractor completes report using earlier draft and NPS comments. Submit final report.

18 Months: Final invoice and project close out.

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