Archaeological Survey in Texas

How Cultural Resources Management is Conducted in the State

Jul 2, 2009

Protecting Texas' historic and prehistoric places follows a standard methodology based on federal, state, and local regulations.

According to Cultural Resource Laws and Practice: An Introductory Guide by Thomas F. King, cultural resources management involves the administration of “historic places of archaeological, architectural, and historical interest, and considering impacts to such places under the environmental and historic preservation laws.”

The Purpose of Cultural Resources Management

While the practice of cultural resources management (or “CRM”) has evolved over many decades, the most important laws enacted by the federal government are the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act. These regulations form the basis for the federal-state-local system of management for the preservation of places of historical interest.

In Texas, the agency responsible for the oversight of historic preservation in the state is the Texas Historical Commission (THC). According to its website, “THC staff consults with citizens and organizations to preserve Texas' architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks.”

The Council of Texas Archeologists is also involved in the preservation and conservation Texas’ cultural resources. It is a non-profit, voluntary organization that works with federal and state agencies and the archaeological community to promote cooperation and information dissemination.

How Archaeological Investigations Work

Typically, major construction projects in the United States must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. If a project falls under the jurisdiction of a federal agency—the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for example—the project administrators must review all actions which may affect a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places or which may affect a property eligible for listing.

Companies specializing in cultural resources management are usually contracted to conduct a comprehensive cultural resource impact assessment. Most CRM firms follow a standard procedure for assessing cultural resources, which according to King, generally has eight steps:

Archaeological Survey Standards in Texas

Identification of cultural resources, often called a “Phase I survey,” is one of the most important steps in the assessment process since it involves the actual discovery of historic or prehistoric places. While survey standards vary from state to state, Texas has established its own methodology.

Archaeologists supervising an assessment must meet certain professional criteria. Background research using resources from the THC, the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL), or the Texas Archeological Sites Database must be conducted prior to field investigations to identify any previously recorded sites in the project area. If there is a potential for sites that are buried deeply under the surface, backhoe trenching may be required. Site forms, reports, and artifact curation must all meet THC standards.

Minimum survey standards for project areas of 200 acres or less must have transect (survey path) intervals not greater than 30 meters (about 100 feet). Shovel tests (hand-dug pits in which archaeologists search for subsurface cultural artifacts) are conducted systematically; the density of the tests decreases as acreage increases. Individual test holes must meet certain criteria as well, such as achieving a specific depth and width.

Linear survey projects, such as those for pipelines, require at least 16 shovel tests per mile. Transect intervals are usually the same as those for area surveys. If a new site is discovered, a minimum of six shovel tests is required to define the boundary of the site. Areas with more than 30 percent ground surface visibility and slopes greater than 20 percent can be investigated visually.

The copyright of the article Archaeological Survey in Texas in Archaeology is owned by Jeremy Mangum. Permission to republish Archaeological Survey in Texas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.