What We Do

Regulations require consideration of construction impacts on paleontological, archaeological and historical resources and mandates preservation (including recovery) of significant resources. In practice, there are four types of Cultural Resources Management (CRM) work associated with construction projects.

Due Diligence (preliminary assessment)

A CRM firm will be asked to spend a very limited amount of time to gather available information, evaluate the cultural resources potential of a property under consideration for purchase and write a brief memo of results.

Assessment (CRM Phase I)

A CRM firm will be retained to provide technical information and mitigation recommendations. This work has four components:

1. Record Searches. These are requested from the California Historical Resources Information System (aka the Info Centers) and/or regional Museums of Paleontology to reveal any known paleontological, archaeological and historical resources within the project boundaries. A one mile radius around the project boundaries is standard except for linear projects such as roads where a quarter mile is common. Typically, geological maps, published literature and other sources will also be consulted to provide complete information.
     
2. Native American Consultation. A letter must be sent to the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) asking if any Traditional Heritage Resources (sacred lands) are known within the project boundaries and within a one mile radius around it. The NAHC will respond and include a list of local tribes and individuals to be consulted in addition. Letters then go out to that list with the same request. Responses must be included in the report.
     
3. Field Survey. The entire project is walked to determine if any cultural resources are present on the surface of the property. Resources located are photographed, GPSed, mapped and described but not removed.
     
4. Report. All results are included in the assessment report. A map of resources located on the project is included to facilitate planning decisions. Mitigation recommendations are provided. These typically are adopted by the lead agency (City, County, Agency, etc.) as conditions of approval. The power of these recommendations is the primary reason for thoughtful choice of CRM consultant.

Testing or Evaluation (CRM Phase II)

Known archaeological or historical resources revealed by the record searches or survey (and not avoided through project redesign) must be evaluated to determine if the resource is significant. Sometimes testing is also used to determine the boundaries of a known archaeological site to provide better information for project planners.

Testing for archaeological sites is usually a combination of field excavation methods including augering, shovel test pits and units (standard archaeological hole in the ground measuring one meter square). Laboratory work on recovered materials and a report with further recommendations are required with all testing.

Evaluation of historical resources usually involves specialized personnel including architectural historians and landscape historians. They use a combination of research and physical evaluation to determine if features of the built environment are significant.

Data Recovery or Monitoring (CRM Phase III)

If the final recommendations for a project state that there is a high probability of subsurface resources, monitoring by qualified CRM personnel will be required. For paleontology, testing is almost always bypassed and monitoring required if the rock unit is known to be sensitive for fossils. Depth of impacts greatly affects the probability of encountering fossils. If significant fossils are encountered, recovery is required along with stratigraphic sections, radiometric dating samples, etc.. This will be followed by laboratory work and an interpretive report.

For sites determined to be significant via testing, data recovery excavations are required unless the site is completely avoided through project redesign or capping (permeable membrane on surface covered by a minimum of three feet of fill). The State Office of Historic Preservation mandates preservation in place as the preferred alternative.

Data recovery excavations consist of excavation units placed to recover the maximum information about a scientifically significant sample of the site. Extensive laboratory work and an interpretive report are required also. Quite often, monitoring is required during grading of non-sampled portions of the site.

Unanticipated Discoveries

Discovery of unanticipated resources during a construction project can cause significant delays in construction progress. Thus, investing in a thorough evaluation process for cultural resources provides great value.