A Phase II archaeological evaluation occurs when an archaeological site has been identified in your project area that cannot be avoided by a project, and analysis indicates that it may meet national, state, or local significance criteria. Phase II evaluations are targeted to investigate potentially significant cultural resources in a project area, with an eye toward whether they are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The goal of the evaluation is to identify whether or not the site meets significance criteria, most often for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
An archaeological site can be eligible for the National Register by:
A. Being associated with a famous or transformative event.
B. Being associated with a famous or transformative individual (but not, as a rule, that individual’s birthplace).
C. Being a particularly good example of a specific style or the work of a known master craftsman.
D. Having the potential to provide significant information about life in the past.
A typical evaluation is simply targeted excavations using close-interval shovel testing and larger square or block test unit excavations in order to explore artifact concentrations or subsurface cultural features identified during previous fieldwork and assess their data potential.
Once the fieldwork is complete and the artifacts are processed, we prepare a detailed report of our findings and provide a recommendation for further management of the resource. We work with you and review agencies to ensure a proper and cost-effective solution to managing resources that are found to be National Register eligible.
