Why is there a section about archaeology on a rehabilitation website?
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, requires federal agencies or their delegated authorities to take into account the effect their activities may have on historic resources. Historic resources are properties that are eligible for listing on or listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These resources can be either above ground or below ground.
How does this apply to our project?
If your rehabilitation project involves ground-disturbing activity, we must review that portion of the project as well as any rehabilitation activities not exempted in the HUD memo. It also means that we have to review all new construction projects to determine the potential effects on archaeological resources.
All projects involving ground-disturbing activities must be submitted on the longer Section 106 form (not the little rehab cards) and must include a USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map.
What if we discover archaeological resources during ground-disturbing activity? The SHPO’s already “cleared” our project – what do we need to do?
This is called a “post-review discovery” and is addressed in 36 CFR Part 800.13. If, when we review your project, we suspect you might encounter archaeological resources, we will develop an MOA to address how this will be handled. Occasionally, archaeological resources or human remains (see below) are discovered unexpectedly during the course of a project. 36 CFR Part 800.13(b) addresses discoveries without prior planning.
In the case of such discoveries, work should stop immediately, and the SHPO, the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, and any tribe with an interest in the area of your project must be notified within 48 hours of the discovery. The regulations assume that a federal agency has responsibility for the project; in the case of HUD-funded projects, HUD has delegated their authority to the funding recipient. In this case, I would strongly recommend that you also immediately contact your funding contact.
What should we do if we discover human remains in the course of our projects?
Work should stop immediately and the police should be notified. The Michigan Attorney General’s Opinion #6585 provides guidance in this area. The police will determine if the discovery marks a crime scene. If the remains are determined to be pre-historic or historic Native American remains, the Office of the State Archaeologist should be contacted immediately (be sure to let them know that there are federal funds involved in the project). Because this is a project that has HUD funding, the SHPO and your funder should also be notified.
Resources
The ACHP’s Policy Statement Regarding Treatment of Burial Sites, Human Remains, and Funerary Objects and the accompanying Fact Sheet
The ACHP’s Section 106 Archaeology Guidance: Who consults with whom, and how?
The ACHP’s Section 106 Archaeology Guidance: What is the role of applicants and their consultants / contractors in archaeology conducted under Section 106?
Office of the State Archaeologist The Michigan Office of the State Archaeologist assists the SHPO with the below-ground portion of Section 106 reviews. If you have questions that are specifically related to the archaeological portion of the review that we can’t answer, we will direct you to contact the OSA for clarification.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What on earth is a USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle map and where do I get one?
The USGS quad maps are the types of maps used by the archaeologists. When you send in your map, they compare it to the information on the maps in their office.
The USGS quad maps are maps produced by the US Geological Survey using contour markings to show the shape and elevation of terrain. These maps show and name natural and cultural features. Those at a scale of 1:24000 (1 inch = 2000 feet) show enough detail to be useful for the purposes of this review. Maps at other scales (for example, 1:50,000 [1 centimeter = 0.5 kilometer], 1:100,000 [1 centimeter = 1 kilometer], 1:250,000 [1 inch = about 4 miles], 1:500,000 [1 inch = about 8 miles], and 1:1,000,000 [1 inch = about 16 miles] don’t produce enough detail to be useful for our archaeologists.
Most USGS maps are bounded by two lines of latitude and two lines of longitude. A 7.5 minute map shows an area that covers 7.5 minutes of latitude and 7.5 minutes of longitude.
Quad maps may be purchased for $6.00 from the USGS Store or you can print one off through TerraServer USA. Make sure if you go to TerraServer USA that you are getting a map with squiggly lines (the Topo map). We cannot use aerial photographs instead of the USGS quad maps, we need the shaded relief maps. They can also be found through the Michigan DNR’s website.
How do I find out what the section, township, and range are for my project?
You can find the section, township, and range information in county plat books. Where do you find a county plat book? You could try your local library, they should have a copy. Or, you could use the DNR online plat maps. Those might be a bit trickier to use. Clicking on the state map will open a county map. Make sure you take note of the appropriate township and range (remember, the “township” you are looking for is a number followed by N or S, not the name of the township like “Alaiedon Twp” or “Vevay Twp”). Click on that township and it will open a separate map with the sections. Since these maps date back to the 1800s, they may lack modern landmarks that will help you.
These sources also offer plat maps for purchase or download (warning: plat books can be expensive – you might want to check your local library first).
If you have the legal land description for your project’s location, the information will be in there (for example, if the legal description reads something like:NE1/4NW1/4SW1/4, sec 22, T. 31 N., R. 18 W, then your Section is 22, Township is 31N and Range is 18W.)
If you’re really stuck, you could check with the local (county, township or village/city) planning department, they may have the information for you.
