Archeology E-gram February 2021

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Terminates Consultations on Oak Flats

The ACHP terminated consultation on the development of an NHPA Section 106 agreement with the USFS in the Resolution Copper Project and Southeast Arizona Land Exchange, Tonto NF, in Arizona. The ACHP will develop its final advisory comments on this undertaking and proposed resolution of adverse effects on historic properties for the Secretary of Agriculture.

The project, included in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), requires that the USFS approve plans for mining operations submitted by Resolution Copper Mining and facilitate the exchange of lands between Resolution Copper and the U.S. The land exchange would transfer 2,422 acres of USFS lands from federal ownership which would then be used for the mining project. The proposed mining operation includes extraction, transportation, and processing of copper and molybdenum. Resolution Copper Mining is partially owned by Rio Tinto, an international company that directed the destruction in 2020 of 42,000-year-old cave sites in Juu’kan Gorge in Australia.

The USFS determined that the project would directly and permanently damage the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District, known more broadly as Oak Flat, and potentially affect more than 500 sites eligible for listing on the National Register. The USFS identified Oak Flat as a historic property of religious and cultural significance to Indian tribes and a Traditional Cultural Property significant to multiple Apache tribes.

The USFS initiated consultation in 2015 to seek an agreement among the consulting parties on measures to minimize or mitigate the adverse impacts. The ACHP participated in this consultation beginning in December 21, 2017. Recognizing that neither the NHPA or the NDAA authorizes the ACHP to stop this undertaking, the ACHP’s participation in the Section 106 consultation was focused on advising the USFS on steps to comply with the Section 106 procedures and to consider ways to address the impacts on historic properties that would result from the legislatively mandated exchange and the proposed mining project.

While the consultation process led to an agreement signed by other consulting parties, the ACHP declined to sign it, concluding the measures outlined in the agreement were not sufficient to adequately resolve the adverse effects on historic properties, and further consultation would not be productive. The NDAA requires the land exchange to occur no later than 60 days from the USFS issuance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The USFS issued the FEIS on January 15, 2021.

Publishing Tips for Archeologists on the Go

NPS Archeologists frequently move between park units and from parks to regional offices and centers for new employment opportunities. There is often such a long gap between data collection and publication that archeologists may have moved away from the park by the time that a research article appears in print. In addition, authors may work at a regional office or archeological center, and not in the park where the data was collected. Here are a few tips for maintaining good relationships when planning to publish data collected at a park where are you are not currently working:

• Get the supervisor's approval to publish research findings early in the project; and otherwise follow NPS publication protocols (These are in development.).
• Create a record of permission given and make files of work completed while you are working on the project.
• If you are conducting research and publishing research findings about a resource which is important to an affiliated tribal government, ensure that the park initiates consultation early and that consultation continues through publication. Keep a record of this. Ensure you are not publishing sensitive information.
• If you transition away from a park with a publication pending, make this clear to the park staff at the park you left.
• If you have transitioned away from a park, and you are contacted by news reporters about work you did at your former park, refer the journalists back to the originating park. Don’t speak for the park, or the project, or attempt to consult with the affiliated tribe from your new position.

Keeping the park apprised of your plans to publish findings is ethical, much appreciated by park staff, and just good manners! Your actions will ensure that you will be welcome to conduct research there again.

The Federal Archeologist’s Bookshelf:

Assessment of Museum Collections Storage Management A Report by a Panel of the National Academy of Public Administration for the National Park Service. 2020

The NPS Museum Management Program requested the National Academy of Public Administration (a congressionally chartered, independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization) perform an independent review of its collections storage management practices and provide recommendations to enhance efficiencies and effectiveness.

The baseline for the review was the NPS Park Museum Collections Storage Plan (2007). The panel found that the NPS will not meet any of the goals outlined in the 2007 Museums Storage Collection Plan by 2027. The panel listed five characteristics that impacted implementation of the 2007 storage plan:

• Lack of standardized policy interpretations and adherence due to diffuse authority.
• Impediments to establishing service-wide policies.
• Siloed operations and lack of collaboration (specifically between Facilities and Cultural Resources directorates)
• Under-utilized feedback loops
• Challenging access

The panel indicated that the 2007 collections management plan is a sound foundation to build on to improve collections management, but was unsuccessful due to lack of funding, accountability, and incentivizing mechanisms. They identified 11 issues challenging museum curation, and made 16 recommendations for meeting the 2007 goals, some that directly affect NPS archeological activities.

As the majority of archeological collections from NPS lands are stored in park museum facilities, this is an important document for NPS archeologists to read and discuss with their curatorial colleagues. Recommended collections consolidation will affect access to archeological collections. The panel also recommended that the NPS strike a balance between regulating potential collection growth and researcher access, and criteria for accepting and rejecting permits for field collections research in parks. This will be an important topic for joint discussion between NPS museum curators and archeologists. Conversations about solutions with measurable results is the first step to changing NPS culture and internal practices. These conversations are the first step to implementing recommendations and plans that improve the work that we do as archeologists and curators.

To read the full report, go to Assessment of the National Park Service Museum Collections Storage Management | National Academy Of Public Administration (napawash.org)

Cultural Resource Training for Interns in Common Learning Portal

It’s not too early to start planning enriching experiences for our summer interns, and the CLP has a number of useful offerings! Your intern’s schedule may accommodate the shorter Learning Activities that may be more useful. Here are a couple of Learning Activities that may be useful:

Foundations of Cultural Resources Foundations of Cultural Resources - NPS: Common Learning Portal
This is an excellent overview of NPS cultural resources. The audience for this course is everyone, to help each of us understand how our jobs are essential to preserving and protecting cultural resources for this and future generations. The purpose is twofold; to acquire foundational knowledge of NPS cultural resources and to explore your “why” of cultural resource management. By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify the significance of cultural resources to the NPS Mission.
• Discuss ways that you and your work support the stewardship and management of cultural resources.

You’ll go through sections of the course that focus on specific questions, including:

• What are cultural resources?
• Why does the NPS preserve and protect cultural resources?
• Where does cultural resource work happen?
• Who does cultural resource management?
• Why and how do I contribute to the preservation and protection of cultural resources?

Getting Started with Section 106 Getting Started with Section 106 - NPS: Common Learning Portal
Even if they are not going to be doing Section 106 work, your intern presents a good opportunity to education a member of the public about the important Section 106 work that we do. This learning activity will provide a general understanding of what Section 106 is and why it is important, and:

• When Section 106 applies and when to start the process
• Who participates in the Section 106 process and when they are involved in the process
• Where to find reference and guidance materials used to complete the Section 106 process
• Understand and implement the Section 106 four-step process

And don’t miss a really great short (1.06 minutes!) video Section 106 in 1.06

GRANTS AND TRAINING

Gloria S. King Research Fellowship in Archaeology
The Maryland Archaeological Conservation (MAC) Laboratory is accepting applications for the ninth year of the Gloria King Research Fellowship in Archaeology. The MAC Lab is an archeological research, conservation, and curation facility located at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, the Maryland State Museum of Archaeology. It is a clearinghouse for collections from land-based and underwater archeological projects in Maryland and curates 10 million artifacts representing over 12,000 years of human occupation.

Students, academics, or professionals may research any subject in Maryland archeology and must use collections at the MAC Lab. (Employees of the Maryland Historical Trust and St. Mary’s College are not eligible.) Applicants should refer to the Maryland Unearthed website, which provides access to archeological collections maintained by the lab, at http://jefpat.org/mdunearth/index.aspx The application includes a 1000 word proposal outlining the research problem and the collections in the MAC Lab to be used to address the problem, a curriculum vita, and a letter of recommendation. Applicants are encouraged to contact the lab to ensure that the lab has appropriate collections.

The fellowship stipend is $700 a week, with a minimum 2 week and maximum 5 week stay. On-site housing may be available, dependent on scheduling of fellowship. Applications must be received by June 15, 2019. Send applications to: Patricia Samford, Director Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum 10515 Mackall Road St. Leonard, Maryland 20685

Gloria Shafer King was born on January 6, 1931, in Baltimore, Maryland. She spent summers as a child on her family's farm near Chestertown, Maryland, and attended Washington College. She had a lifelong interest in Maryland history and archeology and contributed funds and services to individuals and organizations supporting this interest. Mrs. King died on May 31, 2004, and this fellowship in her memory recognizes her many contributions to the preservation of the past.

Contact: Patricia Samford, [e-mail]

SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC:

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