Condition Assessments of NPS Archaeological Sites

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Condition Assessments of NPS Archaeological Sites

• S. Terry Childs, Ph.D
• Archeology Program
• NPS

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What is a Condition Assessment?

• A professional evaluation
• Focuses on physical stability and degree or
  amount of deterioration
• Involves a site visit
• Is conducted on a regular schedule and is current

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Why Conduct CAs?

• Professional practice that is critical to make
  decisions about treatments necessary for the
  preservation, pro- tection, and interpretation of
  sites
• NPS policy (i.e., NPS Management Policies,
  Directors Orders) based in statute (i.e., ARPA,
  NHPAs section 110)
• Accountability and accomplishment requirements
  (i.e., GPRA, PART)

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Which NPS archeological sites should have a CA?

• All archeological resources subject to the
  Antiquities Act and ARPA, and all sites that are
  eligible through consensus determination or are
  formally listed historic properties under the
  NHPA. Are documented and have a site record in
  ASMIS.

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What values are assigned a CA?

• Good No noticeable deterioration, physically
  stable, present archeo. values not threatened
• Fair Evidence of deterioration, needs corrective
  treatment, impacting sites data potential
• Poor Severe deterioration, requires corrective
  treatment, sites data potential will be lost

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What values are assigned a CA?

• Inundated-Uncertain Deposits and condition are
  obscured and cannot be accurately assessed
  cannot apply standard CA methods
• Not Relocated-Unknown Last documented location
  of site was visited, but could not be relocated.
• Destroyed

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How is CA value determined?

• Amount of and potential for physical site
  deterioration over time
• Disturbance severity level
• Types and of disturbances
• Effect of each disturbance on site
• Spatial extent of disturbances in the site area
  ()

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What is a current CA?

• Performed on a particular site within the
  appropriate time period as determined by NPS
  guidance.
• Every 5 years
• Every 10 years
• Every 15 years

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Who Conducts CAs?

• First, baseline CA Professional archeologists
  who meet the Secys Professional Qualification
  Standards (NPS staff, contractors)
• Subsequent CAs Professionals, including
  contractors, or trained non-archeological staff
  or volunteers in consultation with a professional
  NPS archeologist

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How is a CA recorded?

• Field documentation, including field forms, maps,
  and photos
• ASMIS data entry

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How is NPS doing?