Construction plan overlaid with archaeological information (Wuellner et al. 1993:Fig. 14)
First Steps
Currently, only a small part of the archaeology in this country is done through independent research at universities. In fact, almost eighty percent of professional archaeologists work outside academia. Most of their research stems from archaeology related to construction projects. Under a process called cultural resource management, construction planners consider a project’s impact on the nation’s heritage, along with environmental issues and landowner concerns. Any construction using federal funds must either avoid or investigate significant historic and archaeological sites.
Long before road or bridge building begins, archaeologists assess the likelihood of finding archaeological sites in the project area. This preliminary research involves reviewing archaeological site records and reports relevant to the area, kept by the Department of Historic Resources in Richmond. Historic maps and more general archaeological studies are also consulted to find out how the area was settled and used in the past, and therefore the kinds of sites to expect. If modern activity or natural agents like erosion have not compromised sites within the proposed construction limits, archaeologists carry their research into the field and perform a sytematic survey to locate sites.
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