Full Circle Heritage Services

Phone: (575) 233-4071
54 Santana Rd. • Vado, NM 88072

Full Circle Heritage Services provides archaeological services—records checks and research, inventory survey, monitoring of construction activities, and excavation—for government agencies, contractors, and other parties who need them. We are also happy to consult with anyone who has questions or concerns about managing and protecting sites and features (including potential unmarked graves) on their lands. Feel free to call us for advice. If we can't answer your question, we will refer you to the agency or official that can best address your concerns.

In the Americas, archaeology is a sub-field of anthropology—the study of humanity. Anthropology's strength comes from its holistic approach, that is, employing a variety of sciences and disciplines to address questions about human origins, history, and behavior. Archaeologists study the materials people leave behind and how those materials and their patterning indicate people's relationships to the land, each other, and, sometimes, even their philosophies of life over time—from 50 to 15,000 years ago.

Put simply, in many situations it is required by law. Typically, any project that involves federal or state lands, funding, or permitting processes is required to comply with such laws. Consider the following words:

The spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage. The historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved… to give a sense of orientation to the American people. The preservation of this irreplaceable heritage is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations of Americans.

These words, taken from the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Section 1) reflect the importance that the nation places upon its unique heritage. It is a heritage derived from thousands of years of people living on the land, sometimes lightly, sometimes heavily, sometimes in cooperation and sometimes in conflict. It is a legacy that forms the foundation for our evolving ideas and values as passed on orally from parent to child over generations (oral history), as transmitted through books (written history), and as preserved in the sites and landscapes that hold the imprints and residues of people and their cultures (the archaeological record).

The archaeological record can be as obvious as giant pyramids, 400-room pueblos, or historic ghost towns. It can also be as subtle as a buried fire pit, a pot shard, or even a patch of soil with a chemical makeup differing from that surrounding it. The archaeological record is embedded in and marks the landscape. It bears witness to the lives of people throughout time, people about whom we usually have little or no living testimony. In fact, scientists have begun to realize that many aspects of the present landscape were actively modified or managed by people beginning as early as 10,000 years ago.

The National Historic Preservation Act (or NHPA), and similar laws passed at the state and local level, mandate that sponsors of projects involving public lands, public funds, or public permits "take into account the effect" the project may have upon prehistoric and historic sites and landscapes (Section 106). Project managers assess the potential impacts their project may have on archaeological or historical properties by first consulting with agency archaeologists and/or the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). If they decide there is potential for impact, a process of staged investigations is initiated.

Typically, the first stage is to check records files for previously recorded sites in or near the project area. The second is to conduct an archaeological inventory survey—an intensive inspection of the ground surface—to identify and evaluate any materials present. The third stage may be test excavation—small-scale hand digging or mechanical trenching—to determine the presence and nature of buried materials. The final stage is full-scale excavation, or data recovery, to collect the maximum amount of material and information from a site before it is impacted by the project. Archaeological monitoring often supplements or substitutes for the latter three stages. A monitor will observe project construction activities to check for materials that may come up during earthmoving activities or to ensure that known sites are not inadvertently damaged.

Consulting is probably the most important concept to keep in mind for efficiently complying with the historic preservation laws. Consult with agency archaeologists and/or the SHPO in the initial planning stages to get an idea of whether you will need archaeological services and at what level of intensity. Consultation continues throughout the stages of investigation but need not be a daunting process. For many, if not most projects, the level of archaeological investigation does not go beyond the survey stage. That is, the archaeologist conducting the survey completes a report documenting all finds, makes recommendations as to whether they have significant scientific value, and submits the report to agency archaeologists and the SHPO for their consideration. If the finds are not significant, usually no further archaeological work is required. Finds that are significant can often be avoided by altering project plans.

The practice of archaeology depends upon two essential components: competent research and diligent reporting. Research for a particular project usually includes at least a records check for previous work done in the area. It also usually includes one or more of the field-work stages discussed above. It may additionally include oral history interviews with long-term residents who have deeper familiarity with the area or about specific sites, archival research to flesh out the details of recent occupations or environmental changes, soil studies to understand the contexts of buried archaeological deposits, and ethnographic collaborations with Native American tribes and other groups who may have an interest in the project area, as well as a variety of other supporting analyses or studies from the anthropology or natural history disciplines.

Archaeological reports vary depending upon the size of the project and the requirements of the agencies. Typically, they include a project description; a review of the present knowledge about the cultures of the area, including a summary of known archaeological sites; an environmental summary; a description of field methods employed; a thorough description of all finds (sites and artifacts) including maps, photographs, special analyses, and recording forms; and recommendations about the scientific significance of archaeological sites including options to protect them during the proposed project. The report completes the archaeological process by describing the results and making them accessible to other scholars. More importantly for clients, reports form the basis for consultation with agency officials and the SHPO.

Our best advice is to consult with an archaeologist in the planning stage of your project—as early as possible—to determine what you must do to comply with the NHPA and other laws. Records checks are easily and cheaply done and can often indicate the extent and types of sites in the area and will provide an idea of the amount of archaeological work needed to clear your project. All of the major land-holding agencies (Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, State Lands Office, military bases) have staff archaeologists who handle these matters and who can provide a list of qualified archaeological service providers, if needed. Feel free to call us; we also can steer you in the right direction.