Archaeological Services
Their presence and significance to human history can only be identified and evaluated by trained and experienced professionals. Proper identification of archaeological resources prior to project approval can increase avoidance and preservation and sometimes help avoid costly delays caused by inadvertent discoveries during active construction.
ECORP’s team of professionally qualified archaeologists, Registered Professional Archaeologists, osteologists, monitors, tribal liaisons, and specialists provide Archaeological Services to ensure project proponents comply with various local, state, and federal laws and requirements.
What Archaeological Services Does ECORP Offer?
ECORP provides a full suite of archaeological services, including:
- Records searches
- Literature reviews
- Historic map and aerial photography reviews
- Archival research
- Field surveys
- Technical reporting, documentation, and processing
ECORP’s Registered Professional Archaeologists also assist project proponents with due diligence and project design to maximize historic preservation to the greatest extent possible.
They operate in both terrestrial and underwater environments and are led by qualified professionals who exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for prehistoric and historic archaeology.
Terrestrial Archaeological Surveys and Services
The long history of human activity in California means that many indicators of the past have lost integrity or have been buried by floodwaters, landslides, or other natural processes. The resulting archaeological sites, artifacts, or features may not be clearly visible on the surface, and investigation requires a combination of skills, expertise, and the right tools to identify and evaluate these non-renewable resources. ECORP’s team of professionally qualified archaeologists:
- Perform laboratory field surveys to find any indications of cultural resources not previously recorded
- Utilize remote sensing data, such as lidar, to digitally peel back dense vegetation to reveal hidden archaeological sites
- Employ various methods of excavations and screening by hand or machine to test for the presence of deeply buried sites
- Performs laboratory analysis to identify artifacts, determine age and association, and to help interpret the sites; and
- Evaluate resources against criteria for inclusion in the California Register of Historical Resources, National Register of Historic Places, and other landmarks and registries in California
Underwater Archaeological Surveys and Services
Many archaeological sites rest underwater in various marine and freshwater environments.This presents additional challenges to documenting and recovering artifacts and sites and requires specialized training, education, and equipment that extend beyond what is required for terrestrial environments.
Our underwater archaeologists are certified as American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Scientific Divers and work with our Dive Safety Team to ensure that submerged cultural resources are identified and documented appropriately.
With these certifications and years of experience, ECORP offers legally defensible underwater and terrestrial archaeology services for projects that will impact inland waterways, lakes, rivers, and the ocean as well as those that impact inland structures, archeological sites, and other cultural resources.
What Other Cultural Resource Services Does ECORP Offer?
ECORP offers a wide range of cultural resources services in addition to the archaeological services outlined above. These include:
- Detailed recording and mapping of archaeological sites using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology
- Preparation of California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 site forms
- Curation preparation and collections management
- Site evaluations using the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources eligibility criteria
- Development of mitigation measures
- Data recovery excavations
- Construction monitoring
- Geoarchaeological assessments
- Shipwreck documentation
- Architectural history
- Interpretive panels and museum exhibits
- Coordination with federal resource agencies, the Office of Historic Preservation, and the State Historic Preservation Officer
- Negotiation of Programmatic Agreements and Memoranda of Agreement
- Development of standard operating procedures, agency policies, and government codes
- Section 5024 consultation support for state agencies
- Tribal liaison and consultation support
Contact ECORP today to discuss your project and learn more about our Archaeological Services.