Script for Webinar #6 CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEYS: SEARCHING FOR HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES How do we find historical and archeological resources in our project areas? I. INTRODUCTION TO WEBINAR Slide 1 Welcome back to TxDOT’s Historic Preservation webinar series! This webinar is all about the steps we take to identify and evaluate cultural resources in our project area. Slide 2 This is the sixth of seven webinars about our commitments to Historic Preservation at TxDOT. The goal with this webinar series is to provide you with all the information you need to become an informed participant in the Section 106 process. If this webinar is the first you’ve tuned into, we recommend you pause and watch Webinar 3 and Webinar 5 before moving on. The previous webinars provide a great foundation for understanding the overall historic preservation process. Be sure to download the handouts for links to other helpful resources and a glossary of terms we use throughout the series. Slide 3 In this webinar, we discuss the work that our archeologists and architectural historians do to identify and evaluate cultural resources in the project area. We’ll also talk about how we need your help making sure we didn’t miss anything important. By the end of the webinar you’ll know how these surveys guide TxDOT’s decisions on projects. II. CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEYS Slide 4 Let’s start with a couple quick reminders: TxDOT must consider how its projects could impact cultural resources that qualify for the National Register of Historic Places. The Area of Potential Effects, or APE, is where our archeologists and architectural historians look for archeology sites and historic resources. So how do we look for cultural resources in the APE and decide what qualifies for the National Register? TxDOT conducts research and field investigations to gather information about the history and importance of the property. We ask consulting parties and our preservation partners for input, and then we study the site or property to see if it meets certain standards for the National Register. Together, this process is called a “survey.” Slide 5 The size and scale of a project will determine if we move forward with a survey – some projects do not require a survey at all. We have different scenarios in our guidelines so our archeologists and historians can follow a consistent approach in reviewing hundreds of projects a year. Our federal and state partners agree with our approach. (Watch webinar 2 for more info on our agreements.) III. ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEYS Slide 6 First, let’s focus on the basics of archeological surveys. We need to know if there are archeological sites or cemeteries in the APE. The size of an archeology survey depends on the project and on the potential of the landscape to contain archeological sites. Generally, these surveys include background research, field investigations, lab studies, and a report. Surveys must be conducted by professional archeologists and our archeologists have many specialties, like archeobotany, which is the study of ancient plant remains, or geoarcheology, which is the study of archeological problems using the methods and concepts of the earth sciences. Slide 7 The first step of an archeological survey is usually to complete background research. Archeologists look at historic and current maps, archival records, and previous surveys to learn about known or possible archeological sites in the project area. TxDOT also talks with specific consulting parties about potential sites in the project APE. Slide 8 Based on the background research, if archeologists think there may be a site to uncover in the APE, they’ll conduct field investigations. This is where archeologists actually visit the project area and study the landscape, soils and more. Archeologists may dig small round holes called shovel tests, dig backhoe trenches, and dig square holes called test pits to see if there are artifacts or features, such as a foundation from a dwelling, buried beneath the ground surface. Sometimes they need more information, so they dig larger pits or use machines to remove layers of dirt in order to better understand the site. Archeologists carefully map and record everything, and save any artifacts for future study. If the site looks promising, they may return to do more involved preliminary work in a process called “testing”. Slide 9 Once the field investigation is complete, the archeologists take everything they found in the field back to a lab to be cleaned, sorted, and studied. These lab studies help archeologists understand the artifacts they found, and the people that used them. Slide 10 The team will then produce an archeological report. It contains the background research, results from the field investigation and the lab, and recommendations for how to address the findings. Consulting parties and interested parties may request copies of the report, but it’s important to note that archeology site locations are protected by law, including those uncovered during survey work. This protects the site from looting, or unauthorized digging. IV. HISTORICAL SURVEYS Slide 11 Next, let’s dive into the details of historical surveys, which are conducted by historians. Our team of professionals specialize in a variety of topics including architecture, landscapes, historic bridges, and more. The type and size of the historical survey will depend on the project. Surveys typically include background research, field investigations, and a report. Slide 12 The first step of a historical survey is to complete background research. Architectural historians will look at historic and current maps, property records, and other information about properties in the above-ground APE. We are looking for buildings or places in the APE that are older than 45 years of age, which we call historic-age resources. We are also looking for known historic resources. Slide 13 After we determine what is and what could be in our APE, we visit the project area and conduct various studies. We take photographs of all historic-age resources, record details about the resources on what we call a “survey form,” and map the location of historic resources. We visit local museums, libraries, and archives to do more research about the area and historic resources. We also meet with consulting parties who can help identify important places. We know how to spot historic-age properties, but we want to know what is important in your community. Slide 14 Architectural historians will wrap all of this research and fieldwork into a survey report. It covers the background research and the results of the field investigation. It also includes recommendations for what to do next. V. ASSESSING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Slide 15 So, we’ve done our fieldwork and research. How do we determine if what we found qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places? TxDOT uses widely accepted guidance for assessing National Register eligibility. Simply put, there are three factors: age, significance, and integrity. First, resources must be at least 50 years old to qualify for the National Register. TxDOT plays it safe and looks at resources at least 45 years old. Slide 16 Second, resources must be significant for at least one of four reasons. [CLICK] * A: It played an important role in an historical event or pattern in our past. For example, a train depot that was important in the settlement of a new city. [CLICK] * B: The resource is associated with an individual who was historically significant. For example, the house where an important person lived during the peak of their career. [CLICK] * C: The resource is important for its architecture, construction, or technology. For example, a bridge that used new construction methods. [CLICK] * And D: The resource has potential to yield important information about prehistory or history. For example, an archeology site that could tell us more about how Native Americans lived in the area. [CLICK] Slide 17 The third factor is integrity. Integrity means that the property must be similar in appearance to the way it was historically. Integrity helps us understand what is important about a cultural resource. For example, a building must have original details and design to be important for architecture. In this example, the building on the top has a lot of original material, and better integrity compared to the building on the bottom. An archeology site must have artifacts in their original location for archeologists to understand the site. Removing artifacts from their site affects integrity. It can change how we interpret the artifact and change how we understand the site or the people who used the site. It is important to leave archeological artifacts where they are found, and not to collect or pick them up. VI. KEY TAKEAWAYS Slide 18 Okay, quick recap: Cultural resource surveys are an important part of the Section 106 process. They are conducted by professional archeologists and architectural historians. The goal of these surveys is to determine if there are cultural resources in the APE that qualify for the National Register of Historic Places. Surveys are usually made up of at least background research, field investigations, and consulting party input. Surveys end with reports that note what was found and recommendations for what to do next. Only when we know about the cultural resources in our project area and why they are important to you can we decide how to balance progress with preservation. VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Slide 19 Thanks for listening to this webinar about archeological and historical field surveys. Tune into the other webinars in this series to learn more about Section 106 and historic preservation at TxDOT. In the meantime, check out the video description below for links to helpful online resources and handouts. Head to TxDOT’s Beyond The Road website for videos, podcasts, and story maps about the interesting resources we’ve uncovered during our projects. Sign up for our newsletter and learn more about how you can get involved. Links for video description: For additional information about cultural resource surveys and assessing eligibility for the NRHP: • TxDOT’s Archaeology and History page: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/environmental/archaeology-history.html • Texas Historical Commission Historic Resources Survey page: https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/historic-resources-survey • Texas Historical Commission’s National Register of Historic Places Page: https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/national-register-historic-places • National Park Service’s National Register Page: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm • TxDOT’s map of Historic Districts and Properties of Texas: https://txdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=077104987672487b9b320cc424d588a2 • TxDOT’s map of NRHP Listed and Eligible Bridges: https://txdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cc9cf3452a324d0bb961a0c8b4edd898 • Texas Historical Commission Texas Historic Sites Atlas: https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/ For more specific guidance on TxDOT’s Section 106 process, refer to TxDOT’s toolkits. • Archaeological Sites and Cemeteries Toolkit: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/environmental/compliance-toolkits/toolkit.html • Historic Resources Toolkit: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/environmental/compliance-toolkits/historic-resources.html For information about TxDOT projects and how to get involved visit: • Getting Involved in Historic Preservation at TxDOT: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/environmental/historic-preservation.html • TxDOT’s public involvement page (which lists public meeting schedule): https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved.html • TxDOT’s project tracker https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/project-tracker.html Contact us: https://www.txdot.gov/contact-us/form.html?id=env-asc-email