Cultural Resource Management (CRM): What is it and Why is it Done?

 Not many people outside of the archaeology realm are very familiar with Cultural Resource Management, but it plays a role in all of our lives. If you have ever driving on a public road or if you live in a large development, you likely benefitted from Cultural Resource Management (CRM for short). The majority of archaeologists that do not work in academia are employed with Cultural Resource Management firms. CRM involves documenting and evaluating sites, and mitigating the adverse effects of development projects and construction. The responsibilities of archaeologists working in this domain include archaeological surveys, recording historic structures, consulting with Native American tribes, evaluating cultural resources for their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and assisting landowners and developers with compliance related to archaeological protection laws. 

Cultural resources are governed under various state and federal laws. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 contains federal regulations regarding cultural resources and the review process for protecting and mitigating cultural resources during development or construction projects. These regulations come into play in the private sector when the construction or development project requires a federal permit or uses federal money.  Projects that may require Section 106 review include projects like widening a highway, a major housing development, construction of state or federal lands, or anything else that may require a federal permit or use of federal funds. A state and local government may also have their own laws, regulations, and ordinances that trigger similar reviews and thus require an archaeologist to survey the project area.

Archaeologists conducting a cultural resources 
survey. (photo courtesy of University of West 
Florida)

So what resources fall under this category and what resources are archaeologists in CRM looking to find? Cultural resources is a broad term and applies to any remains or sites associated with human activities that are generally 50 years old or older. This can include sites as old as pre-Columbian Native American encampments, all the way up to a historic building constructed 50 years ago. It is important to understand that an archaeologist encountering these types of resources does not put a complete stop to a development or construction in most cases. The archaeologist will usually work with the developer and the state to find a mitigation strategy. Some sites are not preserved in the ground as they are found, but are instead preserved through documentation before they are potentially destroyed. This way archaeologists can gather information about the site before construction. Other times, a site may be deemed significant enough to warrant preservation in place. In this case, a roadway may detour a bit from it's intended route or an area within a housing development may become a designated greenspace. Cultural Resource Management is not designed to stop development, but rather to ensure responsible development that takes into consideration non-renewable cultural resources and ensures that processes are in place to mitigate and protect sites that may be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Cultural Resource Management tends to take place in the background. Archaeologists are usually out at the site before construction begins, and sometimes during construction if monitoring is deemed necessary. You probably won't even know they have been there. Often times we receive calls from concerned citizens asking about a development that is long underway. Sometimes it is a last ditch effort to stop the development. Sometimes it is genuine concern over potential archaeological sites. In order to receive the proper permits to begin construction, the developer will have had to go through the archaeological compliance process. So, by the time the bulldozers have appeared, the archaeologists have already come and gone and have already submitted their report to the state for review. 

For more information on both federal and state laws you can check with your state's compliance and review section. In Florida, the Division of Historic Resources, housed within the Florida Department of State, is responsible for reviewing Section 106 projects. They also provide technical assistance to land owners and developers to ensure they are in compliance with state and federal cultural resource protection laws.

Archaeology and the Pandemic: How Archaeology Can Help with Our Response

People wearing masks during the 1918 Inflenza
Pandemic. (courtesy of The Seattle Times)

You have probably heard the current COVID-19 pandemic compared to the 1918 influenza epidemic or perhaps the bubonic plague that swept across Asia and Europe in the 1300s. Both these events may seem long ago, but to archaeologists they seem relatively recent, especially the 1913 flu epidemic. The archaeological record indicates that since humans have existed, so has disease. Bioarchaeologists find evidence of such in ancient skeletal material. Historic archaeologists find evidence of it in the written record. Many archaeologists have uncovered artifacts relating to ancient diseases. It is something that humans have always had to deal with and have always sought to better understand. 

You may think that I am about to go on about how learning from history can prevent us from repeating it. But it is a lot more complex than that. We don't want to fall into the logical fallacy of what is referred to as the "appeal to antiquity". Looking to the past for insight into current events is a lot different than looking to repeat what folks did in the past. Remember, in the past people did a lot of things wrong, even in an effort to do good. Ever heard of the Miasma Theory? Medical experts used to believe that diseases such as cholera and the black plague were spread via miasmas, or foul air emanating from rotting organic material. It was even believed that obesity could be caused by a person smelling too much food. Obviously we now know that to be false.

 Archaeologists are by no means first responders, but we can offer unique insight into how our past

The Tuskegee Experiment left 400 African
Americans believing they were receiving 
syphillis treatment, when the experiment was 
actually examining the effects of untreated syphillis. This 
study resulted in a serious distrust of medical experts 
among African Americans. (courtesy of asbmd.org)

influences our response to things like COVID-19. Archaeologists and historians that study colonialism and the African diaspora, as well as more recent African American history, can provide insight regarding how past racial injustices in our country have influenced both medical expert response to the pandemic, as well as the response by the African American community. Archaeologists and anthropologists could potentially be tapped as mediators between medical experts and the African American community to help ensure that these, and other minority communities, are getting the help they need, while shedding light on past issues that medical experts may not be sensitive to or aware of.

 Many of our major cities are located where they are because of past trade routes. Many are located in coastal areas or along major bodies of water. We have continued to occupy pretty much the same areas, just in higher densities. Historic records indicate that most early urban civilizations suffered from outbreaks of various diseases, from typhoid to the black death. Non-urban villages suffered much less, as they were able to easily isolate themselves and restrict who entered their village. In the 16th through 18th century, Native Americans tried something similar when they were fighting European diseases, such as small pox. Today it is much harder to isolate even rural communities due to our much greater population density, mobility, as well as globalized trade. However, looking to history we can perhaps see value in being more self-sustaining, which would make isolation less difficult and create more stable supply chains. 

 If the archaeological record is any indication, disease is not going anywhere. Even with all our latest medical technology, COVID-19 shows us that new diseases will probably continue to pop up and challenge us as a society. In addition to that, we also have the challenge of climate change, which could exacerbate issues relating to disease, including inequity and access to resources. Archaeology, as well as other social sciences, can be of great benefit in assisting with our response to these challenges.

Further Resources:

http://www.cambridgeblog.org/2020/05/what-can-archaeology-do-to-help-fight-pandemic-diseases/

https://theconversation.com/what-the-archaeological-record-reveals-about-epidemics-throughout-history-and-the-human-response-to-them-138408

https://content.sciendo.com/configurable/contentpage/journals$002fanre$002f79$002f1$002farticle-p1.xml

Archaeology's Value to Modern Society: It's Not All In the Past

It has happened to every anthropologist and archaeologist at one time or another. In a social setting we are asked what we do for a living. When we say we are an anthropologist or an archaeologist we get comments suggesting that people don’t understand what we do or didn’t realize people can actually make a living doing what we do. Anthropology and archaeology are all around us, yet they are often misunderstood, undervalued and underappreciated. So this month, we would like to focus a bit on what anthropology and archaeology contributes to our society and why it is important. But first, let us define both. 

 Anthropology is most simply put, the study of people and their culture. Anthropologists study human societies and cultures, and their development. Anthropologists are also interested in studying the physical and biological development and evolution of humans. Archaeology is a branch of anthropology that specifically focuses on the study of past humans by looking at the material culture they left behind. When thinking about archaeology your mind probably jumps to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians or the Mayans. However, archaeology is all around us, as is anthropology. After all, we are a product of our environment, society, culture, and our past. Both tend to be thought of as stagnant and a product of an affluent society, meaning that they are often regarded as ancillary or not vital to society. However, an argument can be made that both are extremely important to society today. 

Archaeology can help people connect with their past, 
solidifying social and cultural heritage, while documenting
the stories of those underrepresented in historical documentation
(photo courtesy of FPAN)

This month we will touch on a few specific examples of how studying both our culture and our past have helped with current issues in our society, but first, let us discuss a few broad examples of how archaeology contributes to modern society. Archaeology provides information on groups of people in the past that may not have had a voice of their own or are neglected in historic literature. Information about women, children, indigenous groups and minorities are often missing in historic documentation, however, their material culture remains and thus archaeology can help fill that void. In some instances there is a written record, but it is flawed and full of biases. Archaeologists are often described as “history detectives”. The material culture that archaeologists uncover can provide more accurate accounts of historic events than many written documents, or at the very least fill in gaps that those documents may have neglected. Some cultures did not possess a written language, and thus all that remains is the cultural material they left behind.

 

Anthropologists can help doctors understand vaccine
hesitancy and help mediate between doctors and patients.
(photo courtesy of gavi.org)

Archaeology provides an improved understanding and insight into human nature and why we do the things we do. I am sure we have all heard someone say that learning from the past will help prevent us from repeating it. While this phrase somewhat simplifies matters, archaeology can provide a deeper understanding of current events. Lessons we learn from the past can help us develop effective solutions for the future. Often, today’s issues have historical roots, and understanding the historic origins can help us more effectively address those issues. Today archaeologists and anthropologists are involved in studying racism, medical issues, homelessness and other pertinent issues facing our society.

UWF student archaeologists excavate a site located
within a suburban neighborhood. (photo courtesy
of UWF Anthropology)

 Archaeology also contributes to our economy. Historic and archaeological preservation not only solidify ties to social and national heritage, but also provide opportunities for economic development. If you have ever visited a historic site, a national park, a historic downtown, or a museum you have benefited from the work of anthropologists and archaeologists. In fact, it goes deeper than that. There is a lesser known branch of archaeology called Cultural Resource Management. Roadways or buildings that are constructed using federal or state dollars are assessed by an archaeologist prior to construction to ensure that no significant archaeological sites are destroyed prior to valuable information being gathered. In some instances the sites are preserved, although that is not always possible. However, this branch of archaeology is vital to ensuring that the information those sites contain is not lost forever. These archaeologists are dedicated to documenting every site they encounter to ensure that information is part of our historical record. So, like I said, archaeology is everywhere and is indeed an everyday part of your life. You just didn’t necessarily know it!