Assessing Site Significance: A Guide for Archaeologists and Historians

by Donald L. Hardesty, Barbara J. Little

Of the many properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, only 7% are archaeological sites. With the Register designed to primarily assess the historical significance of standing sites, archaeologists have had difficulty translating eligibility criteria to sites known primarily from archaeological work. Hardesty and Little provide practical guidance for archaeologists and others on how to examine these properties for their historical significance, both for academic reasons and for proposal to the Register. The general process of filing for NRHP eligibility is described and specific archaeological issues of site integrity, archaeological evidence, and traditional cultural properties addressed. Examples are provided throughout of sites as diverse as historic trails, farmsteads, factories, households, military camps, and trash heaps. This useful guide will be helpful for anyone working in a cultural resources management context with recent archaeological sites.

Sponsored by the Heritage Resources Management Program, University of Nevada, Reno

Visit the author's web page

Genres: Archaeology, History

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consulted this book regularly while serving as the review and compliance archaeologist at the Department of Archives and History in South Carolina. This book should be on the shelf of every practising CRM archaeologist.

[Cheery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource.