La. Admin. Code tit. 25 § I-102

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section I-102 - Minimum Qualifications for Professional Archaeologists

A. The following information outlines the basic educational and training requirements that a person must have to direct archaeological investigations on state property. In addition to basic educational requirements, the person must demonstrate expertise in historic archaeology if the project is mainly historical in nature or in prehistoric archaeology if the resources are primarily prehistoric. If the resources are underwater, the person must demonstrate expertise in underwater archaeology. These minimal qualifications parallel in large part those included in the "Archeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines" (Federal Register, Vol. 48, Number 190 September 29, 1983) and in the Guide to the Society of Professional Archaeologists, "Requirements for Membership and Certification" (1993). A person who wishes to conduct archaeological investigations on state property must document that s/he has the education, training, and appropriate expertise listed below.

1. Basic Educational Requirements. To meet the basic educational requirements, a person must have designed and executed an archaeological study as evidenced by a thesis or dissertation, and must have been awarded an advanced degree, such as an M.A., M.S., Ph.D., or D.Sc., from an accredited institution in archaeology, historical archaeology, anthropology with a specialization in archaeology, or history with a specialization in archaeology. If the thesis or dissertation is not based primarily on field research in archaeology, the person must have designed and executed an archaeological study or report based on field research equivalent in scope and quality to an M.A. or M.S. thesis or Ph.D. or DSC. dissertation.

2. Basic Training Requirements for Each Area of Expertise

a. Historical Archaeology. Historical archaeology is defined as the application of archaeological techniques to sites relating either directly or indirectly to a literate tradition. Historical archaeology is most often devoted to the study of sites that date to the expansion of literate populations since the fifteenth century. To qualify as a historical archaeologist, a person must:

i. document a minimum of one year of field and laboratory experience with sites and artifacts of the historic period, including 24 weeks of fieldwork, of which no more than 12 can be survey, and eight weeks of laboratory work under the supervision of a professional archaeologist, and an additional 20 weeks in a supervisory or equally responsible capacity;

ii. document a historical archaeological report on field research, prepared wholly or in the majority by the person requesting recognition as a professional historical archaeologist;

iii. demonstrate experience or training in primary archival research under the supervision of a competent specialist as documented by a report, a course transcript, or a letter of reference;

iv. show the design and execution of a historical archaeological study as evidenced by an M.A. or M.S. thesis, Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation, or a report equivalent in scope and quality; and

v. be knowledgeable about the recovery and interpretation of both archaeological and archival data, and be familiar with the material remains including artifactual components and with their conservation and preservation.

b. Prehistoric Archaeology. Prehistoric archaeology is defined as the application of archaeological techniques to sites relating to preliterate or nonliterate Native American traditions. Prehistoric archaeology is most often devoted to the study of Native American sites of the time before Europeans arrived, but it may also relate to Native American archaeology of the contact period. To qualify as a prehistoric archaeologist, a person must:

i. document a minimum of one year of field and laboratory experience with sites and artifacts of the prehistoric period including 24 weeks of fieldwork, of which no more than 12 can be survey, and eight weeks of laboratory work under the supervision of a professional archaeologist, and an additional 20 weeks in a supervisory or equally responsible capacity;

ii. document a prehistoric archaeological report on field research, prepared wholly or in the majority by the person requesting recognition as a professional prehistoric archaeologist;

iii. show the design and execution of a prehistoric archaeological study as evidenced by an M.A. or M.S. thesis, Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation, or a report equivalent in scope and quality; and

iv. be knowledgeable about the recovery and interpretation of archaeological data and be familiar with the material remains including artifactual components and with their conservation and preservation.

c. Underwater Archaeology. The term underwater archaeology is used to mean archaeological investigations in situations where scuba or surface supplied air equipment is required. Generally, this will apply to sites that are totally submerged in the Gulf of Mexico or in lakes, rivers, or bayous. Underwater archaeology can be divided into prehistoric sites, historical sites, and nautical sites (ships and their related harbor structures). To qualify as an underwater archaeologist, a person must:

i. document a minimum of one year of field and laboratory experience with underwater sites and related artifacts, including two weeks of field experience and training in underwater survey techniques and demonstrate familiarity with the general theory and application of varied remote-sensing technology;

ii. document both 24 weeks of supervised underwater fieldwork and 20 weeks of supervisory underwater archaeological fieldwork;

iii. show experience or training in the recovery and interpretation of both archaeological and archival data and, for nautical archaeology, familiarity with the history and technology of navigation and shipbuilding;

iv. document the design and execution of an underwater archaeological study as evidenced by an M.A. or M.S. thesis, or Ph.D. or D.Sc. dissertation, or a report equivalent in scope and quality; and

v. be knowledgeable in dealing with water-saturated artifacts and preservation and conservation methods;

vi. for persons specializing in underwater prehistoric sites, experience and training comparable to that specified in the Section entitled "Prehistoric Archaeology" should be documented. For persons specializing in underwater historical sites, experience and training comparable to that specified in the Section entitled "Historical Archaeology" should be documented. Persons specializing in nautical archaeology must be knowledgeable about both archaeological and archival data pertaining to ships.

La. Admin. Code tit. 25, § I-102

Promulgated by the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Division of Archaeology, LR 20:410 (April 1994).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 41:1601-1614.