U.S. Department of the Interior The Archeological Survey: Methods and Uses

CACHE RIVER ARCHEOLOGICAL PROJECT

Under contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Schiffer and House conducted a sample survey of the Cache River Basin in Arkansas and provided advice on the distribution of prehistoric sites for purpose of both direct and indirect impact mitigation planning. References: Schiffer and House 1975, 1977.

REESE RIVER ECOLOGICAL PROJECT

Thomas conducted a stratified random sampling program in the Reese River Valley of Nevada to test hypotheses about the settlement organization of its inhabitants. References: Thomas 1969, 1973, 1975.

CHACO CANYON SAMPLING EXPERIMENT

Several different types of sampling schemes were applied to the already recorded sites of Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico to test their relative efficiency. Reference: Judge, Elbert and Hitchcock in Mueller 1975.

CEDAR MESA PROJECT

In a study of regional human adaptation on Cedar Mesa, Utah, a sample of stream drainages was selected and quadrats within each were surveyed; the results were evaluated against simulated data. Reference: Matson and Lipe in Mueller 1975.

WHITE MOUNTAIN PLANNING UNIT

For purposes of Forest Service planning in the Apache-Sitgraves National Forest, Arizona, a stratified transect sample was used to generate predictions about the relative density of prehistoric sites throughout the unit. Reference: Donaldson 1975.

RANDSBURG/SPANGLER HILLS/SOUTH SEARLE LAKE STUDY

In connection with a proposed geothermal leasing program in the California Desert, a stratified random sample quadrat survey was conducted and archeological sensitivity maps were developed. References: Bureau of Land Management 1976; for general research design, Weide 1974.

SAN FELIPE ARCHEOLOGICAL PROJECT

To assess the indirect impacts of a regional water system in central California, a dispersed sample of stream drainages, stratified by size, was inspected and a systematic background study was conducted to predict impacts on prehistoric and historic sites. References: King and Hickman 1973, 1977.

GULF OF MEXICO OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF STUDY

For purposes of planning for the sale and management of offshore oil leases, zones of differential archeological sensitivity were projected on the outer continental shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. The predictions were based on study of on-shore prehistoric settlement patterns, changes in sea level over the last 60,000 years, submarine topography and geology, reported shipwrecks, and patterns of shipping from the time of initial exploration through 1945. Reference: Gagliano, et al 1977.

EASTERN NEW ENGLAND STUDY

Based on available data on prehistoric site distributions, areas of predicted archeological sensitivity were projected for eastern New England. Potential land-use patterns were overlaid to identify probable future conflicts. This study suffers from the fact that no fieldwork was done to check the accuracy of the predictions derived from background data. Reference: Dincauze and Meyer 1977.

GREATER ST. LOUIS STUDY

Based on available data on prehistoric site distributions, zones of predicted archeological sensitivity were generated for the greater St. Louis area. General land-use plans were overlaid to identify areas of probable future conflict. This study has the same deficiencies as the eastern New England study. Reference: Benchley 1976.

INLAND WATERWAY SURVEY

Along the Inland Waterway on Michigan's lower peninsula, stratified random quadrats were surveyed in order to predict the distribution of prehistoric sites. Reference: Lovis 1976.