Cultural Resource Management and Site Significance

Abstract

A common goal in modern archaeological survey is to assess the archaeological significance of an area that is experiencing, or is about to experience, the impact of development, often called an “Area of Potential Effects” (APE). Construction of new roads, pipelines, housing, office blocks, shopping malls, or water reservoirs is commonly the impetus for such survey. Often there is considerable pressure to complete the assessment quickly. Usually those who are funding the work have no specific research questions beyond determining what impact, if any, the development will have on archaeological resources, whether any of those resources is “significant,” and what steps, if any, are necessary to mitigate the impact, preserve sites, or salvage information from them before their destruction. Some clients, in fact, may have no interest in heritage resources beyond satisfying minimal legal requirements. However, a good CRM survey will address gaps in archaeological knowledge and balance competing economic, social and cultural interests. In addition, modern CRM assessments often use predictive modelling to optimize their designs.