I conducted an internship with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) located in Austin. This state agency’s mission is to preserve historic and cultural resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
Though there is a large scope of projects and specialties within the THC, my internship focused on only two of these. The first was to gain familiarity with the Texas Antiquities Code, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the nomination procedure for State Archaeological Landmarks. The second was to utilize the theoretical knowledge that I had gained from my study of archaeology and apply it practically.
The State and Federal Review Section facilitates legal compliance concerning public lands and historic properties. This Section also grants permits for archaeological investigations on public lands pursuant to the Texas Antiquities Code or other applicable legislation. The purpose of this Section is to provide guidance to construction companies, archaeological firms, or other entities that may require support upon encountering an existing archaeological site or a protected historical area within the state. For instance, when the team of archaeologists from the Center for Archaeological Studies at Texas State University encountered burials at 41HY163, the THC’s State and Federal Review Section stepped in to provide guidance for the archaeologists and the City of San Marcos. For cases like these, this section proves its worth by employing the proper remedy as mandated by State or Federal law.
Initially, my time at the THC was spent formulating nominations for State Archaeological Landmarks (SALs) throughout Texas. This involved researching each nomination’s eligibility to become an SAL, documenting the necessary data, and creating a map to be used for the nomination.
In processing each SAL, I would begin by researching the Atlas Program for the necessary information (if it was not included by the nominating party), and then commence filling out the official nomination form. These forms may be accessed by anyone, and are available at the following URL: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/forms/fordefault.shtml. Once this form was completed, I began to collect all materials relevant to the site. If we had anything on file for these sites at the THC, it was also included in this section. When that task was completed, I began construction of a topographical map of the site using a program known as Surfer. For this reason, it would be my recommendation to gain knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). For this map, I employed the use of four Universal Transverse Mercator’s (UTMs) which were recorded on the SAL nomination form. I downloaded topographical, and satellite photo maps from a website known as the Texas Natural Resource Information System (TNRIS) http://www.tnris.state.tx.us/. Upon successful download, I employed the use of a data interpreter for the Surfer program that is known as Scripter. Scripter would translate the data from TNRIS into a format that was compatible with. Once this step was successfully completed, all that was left was to create a data file in Excel which would be transferred to Surfer with each respective data point from the nomination form.
After this information has been collected, it is entered into the nomination packet for further review. When that aspect is completed, there is a consultation process that takes place between the THC and the county, district, or individual person that has nominated this particular site for SAL status. The consultation process usually takes 2 – 4 weeks. When the consultation process is complete, the materials are filed accordingly. Once filed, they will stay there until the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) meeting (which occurs once per quarter), at which time each nomination will be submitted for review by the higher authority. The decision to confer SAL status rests within the AAB.
Toward the end of this internship, I was also afforded the opportunity to work in the Field Lab. While learning the legal side was of prime interest, it was in the lab that I was able to apply many of the fundamental ideas that I had attained throughout my education. I was able to apply the skills learned in the lab section of the Introduction to Archaeology course and by utilizing them within a practical context, found myself expanding certain skill sets. I was also able to incorporate much of the information attained from my Field School experience in Amarillo.
Exposure to the bureaucracy has itself been an enlightening experience. Knowing the boundaries and confines of the law within which the “official” side of archaeology takes places is for most, a necessary evil. I feel that I have increased my familiarity with the discipline, and possess the knowledge to feel confident pursuing a career in this field.