Archaeological Monitoring & Reporting
People have lived on the lands we know as Madison, Wisconsin dating back for over 12,000 years. For most of this time, the residents on this land were ancestors of modern Native American tribes. Modern farming and urban development destroyed up to 80% of the historic cultural sites created in the past. Current State laws and responsible stewardship efforts are in place to protect any remaining archaeological resources left behind. These resources include campsites, villages, and earthen mounds built for human burials and other ceremonial purposes. Reference: Birmingham, Robert A. and Rankin, Katherine H. Native American Mounds in Madison and Dane County (1996).
Contractors completing Public Works projects for the City of Madison shall follow any archaeological requirements specific to individual projects. This shall include hiring a qualified Archaeologist to monitor construction activities and provide a final report on projects where there is an archaeological component, as required by the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and as described in the SHPO project permit. Project-specific guidance on archaeological requirements will be provided with project bidding documents. Projects with any archaeological requirements will include a three (3) week bidding period.
When this work is required, the hired archaeologist shall be qualified as defined by the Secretary of the Interior’s professional qualification standards and shall be approved by the Wisconsin Historical Society. More information and a list of qualified archaeologists can be found under the headings “Archaeological Consultants” and “Archaeologists for Human Burial Sites” in the following link. The specified qualifications necessary for the hired archeologist on individual projects is specified in the SHPO project permit, available during bidding.
Visit the Wisconsin Historical Society website to learn about its approach to Historical Preservation and Archeological Consultants.
Example specification language for archaeological monitoring and reporting
Special Provisions for Public Works Construction Contracts Archaeology Monitoring and Final Monitoring Reports
Archaeology Field Monitoring or Investigation
Description
There is a chance of finding human remains or archaeological materials during this project. To ensure compliance with the State Burial Site Preservation law, the Contractor shall provide a qualified Archaeologist to monitor critical phases of this project as required by the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and as described in the SHPO project permit authorizing ground-disturbing activities within the archaeology site boundaries. City Engineering obtained the SHPO project permit. The hired Archaeologist shall be qualified as defined by the Secretary of Interior’s professional qualification standards (36 CFR 61, Appendix A) and shall be approved by the Wisconsin Historical Society. More information and a list of qualified archaeologists can be found on the SHPO website. There is a list of qualified archaeologists for conducting research and a separate list of qualified archaeologists approved to excavate burial sites. The specific qualifications necessary for the hired archaeologist on this project is specified in the SHPO project permit.
The Contractor and the Archaeologist shall have the archaeological monitoring timeframe and coordination methods in place prior to the pre-construction meeting. The Archaeologist shall also attend the preconstruction meeting.
Note: Any place where human remains are buried are considered burial sites, subject to the State’s Burial Site Preservation law, Wis. Stat. § 157.70. Burial Sites are protected under this law. The Contractor shall be responsible for compliance with the requirements of this Statute should human remains be discovered, and solely liable for the payments of penalties or fines imposed by any state or local agency, and for any violation of any state, or local law or regulation arising as a result of the Contractor’s performance. The Contractor, or their agent, shall be fully conversant with Wis. Stat. § 157.70 and shall be expected to act in full conformance with that statue. If any human remains or archaeological materials are found, or unusual soils encountered during the project, all ground disturbing construction activities must cease.
The approximate locations of the Burial Sites on EXAMPLE STREET are as follow; from approximately EXAMPLE STREET or STA to EXAMPLE STREET or STA; from approximately the EXAMPLE STREET intersection to the EXAMPLE STREET intersection; and approximately the last X00’ feet of the project at the eastern limits.
Method of Measurement
Archaeology Field Monitoring or Investigation shall be measured as Lump Sum (LS) for compensation.
Basis of Payment
Archaeology Field Monitoring or Investigation shall be measured as described above and shall be paid for at the contract unit price which shall be full compensation for all travel, equipment, materials, tools, labor, and incidentals required to complete the work as defined in the description.
Final Archeology Monitoring Report
Description
The monitoring Archaeologist shall compile all recorded pertinent information and observations in a Final Report format acceptable to the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Final Report shall be submitted to the Project Engineer within 3 weeks of concluding the field monitoring activities.
Method of Measurement
This Bid Item shall be measured by Lump Sum (LS) for compensation.
Basis of Payment
This Bid Item shall be measured as described above and shall be paid for at the contract unit price which shall be full compensation for all travel, equipment, materials, tools, labor, and incidentals required to complete the work as defined in the description. In the event of delay in submitting the Final Archaeology Monitoring Report to the Project Engineer, the fixed, agreed and liquidated damages due the City from the Contractor shall be assessed in the amount of $100/day.