Common use of Field Methods Clause in Contracts

Field Methods. This section describes in more detail the methods used to evaluate unanticipated discoveries identified during construction monitoring that require subsurface excavations. These methods are essentially the same as those used for site-specific evaluations. Evaluation methods are essentially sampling methods focused on recovering a large enough sample to estimate the density and diversity of the cultural deposit and to expose enough of the site stratigraphy to assess site integrity. A general approach is described below, from surface inspection and collection to various kinds of subsurface investigation. The first step is to ▇▇▇▇ all exposed artifacts, artifact concentrations and features with color-coded pin flags to provide an overall view of the site’s potential contents. If the unanticipated discovery is a buried site, the area involved will tend to be limited. If the unanticipated discovery’s surface material is part of a site that was missed during the original survey, these finds will be sampled with CSCs ranging from 5 x 5 m units to 15 x 15 m units according to surface artifact density. Enough grids will be used to collect from ca. 30 to 50% of all surface artifacts. The CSCs will be supplemented by the collection of all formal tools inside and outside of the CSCs. If practical, all artifacts will be collected on sites with a sparse surface scatter. Four types of subsurface excavation units will be used. (1) 30 x 30 or 50 x 50 cm Shovel Test Pits (STPs), excavated in 20-cm levels to depths of no more than 80 cm, usually space at 10-m intervals and/or subjectively placed. These would be used to help define site boundaries, focusing on the edges of the site.

Field Methods. This section describes in more detail the methods used to evaluate unanticipated discoveries identified during construction monitoring that require subsurface excavations. These methods are essentially the same as those used for site-specific evaluations. Evaluation methods are essentially sampling methods focused on recovering a large enough sample to estimate the density and diversity of the cultural deposit and to expose enough of the site stratigraphy to assess site integrity. A general approach is described below, from surface inspection and collection to various kinds of subsurface investigation. The first step is to ▇▇▇▇ all exposed artifacts, artifact concentrations and features with color-coded pin flags to provide an overall view of the site’s potential contents. If the unanticipated discovery is a buried site, the area involved will tend to be limited. If the unanticipated discovery’s surface material is part of a site that was missed during the original survey, these finds will be sampled with CSCs ranging from 5 x 5 m units to 15 x 15 m units according to surface artifact density. Enough grids will be used to collect from ca. 30 to 50% of all surface artifacts. The CSCs will be supplemented by the collection of all formal tools inside and outside of the CSCs. If practical, all artifacts will be collected on sites with a sparse surface scatter. Four types of subsurface excavation units will be used. (1) 30 x 30 or 50 x 50 cm Shovel Test Pits (STPs), excavated in 20-cm levels to depths of no more than 80 cm, usually space at 10-m intervals and/or subjectively placed. These would be used to help define site boundaries, focusing on the edges of the site.