The term "significant" is somewhat subjective but guidance on making
this determination is provided in the U. S. Department of Interior's National
Register of Historic Places Criteria for Eligibility. Sites must meet one
or more of the following criteria to be considered significant:
The significance of a prehistoric or historic site is usually determined
by the amount and quality of the information that is present on a site.
These data must have the potential to address the criteria for eligibility
and in the case of Criterion D, the site must have the potential to contribute
to specific research questions that will add to our present knowledge about
the past. The ability to characterize a site based on its size, age, artifact
variability, function, integrity (lack of disturbance of soils containing
artifacts), and context (regional, chronological, functional) forms the
core of assessing significance. The strength of a site's significance is
key to obtaining a determination of eligibility for listing on the National
or State Registers of Historic Places.
| Significance: A prehistoric site is discovered in a farm field along a major river. Investigations determined that the site is small (size). Artifacts found include projectile points greater than 1500 years old (age). Other artifacts suggest that plant processing as well as butchering occurred on this site (artifact variability), and the presence of a cooking hearth indicates an overnight encampment (function). The site has not been disturbed by major modifying activities, such as grading (good integrity). The area is elevated above the river and is adjacent to a rich wetland (environmental context). A review of the literature found that there are no other known sites of this age and type in the region. Conclusion: this site is potentially eligible for the National and State Registers under Criterion D - the site is likely to yield important information about the past that will enhance our understanding of prehistory in the region. |