Date of Award
5-2025
Culminating Project Type
Plan C Paper
Styleguide
other
SAA
Degree Name
Cultural Resources Management Archaeology: M.S.
Department
Anthropology
College
College of Liberal Arts
First Advisor
Mark Muñiz
Second Advisor
Debra Gold
Third Advisor
Valerie Russell
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Abstract
This portfolio presents three projects exploring the concept of “reasonable and good faith effort.” Through the application of reasonable and good faith effort as part of the National Historic Preservation Action compliance standard (36CFR800.4) including the adaptation of new and changing technologies, paired with recently uncovered historical documents, and a deep review of past archaeological methodologies, one is able to gain a much deeper understanding of history at specific sites on the landscape while employed as an archaeological technician with the Black Hills National Forest.
The historic Black Hills and Fort Pierre Railroad site was in dire need of a major update to standardize data and verify its location after decades of minor recordings and updates. In 2016 a concerted effort was made to accurately record the railroad grade and assign conditions and eligibility determinations to segments. Likewise, within a year, historic digital maps were georeferenced in GIS. These revealed miles of unrecorded grade, countless features, and whole new sites along the railroad line. More recently, Light Detecting And Ranging (LiDAR) and historical data have aided to both record new sites but also identify unrecorded sites. The combination of remote sensing and field recording continues as new projects overlap with this railroad.
For the second project, a simple site update turned into an unexpectedly complex undertaking which resulted from recently updated methodology. As part of this updated methodology, it was required to take a deeper look at the past archaeology of the Flat Meadow site and to determine if additional testing was necessary. Site reevaluation is warranted when a site previously determined to be “not eligible” for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) has not been adequately tested or not tested at all, in a setting which should have been tested. Overall, it had been discovered that more than a few sites lacked justifiable horizontal site boundaries. The Flat Meadow site lacked a horizontal site boundary. This site is located in a prime location and establishing the boundary took far longer than anticipated. The site area nearly quadrupled and the boundary was expanded in all directions.
Finally, electing to record and evaluate an overlooked historic shelter resulted in its being determined eligible to the NRHP. Completion of the evaluation allowed for resources of materiel support and funding to be allotted and to begin historic rehabilitation of the shelter. D. Porter and B. Ewald intend to nominate the rehabilitated Dalton Lake Sheltered Fireplace for listing on NRHP.
Allotting an additional amount of time while on site and occasionally exerting a bit more effort will generally yield a deeper understanding of an archaeological site. These intentional actions can be described as a reasonable and good faith effort. Yet, the term reasonable and good faith effort can be subjective to a person in the context of cultural resource management. Regardless of this moving target, one ought to try to achieve a consistent and high-quality recordation of each cultural resource when encountered. This portfolio illustrates what can be achieved when applying this compliance standard.
Recommended Citation
Ewald, Brett R., "Endeavoring For “Reasonable and Good Faith Effort” in Cultural Resource Management" (2025). Culminating Projects in Cultural Resource Management. 59.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/crm_etds/59
Comments/Acknowledgements
This second attempt at completing graduate school is certainly bittersweet. It was afforded me due to the recent budget constraints resulting at SCSU’s CRM-A Graduate program ceasing within a few years’ time. It is with this in mind that I memorialize this work spanning the past few field seasons.
Bob Dylan once wrote the song lyrics, “An' here I sit so patiently; Waiting to find out what price; You have to pay to get out of; Going through all these things twice.” (Dylan, 1966) This sentiment can be applied to both CRM and my path through Graduate School at SCSU. This portfolio intends to address both of these, first, by laying out how to better arrive at reasonable and good faith effort. Secondly, this is, in a couple of ways, my second attempt to attain my CRM Master’s degree! In further aspirational lyrics of Bobby Dylan, “keep on keepin’ on.” (Dylan 1975).
I am indebted to many along the way throughout this journey. The list of those who aided and guided my progress to this point is long. My father, who was all-but-theses, is a constant voice in the back of my mind and doubly so in person! Matt Whitehill, a geology instructor at Lake Superior College, first planted the seed of my attending graduate school. Next, federal archaeologists Lee Johnson and Bill Clayton taught me back-country wilderness inventory, site recordation, and to enjoy our time in the forest. Additionally, a shout out to Lee’s incessant pestering me on what I wanted to study in graduate school, including buttons! To Karen and Joe pups, for putting up with me for all this time and encouraging me! A big shout out to David Porter, district archaeologist, who was generally leading the way through most of the following, or allowing me plenty of latitude to accomplish these tasks. Michael Engelhart, former zone archaeologist, who, along with Dave and others, helped bring the Northern Hills Ranger District Heritage Resources Program into balance and set it and us up for success. To Marissa Lee, archaeologist, who kept me on task and also kept everything in perspective and light-hearted. Likewise, to District Ranger Steve Kozel, zone hydrologist Melissa Dempsey, and silvicultural technician Shelby Brunson for their volunteering to dig at the Flat Meadow Site. To too many seasonals to name, and the ever-revolving door of Black Hills National Forest archaeologists. Finally, to so many other family, friends, instructors, and co-workers over this long and winding road. Again, thank you kindly.