Cultural Resources Inventory, Western Alaska

Brice Engineering (BENG) was retained by IRIS to perform a cultural resources survey and inventory for 16 Earthscope Transportable Array station installation sites located on western Alaska lands managed by the BLM Anchorage Office. All work was performed by BENG cultural resources specialists. The project consisted of supporting consultation with the BLM, conducting a literature review and predictive modeling for the 16 sites to determine which sites had a high probability of containing archaeological resources, performing pedestrian survey at two sites determined to have high probability for archaeological remains, and a report of findings.

Brice performed the work in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA). We developed a predictive model-based geology, and evaluated the project site’s geomorphology, environmental factors, and archaeological context. We also developed a research design to guide the predictive modeling and survey. Fieldwork consisted of archaeological inventory and evaluation at two separate areas of potential effect, roughly 10 acres in size, in remote areas of arctic western subarctic Alaska.

The project resulted in a finding of “no historic properties adversely affected” and clearance to proceed with the proposed undertaking.