6.0 HPSR 03-03-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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#10 -Detailed Project Description The City of Elk River is proposing to conduct detailed archaeological excavations of two areas identified during an archaeological survey and literature search completed in the summer of 2004. The first site, located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers, contains Paleo artifacts. The second site is a foundation area along the Elk River, which is assumed to be associated with the logging industry and early economic development of the City of Elk River. At the assumed Paleo site, a Phase II survey will be undertaken to assess the site significance and to try to determine if it truly dates to the early prehistoric time period. The Paleo site is in a farm field: This site will be excavated in late April or early May of 2005 to avoid conflicts with the planting season. The foundation site is in a high-risk area due to potential flooding and is already exposed and partially eroded. The owners of this property are proposing a riverbank restoration project adjacent to this area in the spring of 2005. The city is planning to conduct a Phase I Survey of the land involved in the stabilization project to ensure the archaeological integrity of the foundation site or other unknown sites are not disturbed. A person trained in archaeology will also be on site when the riverbank is excavated for the stabilization project. The actual Phase II survey and excavation of the foundation site will be conducted in the summer of 2005 to allow greater public involvement. The city is planning on allowing the public to take part in the excavation of this site on two separate three-day weekends. The professional archaeologist(s) retained by the city that supervises the work at the Paleo site will be trained in prehistoric archaeology and trained in historic archaeology for supervising work at the foundation site. All work will be in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, particularly the Standard for Identification, Evaluation, and Registration published in the Federal Register of September 29, 1983. In addition, all applicable state requirements and guidelines will be adhered to in the pursuit of the project. This project meets the following Statewide Historic Preservation Plan Goals: 1) Increase community awareness of the value and importance of the state's cultural resources. A number of potential archaeological sites were identified during the archaeological survey and literature search conducted in the City of Elk River in 2004. The city selected two of these sites to conduct detailed archeological excavations. The associated publicity will aid in gaining better public awareness of the archaeological potential in our community and, consequently, a greater desire to protect these and similar sites from the extreme development pressure the city is facing.