Prehistoric Archaeology
AECOM Burlington archaeologists have extensive experience excavating Native American archaeological resources dating from over 12,000 years old to more recent sites dating to the European Contact period throughout the eastern portion of the United States. AECOM’s large staff of archaeologists have extensive experience in excavation, analysis, interpretation, and reporting for various Native American Sites, such as rockshelters, coastal shell middens, wind-buried deposits, shallow upland sites, small lithic scatters, resources situated beneath urban development, sites on islands, extensive multi-component sites, and sites in deeply buried floodplain settings. Deep excavations are conducted using OSHA-compliant safety measures. AECOM geomorphologists characterize the soils associated with Native American archaeological deposits to determine appropriate excavation methods and to characterize site formation processes. Analysis of soil and sediment cores has been conducted to reconstruct ancient landforms and past environments. Other specialized analysis such as radiocarbon dating are routinely integrated in the interpretation.
Archaeological studies are conducted in stages to identify and evaluate sites, and to mitigate the effects of project construction on sites with significant information to contribute about Native Americans. Identification-level surveys are conducted throughout a project area; evaluation studies focus on the any specific identified sites. Evaluation of a prehistoric archaeological site is designed to determine whether it contains information that can be used to interpret when and how Native American occupants lived at a particular location, moved across the landscape, and utilized stone, plant, and animal resources of a watershed or region. When a site contains significant information, a plan for mitigating the effects of construction is developed and implemented. We have completed site evaluation and data-recovery projects in many states—including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, and Illinois—in accordance with their state-specific guidelines. Large-scale investigations have been conducted for highway improvement, airport development, bridge replacement, dam engineering, pipeline construction, infrastructure planning, electric transmission line installation, environmental remediation, and other types of projects.
Project Fact Sheets