Protecting Sites (BHP)
Protecting Archaeological and Historic Sites
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, protection of our important historic and archaeological sites is administered by the Bureau for Historic Protection (BHP). BHP is a division of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, and serves as Pennsylvania’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
BHP’s mission is to identify and protect the architectural and archaeological resources of Pennsylvania. The Bureau maintains a growing inventory of archaeological sites and historic structures. These inventories help Federal, State, and Local authorities manage and protect our historic resources. The process of inventorying archaeological and historic properties requires careful documentation and study of artifacts, sub-surface ruins, and standing structures. Much of this work is conducted by paid consultants who are hired by government agencies and private developers during large construction projects such as highways, pipelines, surface mining, commercial development, and planned residential development. However, a significant amount of the documentation and reporting is conducted by amateur archaeologists, artifact collectors, and community historians. Below are some important forms, guidelines, and resources provided by BHP to aid the amateur and professional in documenting and investigating sites. Documenting and registering sites is the best way to help protect and preserve our important archaeological and architectural resources.
The following files are provided from the Bureau for Historic Protection (BHP) web site.
PASS Annual Site Report 2012
PASS Site Density Map of Counties
Archaeological Sites
Pennsylvania
Archaeological Site Survey (PASS) Form –
This is the standard form for documenting and
submitting an archaeological site for a
Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey. Check
out our Recording
Sites page for
tips on documenting archaeological sites.
Site
Identification Criteria
- What
is an archaeological site? Here is BHP’s
definition and guidelines.
Guidelines
for Archaeological Investigations - Essentially
a general guide for how archaeology should be
conducted in Pennsylvania. This is intended for
paid consultants working in Pennsylvania, but
much of it is good policy for all forms of
archaeological investigation.
Curation
Guidelines, 2006
- These
guidelines are designed for consultants who are
preparing archaeological collections for
submission to the State Museum. However, these
guidelines are good practice for small county
and local museums, and the private collector as
well.
Archaeology
Consultant List- A
list maintained by BHP of archaeological
consulting companies who are available for
services in Pennsylvania.
Cultural
Resources Geographic Information System CRGIS -
a map-based inventory of the historic and
archaeological sites and surveys.
Historic Buildings and Properties
Historic
Resource Survey Form
- a
standard form for documenting historic buildings
and structures.
Historic
Resource Inventory Form Instructions- detailed
instructions for completing Resource Survey
Forms
Cemetery
Survey Form- a
standard form for documenting historic
cemeteries in Pennsylvania.
Cemetery
Survey Form Instructions- detailed
instructions for documenting cemeteries.
The above documents are
provided in Acrobat.pdf files.
Adobe Acrobat can be downloaded free of charge
from http://www.adobe.com.