A cultural resource is a site, structure, object or district, usually more that 50 years old, and relates to the past. Federal law protects "significant" sites that are important to our past.
Cultural Resources are evidence of past human activity. These may include pioneer homes, buildings or old roads, structures with unique architecture, prehistoric village sites, historic or prehistoric artifacts or objects, rock inscriptions, human burial sites, and earthworks such as a battlefield entrenchment, prehistoric canals, evidence of mining activity or mounds. These sites often yield unique information about past societies and environments, and provide answers for modern day social and conservation problems. Although many have been discovered and protected, there are numerous forgotten, undiscovered, or unprotected cultural resources in Alaska.
NRCS National Cultural Resources Procedures Handbook
NRCS General Manual Chapter: Cultural Resources (Archeological and Historic Properties) (GM 420, Part 401)
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (PDF, 3.11 MB)
25 Simple Things You Can Do to Promote the Public Benefits of Archeology (PDF)
Alaska State Historic Preservation Office Programmatic Agreement (PDF)
Link to Alaska State office of History and Archeology:
http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/
Link to McGrath Tochak Discovery:
www.tananachiefs.org/sustainability/realty/archaeology/tochak-mcgrath-discovery/
For more information, visit the National Cultural Resources site.
Contact:
Kristi Tapio-Harper, Tribal Liaison and Cultural Resources Specialist
Phone: 907-761-7737
Email: Kristi.Harper@ak.usda.gov
Sydney Thielke, Cultural Resources Coordinator
Phone: 907-761-7764
Email: Sydney.Thielke@ak.usda.gov
