Section 685.1.1. Mission.

The office of state archaeologist, hereafter referred to as OSA, was organized in 1959 to provide for the location, recovery, restoration and preservation of archaeological materials for the state, and coordinate these activities with other state agencies. The OSA publishes both educational and scientific reports related to these duties and responsibilities.

       1.1(1) In order to meet these statutory objectives under Iowa Code section 263B.2 and Acts of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly, Senate File 2200, sections 26 and 50, the OSA is defined as the primary state interagency service organization for archaeological survey, evaluation, and mitigation. In this capacity, the OSA is notified of projects that are funded or permitted by the state or that have the potential for adversely affecting archaeological sites.

       1.1(2) In instances where an agency lacks an archaeological program, the OSA will contact appropriate institutions and professional archaeologists to determine their interest in participating in a state-funded project.

       1.1(3) If an organization or individual other than the OSA agrees to conduct archaeological investigations, the OSA will establish a direct contact between the pertinent state agency and the institution or professional archaeologist. In such projects the OSA acts primarily to coordinate archaeological studies on state projects and ensures that such studies deemed necessary are completed.

       1.1(4) The goal of utilizing the procedures in this rule, as they apply to the department of transportation and to any other state agency, is to ensure that neither the state nor any of its legal subdivisions is responsible for the needless destruction of historical objects. If such destruction occurs, or cannot be avoided, OSA will take proper reasonable action to obtain all possible information concerning such materials prior to destruction. However, OSA will not assume financial responsibility for intermediate- to large-scale actions involving the salvaging of archaeological information.

       1.1(5) OSA performs other duties such as expansion and development of professional and public input into the operation of the office via communication with professional organizations, state and federal agencies and private societies.

       1.1(6) OSA provides assistance to local and regional groups or individuals throughout the state in the areas of lectures, general assistance on public or private projects, curation of artifacts and offers programs of assistance to public schools.

       1.1(7) OSA maintains an archaeological repository for the state and bears the related responsibility of development and maintenance of an archaeological documents collection related to material in the repository.

       1.1(8) OSA may perform archaeological contract services for agencies utilizing federal, state, or private funding.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 263B.2, 263B.6 and 263B.9.

[ARC 9025B, IAB 8/25/10, effective 9/29/10]