The linked article provides interesting perspective and is well worth the read.

However, I can’t help but think that there must be options to help ease the cost. Perhaps some sort of programmatic agreement involving a predictive model would be appropriate. Are they tracking surveys in such a way so as to prevent redundant work (I would assume so, but hey you never know)?

Oddly enough, though, it’s usually the agency that drives these sort of agreements, not the SHPO/THPO. Can they legally drive the development of an agreement with an agency? I wouldn’t see why not, but don’t actually know.

Also, where is the BIA in all of this? You’d think that an agency with a single regional archaeologist would be pursuing options to keep at least their own costs down.

(via @girlarchaeo on twitter)