Recent documents
- Archaeology in Minnesota: 2010 project report summaries: Provides abstracts of completed reports of archaeological investigations received by the Office of the State Archaeologist, March 12, 2012. (382.13K, .pdf) | Report details
- Archaeology in Minnesota: Annual report of the State Archaeologist, Fiscal Year 2011: Summary of activities for the Office of the State Archaeologist, February 23, 2012. (2.02 M, .pdf) | Report details
- State Archaeologist's manual for archaeological projects in Minnesota: Clarifies state regulations, establishes professional standards and promotes consistency in methods and reporting, September 22, 2011. (550.21K, .pdf) | Report details
- Archaeology in Minnesota: Annual report of the State Archaeologist, Fiscal Year 2010: Summary of activities for the Office of the State Archaeologist, March 1, 2011. (2.32 M, .pdf) | Report details
Featured documents
- Application for Minnesota annual archaeological reconnaissance survey license: Form for aquiring license to conduct investigations, March 1, 2011. (20.82K, .pdf) | Form details
- Application for Minnesota evaluation/Phase II survey archaeological license: Form for aquiring license to conduct investigations, March 1, 2011. (21.43K, .pdf) | Form details
- Application for Minnesota major investigation/Phase III archaeological license: Form for aquiring license to conduct investigations, March 1, 2011. (21.03K, .pdf) | Form details
- Minnesota archaeological licensing professional qualifications standards: Requirements for obtaning State Archaeological Licenses, March 1, 2011. (20.01K, .pdf) | Guide details
- Minnesota Archaeology site form: Data collection form used to document archaeological sites, August 10, 2009. (56K., .doc) | Form details
- Minnesota Archaeology site form instructions: Guidance on when and how to fill out a when and how to submit a site form to the Minnesota State Archaeologist, August 10, 2009. (60.49K, .pdf) | Form details
- State Archaeologist's procedures for implementing Minnesota's Private Cemeteries Act (MS 307.08): Provides an overview of the Private Cemeteries Act, the duties of the various parties charged with implementing the law, and standard procedures used by the State Archaeologist, August 5, 2008. (103.71K, .pdf) | Form details
Legacy Amendment documents
- 2010 archaeological reconnaissance survey of Olmsted County, Minnesota: Study funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, January 19, 2012. (7.02 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Age of Brainerd ceramics: Study funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, June 28, 2012. (3.05 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Archaeological prospection for precontact burial mounds using Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR) in Scott and Crow Wing Counties, Minnesota: Examines the feasibility of using publicly-funded LiDAR as a tool for identifying precontact earthworks, March 1, 2011. (10.26 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Archaeological survey of Swift County, Minnesota: Reviews the archaeological resources of Swift County, examines existing collections and known sites, and documents additional archaeological sites, March 1, 2011. (7.22 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Investigating the earliest human occupation of Minnesota: a multidisciplinary approach to modeling landform suitability & site distribution probability for the state's early paleoindian resources: Study funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, January 19, 2012. (11.22 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Investigation of unrecorded historical cemeteries in Minnesota: Study funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, January 19, 2012. (4.69 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Points and pits: archaeological investigations in Minnesota's region 9, the Lake Superior shore, Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties, Minnesota: Study funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, August 1, 2011. (3.12 M, .pdf) | Publication details
- Preliminary summary of the accomplishments of the statewide survey of historical and archaeological sites: Overview of completed and ongoing archaeological projects funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, March 1, 2011. (1.67 M, .pdf) | Report details
- Survey to identify and evaluate Indian sacred sites and traditional cultural properties in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area: Study funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, March 1, 2011. (1.95 M, .pdf) | Publication details
About the Office
Established in 1963, the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) is charged with sponsoring, conducting and directing research into the prehistoric and historic archaeology of Minnesota; protecting and preserving archaeological sites and objects; disseminating archaeological information through the publication of reports and articles; identifying, authenticating and protecting human burial sites; reviewing and licensing archaeological fieldwork conducted within the state; and enforcing provisions of MN Statutes 138.31-138.42 and 307.08.Under MN Statutes 138.31-138.42, licensure through the OSA is required for field archaeology undertaken on all lands or waters owned, leased by or subject to the paramount right of the state or its subdivisions, as well as on lands impacted by publicly-funded development projects. Proposed projects are reviewed to assess the appropriateness of research methodology and to assist in identifying strategies for mitigating potential adverse effects to known cultural resources. Only professional archaeologists meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology (36 CFR Part 61) may be licensed to conduct such investigations in the state of Minnesota. A copy of the application form, including terms and conditions for licensure, can be obtained by contacting the above address.
Minnesota's "Private Cemeteries Act" (307.08) affords all human remains and burials older than 50 years, and located outside of platted, recorded or identified cemeteries, protection from unauthorized disturbance; this statute applies to burials on either public or private lands or waters. Authentication of burial sites is conducted under the sole auspices of the OSA per this statute. In the event that a burial is either known or suspected to be associated with American Indian peoples, the OSA works in concert with representatives of Minnesota's tribal communities to ensure the integrity of such burial sites. The OSA maintains a database of identified burial sites in the state.
The OSA also maintains a database of the state's identified archaeological sites in collaboration with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). For further information on this database, please contact either the above number or the SHPO.
