Research design
All archaeologists must develop a research design prior to field work. The research design is structured around one or more research questions that organize the work and suggest the appropriate methods. Please read pp. 13-19 of the Colorado Cultural Resource Survey Manual (click link). Separate headings for similar information and complete sentences/paragraphs (not bullet points with sentence fragments) are required. As you write your research design, consider your audience to be the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Archaeology and Historic Preservation Office. Archaeologists there will likely expect answers to the questions below.
IMPORTANT: Much of the content of the Research Design will be used in the Final Report. Strong and thorough work on the Research Design will result in less work necessary for the Final Report.
Effective communication through writing requires multiple drafts. Submitting your first complete draft will not produce the quality expected in this course.
Essential Resources:
The questions below are should be answered following the format identified in the Guidelines for Archaeological Research Designs (link above).
1) What is the project name? Archaeological Inventory of Selected Parcels within the Baca Mountain Tract, Rio Grande National Forest.
2) Where and what is the area to be investigated? Include a map.
3) What is/are the specific research questions we will attempt to answer?
4) Why is the research question worth answering? Who might care about our answers?
5) How does our project contribute to existing archaeological and/or historical knowledge?
6) How does our proposed work fit into existing research?
7) What previous archaeological or historical research has been conducted in the area? What, in general, were the findings? See the Martorano et al. document in Canvas and the GIS files titled, "Sites_in_SurveyArea...."
8) What specific methods (documentary, sampling, reconnaissance survey?) will we use to answer our research questions?
We will be conducting survey along an ephemeral historic trail. We will conduct a block survey over a wide swath of the trail corridor considering environmental constraints for people with a long mule train.
9) What types of archival research materials will be used and what are the limitations of these materials?
10) Based on the site location and context and background research, what are your expectations about the kind, number, location, character, and condition of the cultural resources we will encounter?
12) How will resources be recorded? Some of the forms we may use include: 1) Management Data Form, 2) Prehistoric Component Form, 3) Historic Component Form, 4) Architectural Inventory Form, 5) Isolated Find and Linear Component Form, 6) Culturally Modified Tree Form, 2) Photo log (See sample in Canvas, 5ML365_3_Photo_Record). These forms are available at the History Colorado website (click link).
13) How will the field data be processed and maintained for future analysis and reference?
14) How will you present the results of your research?
IMPORTANT: Much of the content of the Research Design will be used in the Final Report. Strong and thorough work on the Research Design will result in less work necessary for the Final Report.
Effective communication through writing requires multiple drafts. Submitting your first complete draft will not produce the quality expected in this course.
Essential Resources:
- Sample RFP (Request for Proposal), see file "Research Design Example 1". This is similar to the work we will be doing (File in Canvas)
- Research Design Example 2 (less closely related to our work). (File in Canvas)
- Hester, Shafer, Feder (2009), Research Design and Sampling Techniques, pp. 21-40 (your textbook)
- This resource can also be used to accurately describe our methods.
- Bunker Article Eagle AMK - Info on Old Spanish Trail - read! (File in Canvas)
- Martorano et al. (1999), Colorado Prehistory: A Context for the Rio Grande Basin (File in Canvas)
- This resource is too long to read in its entirety. However, CH: 3 and 4 will be very helpful for your Cultural Context (background) section and Chapter 6 will be helpful to for understanding previous archaeological work.
- Guidelines for Archaeological Research Designs Defines the format for the Research Design, but subsections may be added.
The questions below are should be answered following the format identified in the Guidelines for Archaeological Research Designs (link above).
1) What is the project name? Archaeological Inventory of Selected Parcels within the Baca Mountain Tract, Rio Grande National Forest.
2) Where and what is the area to be investigated? Include a map.
- Describe the environmental characteristics of the area to be investigated.
- How will these characteristics affect what we find?
- Why was this area chosen as an area to be investigated
3) What is/are the specific research questions we will attempt to answer?
4) Why is the research question worth answering? Who might care about our answers?
5) How does our project contribute to existing archaeological and/or historical knowledge?
6) How does our proposed work fit into existing research?
7) What previous archaeological or historical research has been conducted in the area? What, in general, were the findings? See the Martorano et al. document in Canvas and the GIS files titled, "Sites_in_SurveyArea...."
8) What specific methods (documentary, sampling, reconnaissance survey?) will we use to answer our research questions?
We will be conducting survey along an ephemeral historic trail. We will conduct a block survey over a wide swath of the trail corridor considering environmental constraints for people with a long mule train.
9) What types of archival research materials will be used and what are the limitations of these materials?
10) Based on the site location and context and background research, what are your expectations about the kind, number, location, character, and condition of the cultural resources we will encounter?
12) How will resources be recorded? Some of the forms we may use include: 1) Management Data Form, 2) Prehistoric Component Form, 3) Historic Component Form, 4) Architectural Inventory Form, 5) Isolated Find and Linear Component Form, 6) Culturally Modified Tree Form, 2) Photo log (See sample in Canvas, 5ML365_3_Photo_Record). These forms are available at the History Colorado website (click link).
13) How will the field data be processed and maintained for future analysis and reference?
14) How will you present the results of your research?
rubric
If completed as part of a team, upload to Canvas only one document per team. The research design should be double-spaced, include the names of all team members completing the report, and need not exceed four pages.
Remember to cite all your sources, using a consistent format. Everything that is not common knowledge should be cited in your bibliography.
Effective communication through writing requires multiple drafts. Submitting your first complete draft will not produce the quality expected in this course.
9-10 points (18-20). The research design is exceptional. All questions above are answered and integrated into a coherent and well-organized and thorough document. The document is clearly written and understandable by an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design is pleasing to read and the potential results as presented are compelling, interesting, and justify the time and effort of an archaeological investigation.
8 points (16-17.9): The research design meets all expectations. All questions above are answered and integrated into a coherent and complete document. The document is mostly clearly written and understandable by an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design is readable and the potential results as presented are interesting and justify the time and effort of an archaeological investigation.
6 points (14-15.9): The research design meets minimal expectations. Most questions above are answered and integrated into the document. The document is unevenly written and some sections are not understandable by an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design and the potential results are not particularly compelling nor interesting as presented and the project may not justify the time and effort of an archaeological investigation.
< 6 points (<14): The research design does not meet minimal expectations. Some questions above are answered; some are not. The document is uneven in clarity and thoroughness and some parts will be confusing to an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design is difficult to read and the potential results do not justify the time an effort of an archaeological investigation.
Remember to cite all your sources, using a consistent format. Everything that is not common knowledge should be cited in your bibliography.
Effective communication through writing requires multiple drafts. Submitting your first complete draft will not produce the quality expected in this course.
9-10 points (18-20). The research design is exceptional. All questions above are answered and integrated into a coherent and well-organized and thorough document. The document is clearly written and understandable by an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design is pleasing to read and the potential results as presented are compelling, interesting, and justify the time and effort of an archaeological investigation.
8 points (16-17.9): The research design meets all expectations. All questions above are answered and integrated into a coherent and complete document. The document is mostly clearly written and understandable by an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design is readable and the potential results as presented are interesting and justify the time and effort of an archaeological investigation.
6 points (14-15.9): The research design meets minimal expectations. Most questions above are answered and integrated into the document. The document is unevenly written and some sections are not understandable by an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design and the potential results are not particularly compelling nor interesting as presented and the project may not justify the time and effort of an archaeological investigation.
< 6 points (<14): The research design does not meet minimal expectations. Some questions above are answered; some are not. The document is uneven in clarity and thoroughness and some parts will be confusing to an audience with a general archaeological background. The research design is difficult to read and the potential results do not justify the time an effort of an archaeological investigation.
