US 301 Project Archaeology and Historic Context Development in Delaware

Summary

A 2007 study conducted for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program examined cultural resource professionals’ views on the usefulness of historic contexts, and found that, "…SHPO and state DOT staff rarely use historic contexts to evaluate the National Register eligibility of properties." However, Delaware has a long and well-established practice of encouraging the development – and use – of historic contexts. The US 301 project archaeological investigations presented an opportunity to build upon this tradition, developing and refining contexts that will inform future work. This paper will discuss the collaboration among the DE SHPO, DelDOT, consulting firms and academic researchers in this large scale effort, and explore how to ensure that this significant body of work remains relevant and accessible.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016   •
• New Highway Uncovers New Histories: Archaeology Mitigations From the U.S. Route 301 Mega Project in Delaware

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 974