Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Washington)

Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Washington)
Name	Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Washington)
Formed	1966
Jurisdiction	State of Washington
Headquarters	Olympia, Washington
Chief1 name	Director
Parent agency	Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Washington) The Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Washington) is a state-level agency unit responsible for identification, protection, and stewardship of archaeological sites and historic resources in Washington (state). It operates within the institutional framework of the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and interacts with tribal governments such as the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, federal agencies including the National Park Service and United States Army Corps of Engineers, as well as local governments like the City of Seattle and King County. The office administers programs related to the National Register of Historic Places, state cultural resource surveys, and compliance with statutes such as the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.

History

The office traces origins to mid-20th century preservation movements influenced by events like the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and the expansion of the National Park Service’s historic preservation programs. Early state-level activities coordinated with entities such as the Washington State Historical Society and the Works Progress Administration-era surveys. During the 1970s and 1980s it developed partnerships with tribal nations including the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the Yakama Nation and aligned practices with federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Highway Administration. Over subsequent decades the office implemented frameworks that reflect precedents set by cases such as Lyng v. Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Ass'n and policies associated with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act while contributing to statewide inventories and regulatory processes.

Mission and Functions

The office’s mission centers on stewardship, documentation, and regulatory review of archaeological and historic places. Core functions include managing statewide cultural resource inventories linked to the National Register of Historic Places, conducting Section 106 reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, advising on mitigation for projects by the Washington State Department of Transportation, and consulting with federally recognized tribes such as the Lummi Nation and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. It provides technical guidance for compliance with statutes including the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 when actions involve agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency or the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Organizational Structure

The office is organized into divisions reflecting core responsibilities: survey and inventory, regulatory review, collections and curation, and outreach. Leadership reports to the director of the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and coordinates with counsel offices such as the Washington State Attorney General and program managers in the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Regional archaeologists and preservation planners collaborate with municipal counterparts in places like Tacoma, Washington, Spokane, Washington, and state facilities managed by the Department of Natural Resources (Washington).

Programs and Projects

Programs administered include the Statewide Historic Preservation Plan aligned with national goals of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; grant programs modeled on Certified Local Government incentives; and survey initiatives that document resources from periods represented by sites like Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and the Centralia Massacre locations. Projects range from coastal archaeological monitoring along the Pacific Northwest shoreline to terrestrial mitigation at infrastructure projects funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The office also manages accession, cataloguing, and curation standards consistent with repositories such as the Smithsonian Institution and university archaeological collections at University of Washington and Washington State University.

Legal Authority and Policy Framework

Legal authority rests on state statutes codified in Washington law supplemented by federal statutes including the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Policy frameworks incorporate guidance from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and interpretive standards issued by the Secretary of the Interior for treatment of historic properties. The office issues determinations of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places and conducts reviews affecting projects financed by agencies such as the Federal Transit Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Partnerships and Collaboration

Partnerships span tribal governments like the Quinault Indian Nation and Colville Confederated Tribes, federal partners including the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management, academic institutions such as Central Washington University and Western Washington University, local historical societies including the Seattle Historical Society, and nonprofits like the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. Collaborative programs include joint surveys with the U.S. Forest Service in the Olympic National Forest and consultation protocols with tribal historic preservation officers modeled after practices endorsed by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Notable Surveys and Publications

The office has produced statewide inventories, thematic studies, and technical bulletins documenting prehistoric and historic resources, including coastal shell midden surveys, historic downtown comprehensive surveys for Seattle and Olympia, Washington, and ethnographic reports prepared in collaboration with tribes. Publications reference methodologies consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology and Historic Preservation and include technical manuals, site form templates, and annotated inventories used by entities such as the National Register of Historic Places program, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and university research programs.

Category:State agencies of Washington (state) Category:Archaeology of Washington (state) Category:Historic preservation in the United States