WCRM, Inc. is a full service cultural resource consulting firm.  Since 1978, our staff professionals have worked with businesses, agencies and individuals, for mining, oil and gas, power, telecommunications, transportation and water projects, throughout 14 western states.  With offices located in Boulder, Colorado, Farmington, New Mexico, Sparks, Nevada and Missoula, Montana, we are able to provide our clients with cost effective planning and cultural resource management services in the areas of archaeology, history, NEPA/106 processes and Native American issues.

Archaeological Resource Damage Assessment/Protection

Archaeological Resource Investigations (ARI) was formed 23 years ago by archaeologist Martin McAllister.  He is a nationally recognized expert on the protection of archaeological sites and archaeological damage assessment.  In 2008, WCRM acquired ARI.
ARI offers investigative services for actual or suspected damage to archaeological resources.  Any incident involving archaeological resource damage could result in criminal prosecution, substantial civil penalties and forfeitures under the Archaeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA) or related federal and state laws.  Investigation of such incidents requires systematic examination of the damaged resource by both an experienced law enforcement investigator and a professional archaeologist.  A damaged archaeological site must be treated as a potential felony crime scene and investigators must utilize accepted standards of forensic documentation appropriate for such investigations.  This high level of investigation is necessary even if the incident eventually results in civil litigation rather than criminal prosecution.
ARI has access to the services of investigators who are nationally recognized experts in archaeological resource investigations.  These investigators have worked closely with federal, state and private archaeologists in conducting this type of investigation.  They are skilled at directing the archaeological investigation process and in coordinating efforts with a professional archaeologist who provides forensic expertise relating to archaeological resources.          

ARI offers investigative expertise in the following areas:

- Investigation of archaeological resource damage
- Incident detection
- Damage location management
- Damage documentation and evidence processing
- Report preparation of investigations
- Expert witness services
- Case oversight and review
- Training on archaeological law enforcement
- Training on strategies to avoid damage to archaeological sites in industry activities

Introduction:

Archaeologist Martin McAllister, MA, RPA has provided assistance to Tribes in the area of cultural heritage resource protection for over 25 years, first while serving as the Forest Archaeologist for the Tonto National Forest in Arizona; and since 1985, through the firm of Archaeological Resource Investigations (ARI).  Mr. McAllister served as the archaeologist instructor for the Archaeological Resources Protection Training Program class presented by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center from 1981 through 2000.  Through the years, he has taught 82 classes sponsored by tribes or attended by tribal representatives.

Recent Activity:

Since 2000  Several Tribes have sponsored ARI’s Archaeological Law Enforcement Classes, including the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe in Arizona and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana.  Tribal law enforcement officers and archaeologists have also attended ARI’s Archaeological Law Enforcement Class hosted by federal agencies such as the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service.  In addition, Tribal archaeologists have attended ARI’s advanced Archaeological Damage Assessment Class to train in all aspects of their role in cases prosecuted under the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.

2007  ARI’s Archaeological Law Enforcement Class was sponsored by the Navajo Nation in May and the Pueblo of Acoma in October.  These classes were coordinated by the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) of the Institute for Transportation Management at Colorado State University.  TTAP Director and attorney Mr. Ronald C. Hall, Esq., a member of the Arikara Tribe, served as the legal instructor for the Pueblo of Acoma class.  In November of 2007, Mr. McAllister conducted the Archaeological Law Enforcement Class for the Elk Valley Rancheria and Smith River Rancheria Tribes in northern California.

2007  Mr. McAllister made a presentation on cultural heritage resource protection at the “To Bridge A Gap Conference” sponsored by the Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests in Arkansas and Oklahoma.  The Forest Service stated, “The purpose of the To Bridge A Gap tribal conference is to encourage a mutual sharing of Tribal and Forest Service values, programs, interests, and resources to foster a positive government-to-government relationship.”  This conference was held in Norman, Oklahoma and was attended by Representatives of the following 18 Tribes and Nations:  the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, the Alabama Coushatta Tribe, the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Caddo Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation, the Comanche Nation, the Creek Nation, the Delaware Nation, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, the Kaw Nation, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Sac & Fox Nation, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe, the Tonkawa Tribe and the Wyandotte Nation. 

ARI can provide assistance to Tribes in all aspects of cultural heritage resource protection, including both
training and direct consultation assistance.

 ARI training class topics include:

An overview of protecting terrestrial cultural resources for Tribal government officials;

An overview of protecting submerged cultural resources for Tribal government officials (for Tribes that manage or have affiliation with submerged cultural resources)

Cultural resource law enforcement for Tribal law enforcement officers and archaeologists

Submerged cultural resource law enforcement for Tribal law enforcement officers and archaeologists (for Tribes that manage or have affiliation with submerged cultural resources)

Cultural resource damage assessment for Tribal archaeologists Submerged cultural resource damage assessment for Tribal archaeologists (for Tribes that manage or have affiliation with submerged cultural resources).

 ARI support includes:

Development of Tribal cultural resource protection statutes

Development of programs to prevent damage to Tribal cultural resources (e.g. public awareness and site monitoring programs);

Investigative assistance for cultural resource violations on Tribal lands

Cultural resource damage assessment assistance for violations on Tribal lands

Expert witness testimony for investigative and damage assessment assistance to Tribes.

In addition to Mr. McAllister’s expertise in these areas, ARI also has access to the services of both criminal investigators and attorneys with experience in cultural heritage resource protection.