What is a Cultural Resource?

Cultural Resource

The term is used throughout the Federal Government to refer to historic, aesthetic, and cultural aspects of the human environment .

In NRCS, the term is sometimes used interchangeably to refer to any historic or archaeological property that has been identified during planning or to refer to “historic properties” as defined by the ACHP regulations. In fact, the term “cultural resources” is not identical to the term “historic properties” and may incorporate natural and broader cultural elements (i.e., spiritual) of the human environment.

NRCS 401 CRM Manual

190 - National Cultural Resources Handbook Part 601 – Definition

Cultural Resources, in NRCS, are considered equivalent to "historic properties" as defined by the ACHP regulations for compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA. They include any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure or object listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (maintained by the Secretary of the Interior). They also include all records, artifacts and physical remains associated with the historic properties. They may consist of the traces of all of the past activities and accomplishments of people. Cultural resources that are also protected under other authorities (such as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act) include (1) tangible traces such as districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects; (2) less tangible traces such as dance forms, aspects of folklife, landscapes, vistas, cultural or religious practices; (3) historical documents; (4) and some landscapes, vistas, cemeteries (if they have historic or cultural value) and lifeways.

This same term may also refer to: (1) resources that have little or no historic values but do have contemporary cultural value; (2) resources included in or determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places or an equivalent register maintained at the state or local level; (3) unevaluated resources that may be eligible for inclusion in the National Register or an equivalent; (4) properties that may qualify for the protections afforded by the Archeological Resources Protection Act or the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. 

Bottom line:Cultural Resources are:

Anything intentionally modified by human activity or that holds cultural importance AND is at least 50 years old.

Types of Resources

What is a CR 2Any observable or tangible remains of historic peoples.

Structures

Trails/Routes

Landscapes

Artifacts

Broad CategoriesPrehistoric:

Points, Flakes, Scrapers, Drills, Hammer Stones, Grooved Mauls, Cores, Shaft Abraders, Hearths, Stone Circles, Rock Art

Historic:

Cans, Bottles, Nails, Horseshoes, Toys, Gun Parts, Clay Pipes, Wagon Parts,

Homesteads, Structures, Irrigation Ditches, Trails/ Roads

Historic Documents

Less Tangible

Common Artifact TypesLithics/flakes/debatage

MetalGlass

Worked Stone Tools

Fire Cracked Rock (FCR)

Ceramics

Rocks vs. Stone Artifacts

River Rocks (cobles) Hammer Stones/ Manos

Knapping