CULTURAL RESOURCES STUDIES/INVESTIGATIONS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

A.D. Marble & Company was selected to perform Phase I Archaeological Surveys for a variety of agricultural-related improvement projects located in Delaware and Maryland. These projects consist of minor landscape impacts designed to improve agricultural operations, such as the construction of farm ponds, installation of tile line drainages, and erosion control measures. Due to the minor impacts and costs of the projects, the USDA and A.D. Marble & Company agreed to a reduced level of effort which would satisfy Section 106 requirements yet not overtax the limited budget of the projects.

The USDA District Cultural Resources Specialist was responsible for identifying documented cultural resources in the project area. After the background research was completed, the project information, including Area of Potential Effect (APE), soil designations in the APE, documented cultural resources in the project area, and photographs of the project setting, were provided to us as part of an Undertaking Review packet. In conjunction with the local Natural Resources Conservation Service state office, which served as the contact point for projects in specific counties, A.D. Marble & Company conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey in the area of impact for the proposed improvement. A report describing the project setting, archaeological methodology, and the results of the survey was produced for distribution to the USDA. Currently, eleven projects have been completed under this arrangement. This unique arrangement works well to provide sufficient archaeological testing of minor landscape improvement projects at an affordable cost to the client.

Contact Information
Bennett W. Horter
Cultural Resources Specialist

United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
1203 College Park Drive, Suite 101
Dover, DE 19904

(302) 678-4197