The standard and guidance for archaeological excavation was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 22 September 1995.

The Standard
An archaeological excavation will examine and record the archaeological resource within a specified area using appropriate methods and practices. These will satisfy the stated aims of the project, and comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA. It will result in one or more published accounts and an ordered, accessible archive.

Definition of excavation
The definition of archaeological excavation is a programme of controlled, intrusive fieldwork with defined research objectives which examines, records and interprets archaeological deposits, features and structures and, as appropriate, retrieves artefacts, ecofacts and other remains within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. The records made and objects gathered during fieldwork are studied and the results of that study published in detail appropriate to the project design.

Purpose of excavation
The purpose of excavation is to examine the archaeological resource within a given area or site within a framework of defined research objectives, to seek a better understanding of and compile a lasting record of that resource, to analyse and interpret the results, and disseminate them.

Occurrence
Excavation may arise:

• in response to a proposed development which would threaten the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes) and/or development plan policy
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.3 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• in connection with management plans and mitigation strategies by private, local and national or international bodies

Excavation may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents, archaeological researchers, etc.

The standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 14 October 1994.

The Standard
An archaeological field evaluation will determine, as far as is reasonably possible, the nature of the archaeological resource within a specified area using appropriate methods and practices. These will satisfy the stated aims of the project, and comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA.

Definition of field evaluation
The definition of archaeological field evaluation is a limited programme of non-intrusive and/or intrusive fieldwork which determines the presence or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits, artefacts or ecofacts within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. If such archaeological remains are present field evaluation defines their character, extent, quality and preservation, and enables an assessment of their worth in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate.

Purpose of field evaluation
The purpose of field evaluation is to gain information about the archaeological resource within a given area or site (including its presence or absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality), in order to make an assessment of its merit in the appropriate context, leading to one or more of the following:

• the formulation of a strategy to ensure the recording, preservation or management of the resource
• the formulation of a strategy to mitigate a threat to the archaeological resource
• the formulation of a proposal for further archaeological investigation within a programme of research

Occurrence
A field evaluation may arise:

• in response to a proposed development which threatens the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes and/or development plan policy)
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.7 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• in connection with the preparation of management plans by private, local or national and international bodies

An archaeological field evaluation may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents, archaeological researchers, etc.

The standard and guidance for archaeological desk-based assessment was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 14 October 1994.

The Standard
A desk-based assessment will determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature of the archaeological resource within a specified area. It will be undertaken using appropriate methods and practices which satisfy the stated aims of the project, and which comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA.

Definition of desk-based assessment
The definition of desk-based assessment is a programme of assessment of the known or potential archaeological resource within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic, photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate.

Purpose of desk-based assessment
The purpose of desk-based assessments is to gain information about the known or potential archaeological resource within a given area or site (including the presence or absence, character and extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and relative quality of the potential archaeological resource), in order to make an assessment of its merit in context, leading to one or more of the following:

• the formulation of a strategy to ensure the recording, preservation or management of the resource
• the formulation of a strategy for further investigation, whether or not intrusive, where the character and value of the resource is not sufficiently defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be devised
• the formulation of a proposal for further archaeological investigation within a programme of research

Occurrence
Desk-based assessment arise:

• in response to a proposed development which threatens the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes) and/or development plan policy
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.7 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• in connection with the preparation of management plans by private, local, national or international bodies

Desk-based assessment may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents, archaeological researchers etc.

Archaeologists have an ethical obligation to preserve the data they collect during archaeological projects for future generations. The following standards and guidelines were developed by The Society for Historical Archaeology with the explicit goals of permitting the long-term preservation of archaeological collections and maintaining their research and public education values. These SHA standards are in accordance with the more general federal regulations issued as 36 CFR Part 79: Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections. For the purposes of archaeological curation, the following terms are employed:

• Archaeological Collections are comprised of several components, including but not limited to artifacts, environmental and dating samples, field documentation, laboratory documentation, photographic records, related historical documents, and reports.
• Curation is an integral element of the archaeological process and refers to the long-term management and preservation of archaeological materials and their associated documentation.
• Curation Facility is a designated repository for archaeological materials, which can provide accountable, professional curation of collections in a secure, climate-controlled environment on long-term basis.

Due to its significance, planning for curation should begin in the project design phase through consultation with the curatorial facility, which will ultimately receive the collection. Curation expenses and storage fees must be considered in the preparation of project budgets.

The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) is an international organization dedicated to the research, interpretation, and protection of the archaeological heritage of the Americas. With more than 6,800 members, the society represents professional, student, and avocational archaeologists working in a variety of settings including government agencies, colleges and universities, museums, and the private sector.

The Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA) (Title 16, United States Code, Sections 470aa-470mm) and the ARPA Uniform Regulations establish “archaeological value” as one of three measures of the gravity of any criminal or civil violation of ARPA. In order to assist archaeologists performing archaeological damage assessments in ARPA cases, the SAA Task Force on Archaeological Law Enforcement has developed the following professional standards for the determination of archaeological value. The SAA Board strongly endorses these standards and encourages their use by professional archaeologists.

The determination of archaeological value is directly analogous to a routine professional practice that occurs daily in the United States. This is the process of developing real budgets for actual recovery of archaeological materials and data in mitigation or research projects that will be implemented through funding from contracts, grants, donations or other sources. In this sense, the determination of archaeological value is simply the structured application of this professional practice in order to provide information required by federal law.

The professional archaeologist who performs an archaeological value determination should be qualified to serve as an expert witness (Rule 702, Federal Rules of Evidence).

In addition to meeting general professional standards in archaeology, required qualifications include regional expertise and experience with resources similar to the resource(s) involved in the archaeological value determination. Formal training in the preparation of archaeological value determinations is recommended.

The specific legal provisions governing the determination of archaeological value are as follows.

We publish the standards for archaeologicals objects core data documentation, published by the CIDOC (ICOM workgroup about archaeological sites).

CAPÍTULO I: PROPÓSITO Y FILOSOFÍA

El Ecuador posee una rica historia cultural que se remonta hacia el periodo paleoindio, es decir hasta hace más de 11,000 años. Esta historia esta guardada en los vestigios arqueológicos de amplia existencia en el Ecuador actual. La historiaCAPÍTULO I: PROPÓSITO Y FILOSOFÍA

El Ecuador posee una rica historia cultural que se remonta hacia el periodo paleoindio, es decir hasta hace más de 11,000 años. Esta historia esta guardada en los vestigios arqueológicos de amplia existencia en el Ecuador actual. La historia cultural de país es muy rica y provee de un escenario ideal para desarrollar formas desarrollar el conocimiento de nuestro pasado. De esta manera permite reforzar los procesos de auto identidad de la población nacional.

El estado a través de sus organismos reguladores garantiza la protección del patrimonio cultural del país, entre los que se incluye a los sitios arqueológicos, y al mismo tiempo provee de mecanismos que aseguran acciones de protección a estos sitios por parte del estado. Bajo las leyes actuales, ninguna persona o entidad puede realizar excavaciones que afecten los sitios sin previa autorización del Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural (INPC). Previo ala realización de actividades que afecten a los sitios arqueológicos se deben llevar a cabo procesos y mecanismos que aseguren la no-afectación a los sitios y la consecuente destrucción de la historia local. El INPC, coordina con las agencias, contratistas, etc., que se encuentran en desarrollo de planes y programas que implican la afectación a los recursos culturales. Parte fundamental de este proceso es el seguimiento al cumplimiento con los procedimientos establecidos dentro del marco de la ley. Para ello el INPC provee de estándares mínimos que se deben cumplir dentro de los proyectos de arqueología de salvamento, rescate o de contrato.

Esta guía intenta asegurar que los estudios arqueológicos revisados por el INPC se conforman con los estándares de la prospección y excavación arqueológica, el registro de los datos, y la producción de reportes aceptados en la actualidad por la práctica arqueológica. No se intenta frenar la innovación de los investigadores, pero si trata de establecer un mínimo de estándares. El INPC alienta el uso de aproximaciones alternativas, pero siempre y cuando produzcan el mismo efecto y estén consultadas, aceptadas por el INPC y no violen los preceptos de la práctica profesional.

EL PROCESO DE REVISION

En la metodología que presentamos, existe un primer acercamiento que lo llamaremos proceso de revision, el mismo que permite establecerla necesidad de realizar un proceso de mitigacion.

El proceso de revisión se divide en dos etapas paralelas (1) el primero se refiere al proceso de revisión sobre el efecto que cualquier trabajo puede producir en recursos históricos tales como estructuras definidas como parte del patrimonio cultural del Ecuador y (2) la revisión de los efectos que se puedan producir en los bienes prehistóricos y de la arqueología histórica.

El primer paso en el proceso de revisión es la entrega de los documentos sobre el proyecto al INPC, para que el INPC pueda empezar con el proceso de revisión la documentación debe estar completa, incluyendo: En la metodología que presentamos, existe un primer acercamiento que lo llamaremos proceso de revision, el mismo que permite establecerla necesidad de realizar un proceso de mitigacion.El proceso de revisión se divide en dos etapas paralelas (1) el primero se refiere al proceso de revisión sobre el efecto que cualquier trabajo puede producir en recursos históricos tales como estructuras definidas como parte del patrimonio cultural del Ecuador y (2) la revisión de los efectos que se puedan producir en los bienes prehistóricos y de la arqueología histórica.El primer paso en el proceso de revisión es la entrega de los documentos sobre el proyecto al INPC, para que el INPC pueda empezar con el proceso de revisión la documentación debe estar completa, incluyendo: