Cultural Resources Management

Desert Archaeology conducts work of the highest professional quality that meets government, scientific, and ethical standards, whether your project calls for background records review, surface survey, exploratory excavations, or full-scale data recovery investigations.

We work closely with our clients to create efficient processes and produce exemplary, on-schedule outcomes that satisfy all regulatory requirements. We use our decades of experience to develop budget-conscious strategies for completing the cultural resources component of a project on schedule.

Find all the details on the Cultural Resources Management page.

Analytical Services

We learn as much about the past in the laboratory as we do in the field. Desert Archaeology’s staff of analytical specialists is among the most comprehensive and experienced in the Southwest. Individual analysts can be contracted for specimen identification, full assemblage analysis, and report writing.

We do not appraise monetary value for artifacts. 

See the flyer for a quick look at what we have to offer, then find all the details on the Artifact and Specimen Analysis page.

Graphics, Mapping, and Photography

Our design professionals create compelling visuals that make an impact in a variety of media, working with clients in all professional and academic fields to convey their messages effectively.

Maps, aerial photographs, artifact illustrations, interpretive graphics–our team delivers the visual communication products you need.

Find all the details on the Graphics, Mapping, and Photography page.

Clients

We bring streamlined procedures, competitive budgets, and the expertise to adapt to situational needs to every project, delivering optimal results to clients in all sectors.

Desert Archaeology has successfully completed projects for clients in these sectors:

• Government
• Tribal/Nation
• Utilities
• CRM professionals
• A & E companies
• Other private sector

Government

Desert Archaeology delivers results that honor the investment of public funds in archaeology.

We are qualified to work in all jurisdictions in Arizona and adjacent states. We are familiar with the compliance requirements of local, state, and federal agencies and offer services that meet any project need.

Federal clients include:

• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation
• General Services Administration
• Indian Health Service
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• National Park Service
• U.S. Air Force
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• U.S. Forest Service
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• Western Archeological and Conservation Center

State clients include:

• Arizona Department of Transportation
• Arizona State Land Department
• Arizona State Museum
• Arizona State Parks
• Arizona State University
• University of Arizona
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• University of New Mexico
• University of Oklahoma

Local governmental clients include:

• Catalina Foothills School District
• City of Apache Junction
• City of Benson
• City of Bisbee
• City of Casa Grande
• City of Coolidge
• City of Phoenix
• City of Scottsdale
• City of Sierra Vista
• City of Tucson
• Cochise County
• Flowing Wells Fire District
• Marana Unified School District
• Maricopa County
• Northwest Fire District
• Pima Community College
• Pima County
• Santa Cruz County
• Town of Marana
• Town of Oro Valley
• Town of Patagonia
• Town of Pima
• Town of Springerville
• Tucson Airport Authority

Tribal Government

Desert Archaeology works for and with Native American groups on government-sponsored projects on tribal lands. We maximize benefits to Native communities by planning projects in consultation with tribal cultural resource offices and community members, working with tribal employment services, and prioritizing the use of tribal businesses.

Tribal clients include:

• Baboquivari Indian Oasis School District
• Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
• Gila River Indian Community
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
• Tohono O’odham Nation

Utilities

Desert Archaeology has developed compliance procedures specifically tailored to the needs of utility companies. We have streamlined the permitting and reporting processes for on-call contracts and developed and applied efficient methods for investigating cultural resources in the narrow, linear rights-of-way utility work requires. We coordinate closely with construction crews to minimize construction delays.

Utility clients include:

• Arizona Public Service Company
• Qwest Communications International
• Pima County Regional Wastewater
• Salt River Project
• Southern California Edison
• Southwest Gas Corporation
• Tucson Electric Power Company

CRM Professionals

Desert Archaeology’s specialist staff members are often contracted to provide support services to other cultural resources firms. They offer expertise gained over decades of working with archaeological materials such as ceramics, flaked stone, ground stone, animal bone, shell, and archaeobotanical samples.

We have provided services to the following:

• Animas Ceramic Consulting
• Archaeological Consulting Services
• Archaeology Southwest
• GRIC CRMP
• HRA, Inc., Conservation Archaeology
• Logan Simpson Design
• Northland Research
• Southwest Petrographic Specialists
• Statistical Research, Inc.
• SWCA Environmental Consultants
• Tierra Right of Way Services
• Western Archeological and Conservation Center
• WestLand Resources, Inc.

A & E Companies

As a full-service cultural resources management company, Desert Archaeology is available to team with architectural, engineering, and environmental companies on contracts requiring CRM work. We also provide fieldwork support, cartographic services, collections management, and analytic services, customizing our offerings to complement your capabilities.

Firms we have teamed with include:

• AECOM Technical Services, Inc.
• ARCADIS
• Aspen Environmental Group
• AZTEC Engineering
• CH2M HILL Engineers, Inc.
• DWL Architects
• Engineering and Environmental Consultants, Inc.
• Fugro West, Inc.
• HDR Engineering, Inc.
• Kimley Horn & Associates
• McGann & Associates
• Parsons Brinckerhoff
• Poster Frost Mirto
• RECON Environmental, Inc.
• Swaim Associates Architects
• Tetra Tech
• W.D. Schock Company
• West Point Contractors, Inc.
• WLB Group

Other Private Sector Clients

Desert Archaeology works with private sector clients that are subject to a variety of regulations in both urban and rural contexts. We can guide you through the regulatory process, provide advice about time- and budget-sensitive options, and provide high-quality work that meets agency standards and allows you to stay focused on your own project goals.

Private sector clients include:

• 5 North Fifth Hotel, LLC
• Achen Gardner Construction, LLC
• Audubon Society
• Barclay Group
• Baseline Data
• Bourn Partners
• CalPortland
• Cottonwood Properties
• Cricket Communications
• Cypress Civil Development LLC
• Granite Construction Company
• Mattamy Homes
• Mildred Peak Resources, Inc.
• Phelps Dodge Bagdad, Inc.
• The Nature Conservancy
• The Salvation Army

Team with Us

All development and preservation projects are partnerships, and we want to be part of your team. Desert Archaeology brings decades of experience working in multiple sectors, our professional network, and WOSB and DBE credits.

When we join your team, we bring our commitment to finding innovative ways to satisfy regulatory requirements and logistical challenges to achieve positive outcomes.

At every stage, from project design to implementation, we seek solutions that maximize archaeological information and minimize impact on budgets, by focusing our efforts on areas prioritized by clients and scaling compliance work accordingly.

Clients in all sectors return to us time and again for their cultural resources service needs. They know that we are able to create realistic project budgets and work plans, and that we are flexible as project needs change.

Contact us to get started.