Stories
Explore stories from the past that can be interpreted from the research results and go behind the scenes of an archaeological excavation.
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In 2021, archaeologists with SEARCH, Inc. (SEARCH) and TRC Companies, Inc. (TRC) were contracted by GAI Consultants (GAI) to excavate 10 archaeological sites in the Permian Basin across modern-day New Mexico and Texas. The results of the excavation and laboratory analyses help answer research questions about the people who lived in the Permian Basin. This website is intended to share the research results as well as the stories from the past that can be interpreted from the findings.
Project Origins Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) requires federal agencies to consider the effects that construction projects might have on historic properties.
The Double E Project requested permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to construct and operate a pipeline, which required Section 106 review.
SEARCH archaeologists were contracted in 2018-19 to conduct a survey that identified archaeological sites throughout the Permian Basin[MP4] . Based on the results of the survey, the archaeological sites demonstrated the potential to answer research questions that can tell us more about the history of the region. After consultation with federal and state agencies, as well as federally-recognized Native American tribes, several of the archaeological sites were recommended eligible for listing on the National Register of Historical Places (NRHP). The NRHP is list of historic places considered worthy of preservation based on a set of criteria.
The 2021 research was required by federal law because the construction plans for the Double E Project could not avoid affecting archaeological sites eligible for listing on the NRHP.