Research & Collections

People have occupied portions of New York State for over 10,000 years. Only the last few decades of this long and complex period are thoroughly recorded and well understood. The only way we can come to know and appreciate the one hundred centuries that came before is through archeology. If we can find the remains left behind of the sites these people inhabited, the tools they used, the constructions they created, and even of the people themselves, we can finally reveal the way life was in New York hundreds and thousands of years ago.

Yet the archeological record that remains hidden in the ground is a fragile record. It is finite and nonrenewable. Once destroyed, it can never be duplicated, and once the information these sites contain is lost, it can never be recreated. Every time the ground is disturbed, whether by natural or human events, the potential loss of these endangered resources increases. Almost daily some part of our common archeological heritage is damaged or lost, often unintentionally, by the actions we come to accept as part of everyday modern life.

To help prevent such losses on land under its own control, the State of New York enacted Section 233 of the Education Law in 1958. The intent of this law was to protect these "publicly owned" cultural resources "both for scientific and for educational and historic purposes." This law represents the interests of all the people of New York in their common heritage and protects their rights to benefit from the scientific and educational values preserved in these resources for all time to come.

Section 233 has three major components. First, it protects archeological sites and "objects of historic interest" from damage by preventing artifact removal from state lands without written permission. Second, it provides a program of archeological study permits by which serious students of our cultural past may pursue scientific studies on archeological resources on state lands. And third, it requires of anyone who unexpectedly discovers such objects on state lands to report it to the appropriate persons.

Section 233 is part of Education Law and is mandated to the State Education Department in recognition of the very strong educational motives which underwrote the original intent of this archeological preservation effort. The administration of Section 233 is delegated within the Education Department to the New York State Museum, because "scientific specimens and collections, works of art, objects of historic interest and similar property . . . owned by the state . . . shall constitute the collections of the state museum." Responsibility for the management of publicly owned cultural resources under Section 233 falls to the State Museum's Historical and Anthropological Surveys, which have expertise and longstanding research traditions in these areas.

1. All scientific specimens and collections, works of art, objects of historic interest and similar property appropriate to a general museum, if owned by the state and not placed in other custody by a specific law, shall constitute the collections of the state museum. The state museum shall be the custodian of the collections, shall perform standard curatorial, research and educational activities and a director appointed by the regents shall constitute its head.

2. Any scientific collection made by a member of the museum staff during his term of office shall, unless otherwise authorized by resolution of the regents, belong to the state and form a part of the state museum.

3. The state of New York, through its legislative authority accepts the provisions of section one hundred twenty of the federal-aid highway act of nineteen hundred fifty-six (70 Stat. 374) relating to the salvage of archaeological and paleontological objects, including ruins, sites, Indian burial grounds, buildings, artifacts, fossils or other objects of antiquity having national significance from an historical or scientific standpoint, and empowers and directs the commissioner of education to make agreements with appropriate state departments or agencies and such agency or agencies as the federal government may designate to carry out the purposes of such provision of law.

4. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision three of this section, no person shall appropriate, excavate, injure or destroy any object of archaeological and paleontological interest, situated on or under lands owned by the state of New York, without the written permission of the commissioner of education. A violation of this provision shall constitute a misdemeanor. The discovery of such objects shall be forthwith reported to the commissioner by the state department or agency having jurisdiction over such lands.

5. Permits for the examination, excavation or gathering of archaeological and paleontological objects upon the lands under their respective jurisdictions may be granted by the heads of state departments or other state agencies to persons authorized by the commissioner of education for the purposes of the state museum and state science service, with a view to the preservation of any such objects worthy of permanent preservation and, in all cases, to the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge relating thereto.

L.1947, c. 820; amended L.1958, c. 121, eff. March 6, 1958.
23 U.S.C.A. § 170.

Educational Regulations Part 180

Section 180.1 Loan of Material.

Scientific specimens and collections may be loaned to scientific institutions, museums, libraries or other responsible organizations or to qualified scientists engaged in research, upon terms and conditions to be set forth in an agreement between the department acting through the Assistant Commissioner of State Museum and Science Service and the organization or individual requesting the loan.

180.2 Archeological and paleontological permits.

(a) Permits valid for a period not exceeding one year for the examination or gathering of paleontological objects on specified lands for specified periods may be issued by the Assistant Commissioner for State Museum and Science Service to the appropriate department of recognized universities, research institutions, government surveys, colleges and museums.

(b) Permits valid for a period not exceeding one year for examination, excavation or gathering of paleontological objects issued to the foregoing named institutions shall be valid for use by authorized staff and members of the faculty, student assistants and graduate students of such institutions.

(c) Permits vaid for a period not exceeding one year for examination, excavation or gathering of archeological objects on specified lands for specified periods may be issued by the Assistant Commissioner for State Museum and Science Service to qualfiied individual members of the staffs of recognized universities, research institutions, colleges or museums and shall be valid only for use by the individuals to whom they are issued.

(d) Permits valid for a period not exceeding one year may also be granted to individuals not affiliated with the above institutions but who are professionally competent in the opinion of the Assistant Commissioner for State Museum and Science Service.

(e) Permits valid for a period not exceeding one year may also be granted to individuals for the examination, excavation and collection of marine fossils on specified lands for specified periods.

(f) Discoveries in the follwoing categories shall be reported to the State Museum: evidence of human remains, bones, burials, pottery, village sites, buildings, and large masses of fossil plants and fossil reefs. All other marine fossils are unrestricted and may be collected by holders of permits without first reporting to the State Museum.

(g) Permits issued under the provisions of this Part may be revoked at any time.

Educational Regulations Part 181

Archives and History
Stautory authority: Education Law Section 207

Section 181.1 Loan of Material.

Historical objects and collections, paintings, and other art forms may be loaned to educational institutions, historical societies, museums, libraries or other responsible organizations for study and exhibition, upon terms and conditions to be set forth in an agreement between the department acting through the State Historian and the organization or individual requesting the loan.

181.2 Permits for survey and retrieval of objects of historical interest.

(a) Permits, valid for a period not exceeding one year, to survey and retreive objects of historical interest situated on or under State property, may be issued to qualified public agencies, historical societies, museums, other educational institutions and individuals.

(b) Discovery and retrieval of objects of historical interest on State property shall be reported to the Commissioner of Education.

(c) Permits issued under the provisions of this Part may be revoked at any time.

The legislation generally describes the protected resources as "any object of archeological or paleontological interest." In general, objects deposited on state lands that are less than 50 years old are not considered to be of "archeological interest." However, there may be specific collecting policies that prevent the removal of such objects of even relatively recent vintage (such as in State Parks or State Historic Sites). Archeological sites in which deposits of spatially related objects exist can reveal a great deal about the events which created these sites and are clearly "of archeological interest." Certain types of isolated objects may also be of significance even if not associated with any particular site. Before removing any object that appears to be in isolation, consult with the State Museum. Many apparently isolated objects are in fact merely the exposed portion of a buried site that would be damaged if surface materials were continually collected as they become exposed.

Archeological sites on state owned lands fall into two major categories: land sites and underwater sites. Land sites are most frequently thought of as "Indian" sites. The thousands of years of Native prehistory in New York, from Paleo-Indian migratory bands to the Iroquois and Algonkian farmers encountered by the first explorers, represents one of the most important components of our archeological heritage. Since there was virtually no written record created of these prehistoric times, archeological studies represent the only means of coming to know our prehistoric predecessors. But there is also a great deal to be learned from the remains of Colonial habitations, military sites, transportation systems, and the more common archeological resources that represent the Historic Period. In spite of volumes of documentation, historians still find many areas of our past that cannot be fully understood without the archeological data contained in sites of these more recent times. A significant portion of these irreplaceable land sites are situated on some form of state land.

Underwater sites are also on state lands, only these are submerged lands, covered by navigable bodies of water. Very few bodies of water in New York State are privately owned, and even small lakes and ponds that are completely surrounded by private lots may still be public waterways. Such public waterways and the lands beneath them are under the jurisdiction of the State, and therefore any archeological resources resting on these bottomlands are under the protection of Section 233.

For the most part, these submerged resources are represented by sunken ships and boats and the sites of cultural materials associated with such sinkings. The data on nautical technology and maritime history that is so often missing from libraries and archives can only be found in the sites of original vessels from the period of interest, be it prehistoric canoes, batteaux of the colonial period, great fighting ships of the American Revolution and the War of 1812, or the vessels of commerce of the 19th century canal-boat and lake-freighter era.

But even deposits of what many would term "garbage" that lie on our lake bottoms can reveal as much about the people that created them as can modern books full of words and pictures. The deep refuse deposits alongside docks and commercial establishments can reveal more about the business of business than the paper records that may or may not be preserved.

A permit granted under Section 233 is an authorization to collect or excavate archeological materials on state lands. Given the mandate to preserve and protect these resources for their scientific and educational value, the State Museum only grants permits for projects that are consistent with the standards and goals of scientific research.

Permits are required for any activity that will "appropriate, excavate, injure, or destroy any object of archeological or paleontological interest, situated on or under lands owned by the State of New York." Under the regulations of the Commissioner of Education, reconnaissance survey projects may also require a permit, even though no excavation of any site is proposed. Even though some land survey involves little more than walking around, and most underwater surveys involve little more than swimming or boating, having a survey permit on file opens up a dialogue between the surveyor and the State Museum through which they can exchange information. It also places others on notice that the applicant has a prior interest in the survey area. In lieu of a formal permit for non-contactinvestigations, where no physical disturbance of the site is proposed, the State Museum offers the option of registering the survey with a simple one-page form. This is particularly useful in identifying the researcher's intent to study an area and helps avoid conflicts that may arise later.

Title to the bed of numerous bodies of water is held in trust for the people of the State of New York under the jurisdiction of the Office of General Services.  Visit their website to apply for access to these lands. 

Permits are usually granted to professional archeologists associated with institutions which have a tradition of solid research and the facilities to support the project. At the data recovery stage, preservation facilities and qualified conservation staff are critical to the success of the project. The applicant must be able to comply with the State Museum's policies regarding acquisition, preparation, and care of collections.

However, individuals may apply, particularly at the survey stage, to conduct data gathering and identification studies. Even though not professional archeologists nor affiliated with a museum, university, or other institution, such researchers can make a significant contribution to the knowledge of our archeological heritage, particularly in the realm of underwater resources. Such studies are most effective if they use field data to resolve questions arising from documentary sources or reveal new historical data relating to past events. Activities designed merely to retrieve artifacts are not usually considered appropriate on archeological sites that belong to the public. Site preservation is a priority in the management of these resources for the benefit of all New York residents.

Once a completed application is received by the State Museum, it will be reviewed by an interagency panel to determine whether the proposal merits approval. The State Museum is responsible for the approval of applications in terms of their scientific research design and the ability of the project to comply with museum policies regarding State-owned collections. Consultation with the interagency panel assists the State Museum with this review and also provides compliance with other state laws regarding impacts to cultural resources.

If approved by the State Museum, the application is sent to the state agency which actually administers the land on which the project will take place. For example, a permit to investigate a shipwreck in Lake Champlain would require approval by the State Education Department, but also approval by the Office of General Services, which administers New York's submerged lands. In some cases the proposed research design may be perfectly acceptable, but the project may interfere with other priorities the managing agency has in terms of use of that land.

If the application is approved by both agencies, and is in compliance with all other state or federal requirements for the protection of cultural resources, the signed permit will be returned to the applicant. Normally the review and approval process takes about 45 days if all the necessary information is available.

Unless otherwise requested, the term of the project will be assumed to be for one year. The term of the permit will be for one year from the date of final approval.

By law, material on or under any land belongs to the landowner, whether the land is public or private. On public lands this material belongs to the state or federal agency that manages the property, and their permission is required before this material can be removed or disturbed. Where these items are of "historic interest," additional protection is afforded them under Section 233. Permission for the disturbance or removal of these objects of "historic interest" is obtained through the permit process described above.

Removal of objects during an approved Section 233 permit does not alter their ownership, and they remain the property of the state agency which administers the land in the interest of the residents of New York, along with any records generated as part of the research project. Under Section 233 the care and preservation of these "objects of historic interest" is usually delegated to the New York State Museum. Therefore, any collections derived from a permitted activity on state lands must be made and prepared in accordance with the State Museum's policies regarding collections acquisition and care. For the purpose of study, a loan of the collections resulting from a permitted project will automatically be made to the applicant for a period up to one year (depending upon the size and scope of the project) after the end date of the permit. Extensions of this loan may be requested, as necessary, from the State Museum.

It is the policy of the State Museum to encourage the general public to become interested in local history and prehistory. To aid in this educational effort, the State Museum frequently arranges for loans of collections for exhibition to secure and responsible institutions. Requests for such loans should be made to the State Museum. 

Because the purpose of the management of public archeological resources is to preserve these resources for all the residents of New York, present and future, and to create educational benefit from these resources through controlled scientific study, it would be inappropriate to release artifacts from integrated archeological sites to private ownership or sale. The possible benefits such sale might seem to provide in support of scientific research would not equal the negative consequences such a policy would produce. In some cases, however, isolated objects which lack historic interest for one reason or another may be released from public ownership if requested in writing.

In no case should any form of excavation or disturbance be undertaken on state land without first seeking and obtaining permission, even when it is believed that the objects to be collected are not of "historic interest." The judgement of "historic interest" can only be made by the interagency permit panel.

When archeological sites on public lands are damaged or destroyed, everyone loses a part of our shared heritage, spanning over 10,000 years of human history. The greatest loss falls to our children and to unborn generations who will inherit a State in which the opportunities to see, appreciate, and investigate our archeological resources will be greatly diminished.

No state agency, no governmental program, no law can protect these irreplaceable resources unless people interested in seeing this part of their heritage preserved make a conscious commitment to contribute to this effort.

Documentation on what the site is, i.e., its age, type, function, history and condition.

[Permits to excavate or remove artifacts or specimens from a site will normally not be given until complete documentary research on the site has been completed. The application letter should reflect the findings of that documentary research and should indicate how the project design reflects what is already known about the site from prior research.]

This includes: 

• Non-contact survey methodology and recording [if proposed].
• Excavation of non-cultural or sterile overburden and recording [if proposed].
• Excavation of cultural or geological deposits, exposure and recovery of objects or specimens, mapping and data recording [if proposed]. 

[Permits are given for research purposes, and proposals should include a research design appropriate to current professional standards and the scope of the project. More complex projects with a greater potential impact on archeological or paleontological resources will require more detailed proposals and research design information. It is advisable to have the proposal reviewed by a professional archeologist, geologist or someone with specific expertise in the type of project being proposed. Their letter of evaluation should accompany the application.] 

Plans for, and facilities to support, the conservation, cataloging, storage and analysis of excavated and collected materials. 
[All excavated and collected materials should be maintained in a stable state for study and prepared for storage using applicable standards of the New York State Museum. You may obtain additional information on those standards, including fees associated with permanent curation (if any), by contacting us using the address data at the top of this page.]

Proposal and estimated time frame for submission of a preliminary and final research report and any plans to submit results for publication.

[Annual reports on the progress of the project, and at its completion, are expected to be filed in a timely manner with the New York State Museum.]

A portion of a USGS topographic map, DOT Planimetric map, or navigation chart showing the location and boundaries of the project study area. Be sure the map is identified as to type, source, scale and date of publication.