Architectural and Archaeological Surveys |
The materials linked to this page provide guidance on how to carry out and report on architectural and archaeological surveys in Delaware.
What is a survey?
Survey is the physical search for and recording of historic buildings, structures, archaeological sites, and other types of cultural resources. Survey includes background research, fieldwork, and writing reports. Fieldwork covers resources that are visible above the ground or may be present below the ground surface or underwater.
Why are surveys performed?
Surveys provide information about where resources are located, what they are, and how important they may be to our knowledge and understanding of the past. Such information is crucial to planning for specific projects, and assists in managing and protecting cultural resources.
What is the purpose of the state's survey guidance?
The Delaware State Historic Preservation Office (DE SHPO) provides guidance to help surveyors meet currently accepted professional standards for research, fieldwork, and reporting. The DE SHPO also supplies forms so survey data are recorded in a standard format. The forms become part of the state's cultural resource inventory, which makes the results of surveys available for other researchers. The DE SHPO staff use this guidance when reviewing survey products.
This guidance sets the standards for all types of surveys in the state of Delaware, including those:
The guidance covers survey methods and survey products, which includes reports and forms.
Survey Methods and Reports
Access the 1993 survey manual, entitled Guidelines for Architectural and Archaeological Surveys in Delaware. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.
The manual includes:
*Follow the report guidelines in this manual when preparing reports on all architectural surveys and on archaeological surveys that identify sites. Note that the chapters of the original 1993 manual which described how to record information in Delaware's cultural resource inventory have been replaced by the online section on survey forms posted below.
Use this link to access the Archaeological Survey Report Form and its associated Guidelines and Instructions. This form is to be used only when archaeological surveys do not identify any archaeological sites. The Archaeological Survey Report Form is a downloadable, locked Word document. Please contact our office at (302) 736-7400 if you are unable to access the document in this format. The Guidelines and Instructions are in .pdf format; you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.
Survey Forms
This section includes Cultural Resource Survey (CRS) forms and instructions on how to record information in Delaware's inventory (data coordination).
Use this link to access the Survey Form Instructions and Data Coordination Guidance.
Downloadable copies of the individual CRS forms are available in .pdf format as listed below. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents.
| CRS01 | Property Identification Form | CRS08 | Landscape Elements Form |
| CRS02 | Main Building Form | CRS09 | Map Form |
| CRS03 | Secondary Building Form | CRS10 | Survey Update Form |
| CRS04 | Archaeological Site Form | CRS11 | Property Inventory |
| CRS05 | Structure (Building Like) Form | CRS12 | Photographic Inventory - Contact Sheet |
| CRS06 | Structure (Land Feature) Form | CRS13 | Photographic Inventory |
| CRS07 | Object Form | CRS14 | Potential District Form |
For CRS forms in a MS Word template format, download the zipped survey templates, unzip the file, and save the templates to your template folder. (Note: You may need to adjust the page setup for your printer.)
Cultural Resource Consulting Firms
Cultural resource surveys are often performed by private consulting firms. If you are looking for a firm to hire, the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office maintains a list of Cultural Resource Consulting Firms who have staff that are qualified under the National Park Service's Professional Qualification Standards (36 CFR Part 61) in the fields of:
In addition, some firms list a specialization in related fields which do not have specific federal qualification standards, such as:
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DISCLAIMER: This list does not constitute a recommendation or a guarantee of performance from the Delaware State Historic Preservation Office.
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