Paleontology

Fossils are any remnant of ancient life, including animals and plants as diverse as mammoths and seaweed, as well as trace fossils consisting of trackways, burrows and other indirect evidence of ancient life.  In the Pacific Region, fossils of vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish) are rare, while fossils of invertebrates (shelled animals like clams and snails) and plants are generally more numerous.  Although some are visible on the surface, most fossils are discovered during earth-moving excavations on construction projects.  For example, ancient marine fossils have been found during storm drain and subway construction under the streets of Los Angeles.  

Determining significance of fossils and localities is complex and evaluated pursuant to professional standards developed by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.  The law protects fossils that are (1) rare or unusual, (2) can be used to date the rock units they come from, (3) provide information on relationships with other animals or on development, (4) demonstrate biological communities and  interactions or (5) demonstrate presence in a new geographic area or time period.  Cogstone has the paleontologist experts who can quickly evaluate significance when fossils are discovered during earth-moving activities to help our clients avoid costly delays.

Archaeology

Archaeology attempts to understand cultures by analyzing the prehistoric and historic remains of human activity.  Archaeological resources are more than 50 years old and include artifacts such as stone tools and a miner’s ax, ecofacts such as food animal bone and peach pits, cooking features such as fire pits and earthen bread ovens, structural features such as house-pit floors and rock walls, rock art and ceremonial sites, trails and landscapes, and refuse deposits.  Archaeological sites may include surface or subsurface deposits or features, buried or otherwise affected by natural geomorphic processes, such as cycles of stream and river sediment deposition.  During excavation for a BART tunnel in San Francisco, for example, a 5,500-year old archaeological site was discovered nearly 75 feet beneath the Civic Center.  

Significant archaeological resources are listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), state registers such as the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), or local registers. To be significant, a resource must possess integrity and (1) represent information important in prehistory or history, (2) be associated with important persons or events, or (3) represent special styles or craftsmanship.  Following federal, state, and local guidelines, Cogstone’s archaeologists have the experience and expertise to evaluate resources for their significance to help keep our client’s projects on schedule.

 History

History, in the form of written documents and maps, provides powerful assistance in understanding our past, including diverse cultures, natural and cultural events, a variety of human interactions in specific time periods, and broad historical patterns such as urbanization and consumer behavior.  Libraries and archives are vital heritage links for access to historical documents and oral histories.  

Historic built environment resources (also called architectural resources) include an array of buildings, structures, and objects over 50 years old that serve as a physical connection to our past.  Unlike structures, such as roadways, bridges and canals, buildings are created to shelter human activity.  Significant built resources are listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), state registers such as the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), or local registers.  To be significant, a resource must possess integrity and (1) be associated with important persons or events, (2) represent special styles or craftsmanship, or (3) represent information important in history.  Architectural historians or other historic preservation experts have the experience and knowledge of federal, state, and local guidelines to evaluate built environment resources for their significance as they are identified within our client’s project area.