Download the official versions of Colorado's site and survey form templates and learn how to prepare documentation for submission to the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP).
Site recordings must be prepared using the correct site form template per the form's instructions, and must include the appropriate component forms. All site recordings must include:
A topographic map that clearly delineate and label the site and/or survey boundaries.
Maps should be a USGS 7.5’ map, at a scale of 1:24,000. The map should remain at a 1:24,000 scale and not be reduced to fit on a page. Additional maps can be provided in addition to the topographic map.
A site sketch map showing the location of each feature/building on the larger site.
Photographs, including the site overview, important features or outbuildings, and diagnostic artifacts.
If photographs do not have a caption on the form, please submit an accompanying photo log.
Documentation that is not prepared according to these minimum requirements may not be accepted during the submission process. OAHP will not accept recordings on non-standard site forms or on forms that have been modified from their original versions unless prior agreement has been made. We are unable to accept partial, draft, or preliminary versions of documentation. Please contact the Director of Information Management (erin.bornemann@state.co.us) prior to submitting non-standard documentation including, but not limited to custom site forms, video or audio recordings, oversized maps and drawings, or copies of databases (excludes geodatabases).
All documentation should be born digitally (not scanned from a hard copy) and delivered in PDF format.
Documentation should be created with accessibility in mind. Please review our accessibility guide for recommendations on how to prepare accessible documents.
All components of a site recording (maps, images, component forms, etc.) should be saved as a single combined/merged file (one PDF per resource recording).
All components of a survey report (survey form, maps, images, etc.) should be saved as a single combined/merged file (one PDF per report).
Files should be named according to their designated site or document number. For site forms the file naming convention is 5DV_1234.pdf. For reports and other documents the file naming convention is MC_CO_NR3.pdf. Do not add additional descriptive information to the file name.
Forms and documents should be prepared with a sans-serif font that works well for Optical Character Recognition (OCR) such as Arial, Calibri, Courier. Do not prepare documentation using colored fonts, or using all caps. Stylistic formatting such as italics, bold, and underline should be limited.
Site and document numbers should be acquired before submitting documentation to OAHP (see Requesting Numbers for more details). The assigned site numbers and document numbers should be reflected on the final documentation and used as the filename.
Site recordings should be split between counties. Separate site numbers must be issued to portions on either side of the county line, and separate recording forms should be created for each portion of the resource.
If finalized boundaries have not already been submitted to OAHP during the number request process, GIS of finalized site and survey boundaries must be included in the deliverables package. See the OAHP GIS Requirements for more information.
See the Inventory Form Usage Table to help decide what form to use. If you are still unsure, reach out to the lead agency of your project before contacting hc_oahp@state.co.us for guidance.
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Complete this form for every cultural resource recorded during an archaeological survey.
Exceptions: Isolated Finds and Revisits.
Attach appropriate component forms and use continuation pages if necessary.
See 1400 Instructions.
Complete this form for each cultural resource with a prehistoric component.
Attach this form to the Management Data Form.
See 1401 Instructions.
Complete this form for each cultural resource with an historic archaeology component.
Attach this form to the Management Data Form.
See 1402 Instructions.
Complete this form for buildings and structures with intact roofs that are recorded as part of an intensive level historical and architectural survey.
See 1403 Instructions.
Use this form to record and assess the potential National Register Historic District eligibility of post-World War II residential subdivisions.
This form is designed to facilitate the documentation of residential historic resources approaching and/or having achieved the 50 years of age benchmark. For single buildings please use the Architectural Inventory Form.
See 1403b Instructions.
Use this form to identify and evaluate historical landscapes, including historic archaeological landscapes.
For Prehistoric archaeological landscapes, use the Management Data Form and the appropriate component forms.
Historic linear landscape features (ditches, roads, railroads, etc. in whole or part) documented independently of the surrounding landscape context should be recorded on the Management Data Form, accompanied by the Linear Component Form.
Post-World War II Subdivisions should be recorded on form 1403b.
See 1404 Instructions.
Only use this form when a Management Data Form and component forms have been previously filed with the land managing agency and/or OAHP, and no substantive changes to the character of the site are required as a result of the current re-visitation.
Use the Management Data Form and supporting forms (archaeological component, linear, vandalism, etc.) when changes are required to:
Site type
Linear resources
Additional artifact assemblages and/or features
Boundary size
Vandalism
NRHP recommendations
See 1405 Instructions.
Use this form to record evidence of vandalism to historic or prehistoric archaeological remains. Complete the form and attach it, along with the appropriate component forms, to a completed Management Data Form.
See 1406 Instructions.
Complete one form for each rock art panel, and then attach to completed Management Data Form and the Prehistoric Archaeological Component Form or the Historic Archaeological Component Form.
See 1407 Instructions.
Only use for resources that meet the requirements of the recorder’s definition of an isolated find.
Do NOT use for resources that are eligible for the National Register or are part of the built environment.
See 1408 Instructions.
Complete this form for each resource with a paleontological component.
Attach this form to the Management Data Form.
See 1409 Instructions.
Use for preservation planning survey projects.
Do NOT use for Section 106 compliance projects.
Use the Ancillary form (1417b) to document additional resources on a single site.
For full evaluations of historical significance use the Architectural Inventory Form.
This form should be completed for each linear resource or linear segment.
Use this form in conjunction with the Management Data Form.
Create a new form for every linear that crosses into a new county - the resource will get a different number when it crosses the county line and so needs a new form.
See 1418 Instructions.
Use for small scale limited results projects - block surveys less than 160 acres with linear surveys under four miles.
Do NOT use if there are sites and more than four Isolated Finds.
Use as report cover page summarizing acres surveyed and resources recorded.