Using Historic Contexts in Cultural Resource Management: Some Examples from the Tucson Area and Some Cautions

ABSTRACT

Recent guidelines for archaeology and historic preservation in the United States encourage the use of the “historic context” format for managing historic properties. Federal and state cultural resource management agencies have been adopting this format for preservation planning. This paper defines historic contexts and, using examples from the Tucson area in Arizona, shows how historic contexts can be integrated into archaeological research designs and National Register nominations. Some caveats regarding the use of historic contexts also are suggested.