Virginia Law

Any person conducting any field investigation involving the removal of human remains or associated artifacts from any unmarked human burial on an archaeological site shall first obtain a permit from the director.

1. No field investigation involving the removal of human remains or associated artifacts from any unmarked human burial on an archaeological site shall be conducted without a permit.

2. In cases where a field investigation may reasonably be anticipated to involve the excavation and removal of human remains or associated artifacts, the person conducting such investigation may obtain a permit prior to the actual discovery of human burials.

3. In any case where human remains are encountered in a field investigation without having received a permit, all work on the burial or burials shall cease until a permit has been obtained.

4. No field investigation involving the removal of human remains or associated artifacts from any unmarked human burial on an archaeological site shall be performed except under the supervision and control of an archaeologist meeting the qualifications stated in 17VAC5-20-40.

5. Any human remains removed in the course of field investigations shall be examined by a skeletal biologist or other specialist meeting the qualifications stated in 17VAC5-20-40.

6. Any approved field investigation shall include an interim progress report summarizing the field portion of the permitted investigation within 60 days of completion of the removal of all human remains and associated artifacts. Reports indicating progress on analysis and report preparation shall be submitted to the department at 90-day intervals until the final report and disposition are accomplished.

7. The applicant shall make the site and laboratory available to the department for purposes of monitoring progress and compliance with this chapter as requested by the department.

8. A copy of the final report including the analysis of materials removed from the burial shall be delivered to the director according to the timetable described in the application.

9. Documentation of final disposition as required by the permit shall be delivered to the department within 15 days of such disposition.

10. Work conducted under a permit will not be considered complete until all reports and documentation have been submitted to and reviewed by the department to meet all conditions cited in this chapter or specified as part of an approved permit.

11. Failure to complete the conditions of the permit within the permitted time limit may result in revocation of the permit and constitute grounds for denial of future applications.

12. The applicant may apply for an extension or change to the conditions of the permit, including changes in research design, principal personnel or disposition, for good cause. Granting such an extension or alteration will be at the discretion of the director, after consultation with interested parties.