Chapter HS 2

HS 2.04(5)(L) (L) In emergency situations, when burials on a cataloged site are being disturbed by natural forces or accidental causes, the director may waive the procedure specified in s. HS 2.04 (5) and invoke the uncataloged procedure.

HS 2.04(6) (6) Qualifications for archeologists and skeletal analysts.

HS 2.04(6)(a) (a) Only qualified archeologists, defined in s. 157.70 (1) (i), Stats., approved by the director shall be permitted to oversee the excavation of burials. Qualified archeologists shall demonstrate experience in the excavation of burials by submitting all of the following to the director for approval:

HS 2.04(6)(a)1. 1. Vita.

HS 2.04(6)(a)2. 2. Two letters of reference.

HS 2.04(6)(b) (b) If any human remains are removed from a burial site they shall be analyzed by a skeletal analyst approved by the director. To be approved by the director, the skeletal analyst shall demonstrate knowledge and experience in human osteology by submitting all of the following to the director for approval:

HS 2.04(6)(b)1. 1. Vita.

HS 2.04(6)(b)2. 2. Two letters of reference.

HS 2.04(7) (7) Schedule for the reports. The director shall negotiate with the qualified archeologist and persons on the registry for that burial site or class of burial sites on a schedule for the written report of this analysis.

HS 2.04(8) (8) Review of reports. Two copies of the report of the excavation and analysis, along with a copy of all field notes, maps, and photographs relating to the documentation of the burials shall be submitted to the director for review.

HS 2.04(9) (9) Bone samples. Upon approval of the director, the skeletal analyst or archeologist may retain a sample of bone for analysis when this will aid in identifying the burial’s type or class, or when this is consistent with the disposition decision as stipulated in s. HS 2.05 (1).

HS 2.04(10) (10) Archiving documentation. All approved reports, the copy of all field notes, maps, and photographs relating to the documentation of the burial shall be permanently archived at the state historical society.

HS 2.04(11) (11) Copies of the report. A copy of the report shall be sent to the owner of the burial site and other interested persons upon request to the director.

HS 2.04(12) (12) Responsibility for costs of excavation and analysis.

HS 2.04(12)(a) (a) Any person who obtains permission to disturb a cataloged burial site shall pay for the costs of archeological excavation and skeletal analysis. The person may hire any qualified archeologist and skeletal analyst approved by the director.

HS 2.04(12)(b) (b) In instances where an uncataloged burial site is accidentally uncovered, and it is not feasible to leave the burial place, the director shall, within a reasonable time beginning 30 days of when ground conditions permit, excavate and analyze the remains at no cost to the owner. Requests for excavation shall be considered in the order in which they are received. If the director cannot accomplish the work within the time frame desired, the owner may hire, at his or her own expense, a qualified archeologist and skeletal analyst approved by the director to excavate and analyze the remains.

HS 2.04(13) (13) Burial sites on public land. All transfers of public land containing burial sites to private parties shall be approved by a majority vote of the board. The municipality or public agency wishing to transfer a property containing a burial site shall submit a written explanation to the board. This explanation shall include a land description of the property and a copy of the proposed deed restrictions concerning the burial site.

HS 2.04 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1990, No. 417, eff. 10-1-90; corrections made in (1) (c) and (5) (L) under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2005 No. 592.

HS 2.05 HS 2.05 Disposition of remains.

HS 2.05(1) (1) Decisions on disposition. The director shall not decide the final disposition of any excavated human remains and objects related to the burial until the remains, related objects, and other artifacts recovered in the course of the excavation have received appropriate analysis and a satisfactory report on these remains and artifacts has been received by the director.

HS 2.05(2) (2) Interim disposition. Unless otherwise agreed upon by the director and contracting archeologist, after the completion of the analysis, the human remains, objects related to the burial, and other artifacts recovered in the course of the excavation shall be cared for by arrangement of the state historical society until disposition has been decided.

HS 2.05(3) (3) Notification. All persons on the registry for the particular burial site in question or class of burial sites, shall be notified by certified letter, return receipt requested, that they may apply to arrange for the final disposition of the remains and objects related to the burial.

HS 2.05(4) (4) Application procedure. Persons in the registry who have an interest in the disposition of the human remains and objects related to the burial, may apply in writing to the director for possession. This written application shall include all of the following:

HS 2.05(4)(a) (a) The applicant’s name and address

HS 2.05(4)(b) (b) The category of interest as defined by s. 157.70 (1) (g), Stats.

HS 2.05(4)(c) (c) The specific plans for final disposition, including location of the human remains and objects related to the burial.

HS 2.05(5) (5) Director’s review. The director shall review the application. If the application is inaccurate, incomplete, or inadequate the request for disposition shall be returned to the applicant within 30 days of receipt of the application with an explanation of the deficiencies.

HS 2.05(6) (6) Disposition decision. If the application is complete and accurate to the best of the director’s knowledge, the director shall, based on the order of priority of interests established in s. 157.70 (6) (a), Stats., decide to whom the remains will be transferred to for disposition. Upon making the decision, the director shall notify the applicants, all persons on the registry for the burial site or class of burial sites, and other persons deemed appropriate to notify, to whom the remains will be transferred for disposition.

HS 2.05(7) (7) Board review. Any person on the registry for a particular burial site may request a board review of the director’s decision regarding disposition of the remains from that particular burial site.

HS 2.05(8) (8) Cost of disposition. The person or agency whose actions result in the disturbance of a cataloged burial site shall pay the costs of reburial, cremation or curation of the human remains and any objects related to the burial.

HS 2.05(9) (9) Reinterment. If the human remains and objects related to the burial are reinterred, the director shall require the information necessary to catalog this site.

HS 2.05(10) (10) Curation.

HS 2.05(10)(a) (a) If the human remains and objects related to the burial are to be curated, they shall be in an institution with adequate long-term curatorial capabilities. Regular access for scholars and persons on the registry for the burial site or class of burial sites shall be guaranteed.

HS 2.05(10)(b) (b) Originals or copies of all field notes, maps, and photographs from a burial site investigation shall be curated at the state historical society.

HS 2.05(11) (11) Compliance.

HS 2.05(11)(a) (a) Any person awarded disposition of the remains for reinterment shall submit a witnessed and notarized statement to the director within 60 days of acquiring the remains, or within 60 days of when ground conditions permit reinterment or cremation, stating that the agreed upon reinterment or cremation has been completed.

HS 2.05(11)(b) (b) Any person awarded disposition of the remains for curation shall submit a witnessed and notarized statement to the director within 60 days of acquiring the remains, that states that the agreed upon curation has been established.

HS 2.05(12) (12) Failure to comply. If the director determines that the remains have not been reinterred, cremated or curated as agreed, the director shall order all remains returned to the director. The director shall notify the persons on the registry as stipulated in sub. (3).

HS 2.05 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1990, No. 417, eff. 10-1-90.