David & Jennifer Chance and Associates
Services
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Prehistoric archaeology
This includes the location, evaluation, and excavation of prehistoric
archaeological sites. We reconstruct their human and depositional
history, and recover assemblages of the size and integrity that can
yield inferences of social and settlement structure, technology,
subsistence, and cultural affiliations vertically in time and
horizontally across the landscape. We mitigate development and
construction, from hydroelectric projects to range and forest
practices.
Prehistoric archaeology examples
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Historical archaeology
This type of archaeology covers the period following the advent of
written records in any given location. We evaluate the significance
and richness of historic sites, landscapes, and artifact assemblages
through inventory, tests, and expansive excavations. We expose and
study features and assemblages that will increase the knowledge of
history and bring assumptions and conventional wisdom under fresh
scrutiny. From historical archaeological data we try to draw
behavioral observations and conclusions that may have been concealed
or ignored in the written record. Archival research and historical
writing are typically done in tandem with the archaeological field
work.
Historical archaeology examples
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Illustration
Artifact, botanical, and other specimen illustration, in both
scientific and interpretive modes.
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Litigation research & expert testimony
Research concerning treaties made between the United States and Native
American tribes and alliances, with attention to natural resources
rights and claims, and to the persistence of tribal political entities
and cultural maintenance. This is also based on archival research of
the events and transactions surrounding agreements, on oral history
interviews, upon archaeological information, on the pedigrees of
agreements, and upon linguistic evidence.
We have supported the Colville Confederated Tribes side
of U.S. v Oregon, an on-going salmon fishing litigation
involving many tribes, states, and federal agencies in the Pacific
Northwest. For this, we performed archival research for more than a
year, and testified before Judge Malcolm Marsh in the U.S. District
Court for Oregon. In addition to briefing papers, we wrote "Palus
History, Residence, and Political Leadership, ca. 1855-1940" (1991).
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Historical cartography
Mapping forts, battlefields, settlements, and industrial sites, mostly
with transit, plane table, infra-red stations, and cruising compass.
Prof. Jokisaari produces published maps based on historical
information and older publications.
Historical cartography examples
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Historical research and writing
We have written documented and illustrated histories of settlements,
forts, missions, Indian wars, commerce and industry and investigated
natural resources claims, rights, and management. Some of this work
has been done in support of archaeological projects; however several
projects have followed more conventional historiography.
Historical research examples
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Geographic information systems (GIS) production
This is the making of maps and overlays to track historical trends and
spatial relationships of natural resources and their exploitation, in
land ownership and stewardship, and to promote the understanding of
environmental challenges.
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Ethnohistory and ethnographic analysis
This type of historiography and cultural exposition uses oral history
interviews, archives, folklore, etymology, photographs, standard
ethnographies, claims litigation, biographies, and archaeology. One
aim is to convey a vivid portrayal of a way of life to the reader that
will provide pleasure and instruction together.
Ethnohistory and ethnographic analysis examples
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Linguistic and ethnolinguistic description and analysis
This includes the discovery of the rules of morphological evolution and
etymology.
Norman Bowers is currently reconstructing antecedent Siouan languages
by these methods.
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Historical analysis of projects
The historical analysis of development projects and relief programs is
mainly the work of Max Chance.
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Curation
The identification, preservation, and description of archaeological
artifacts, historical records, photographs, maps, and specimens
collected in the field.
Curation examples
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Completion of unfinished reports of other investigators
There are archaeological and historical projects that remain
under-reported by their investigators for various reasons. Besides
unfinished written reports, some projects have incomplete data
recovery or cataloguing, or they may lack the expected illustrations
and cartography. We can complete such reports and projects.
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