1. (a) Artifact recovery.

   1. (1) Artifacts or analysis samples (such as soil samples) that are recovered from survey, testing, or data recovery investigations by TxDOT or their contracted agents that address the research questions must be cleaned, labeled, and processed in preparation for long-term curation unless the artifacts or samples are approved by THC for discard under 13 TAC Chapters 26 and 29 (relating to Practice and Procedure; and Management and Care of Artifacts and Collections, respectively).
   2. (2) To ensure proper care and curation, recovery methods must conform to the applicable requirements of 13 TAC Chapters 26 and 29.

2. (b) Artifact curation.

   1. (1) TxDOT or its permitted contractor may temporarily house artifacts and samples during laboratory analysis and research, but upon completion of the analysis, artifacts and accompanying documentation must be transferred to a permanent curatorial facility in accordance with the terms of the antiquities permit.
   2. (2) Artifacts and samples will be placed at an appropriate artifact curatorial repository which fulfills the applicable requirements of 13 TAC Chapter 29 as approved by THC. When appropriate, TxDOT will consult with THC to identify for disposal collections or portions of collections that do not have identifiable value for future research or public interpretation. Final approval regarding the disposition of collections will be made by THC.
   3. (3) TxDOT is responsible for the curatorial preparation of all artifacts to be submitted for curation so that they are acceptable to the receiving curatorial repository and fulfill the applicable requirements of 13 TAC Chapters 26 and 29, as approved by THC.

Source Note:The provisions of this §2.267 adopted to be effective May 16, 2013, 38 TexReg 2861.