State Archaeological Permit Program - NM Historic Preservation

About Archaeological Permits

The Cultural Properties Act (Section 18-6-9 NMSA 1978, as amended) makes it unlawful for any person to excavate, injure, destroy, or remove any cultural property or artifact on state land without an archaeological permit.

A permit is required to use mechanical earth-moving equipment to excavate an archaeological site(s) on privately owned land in New Mexico. It is also unlawful for any person to intentionally excavate any unmarked human burial, and any material object or artifact interred with the burial, located on state or private land in New Mexico without a permit (Section 18-6-11 NMSA 1978, as amended).

Under the Cultural Properties Act, the CPRC is empowered to issue permits to qualified applicants to conduct archaeological investigations, with the concurrence of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Officer. The CPRC meets several times a year. These meeting dates are provided for your reference and you should always call to confirm the actual date of the meeting and the deadline for submittals.

black and white image of an acequia, 1880. — Acequia, 1880. Acequias are an example of a protected cultural resource often affected in the permitting process for road work, utility lines and other development.

If you are in need of an archaeological consultant or firm, you can download a current list from this page. Additional information on the Cultural Properties Act and the CPRC schedule can also be found under Related Documents or on the Forms and Documents page.

On February 9, 2026, the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) launched a Public Portal for the submission of all projects and applications needing review. The Public Portal is part of HPD's New Mexico Cultural Resource Information System (NMCRIS) but even non-users of NMCRIS can access the Portal.

To submit permit applications: complete the brief form that takes the place of the usual email transmittal and upload associated documents. The Public Portal will provide an automated email receipt and an HPD Log Number. HPD responses and requests for additional information will be sent via communication within the Public Portal.

Please upload permit applications and all related materials in PDF format to the NMCRIS Public Portal.

Public Portal Instructions

Related Documents

Permit Applications

Application for an Annual Permit to Excavate Human Burials

Application for an Annual Permit to Excavate Human Burials Located in any Unmarked Burial Ground within the State of New Mexico (MS Word with instructions)

Application for an Individual Case Permit to Excavate Human Burial(s)

This permit is necessary for the excavation of human burials within a known site and should be submitted at the same time as a project-specific excavation permit.

CPRC Schedule and Application Deadlines

List of CPRC meeting dates and deadlines for submitting General Permits and SHPO Directory applications and deadlines for submitting Project-Specific Permit Applications.

General Permit Application

General Permit Application Instructions

Instructions for Completing the Annual Burial Permit Application

Mechanical Excavation Permit

Application for archaeological excavation of a site located on private land using mechanical excavation equipment.

Project Specific Permit Application

SHPO Directory Forms

SHPO Directory

This is a list of Individuals on the SHPO Directory, the discipline they have been approved for and their due date for submitting continuing education credits.

SHPO Directory Application for Archaeology

Application for CPRC approval to be included in the SHPO Directory.

SHPO Directory Application for Architectural History

Form for preservation professionals with expertise in architectural history to apply for CPRC approval of their qualifications to be included in the SHPO Directory.

SHPO Directory Application for Cultural Anthropology

Form for Anthropologists to apply for CPRC approval of their qualifications.

SHPO Directory Application for History

Form for CPRC approval of an historian's qualifications to be included in the SHPO Directory.

SHPO Directory Application--Historic Architecture

Form for a consultant's qualifications to be approved by the CPRC for working on historic architecture.

Consultants Lists

Digital Cultural Resource Consultants in New Mexico

This list provides the names of individuals and firms who hold a current General Archaeological Investigation Permit for archaeological investigations on state land.

Architectural & Historical Consultants

Individuals listed in the SHPO Directory of Qualified Supervisory Personnel under architectural history, historic architecture, or history.

Cultural Anthropologists

The following is a list of firms who employ individuals listed on the SHPO Directory of Qualified Supervisory Personnel under cultural anthropology.

Cultural Resource Consultants

The current list of consultants who hold a General Archaeological Investigation Permit and/or an Annual Unmarked Human Burial Excavation Permit

Rules and Regulations

Cultural Properties Act, NMSA 18-6-1 through 18-6-17

The Cultural Properties Act establishes the Cultural Properties Review Committee (CPRC) and outlines its powers and duties. The CPA establishes the Historic Preservation Division (HPD), provides information about the qualifications and role of the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), information about state undertakings, damage to cultural property, cultural property on private land, excavation permits, confidentiality, unmarked burials. The CPA established the role of state historian, state archaeologist, and cultural properties publications, and designation of state monuments.

NM Reburial Grounds Act, NMSA 18-6-24 - 27

State laws affecting the reburial of unearthed human remains and funery objects.

NMAC 4.10.08 - Permits to Conduct Archaeological Investigations on State Land

CPRC rule that describes the procedures used to review and issue permits for state land and establishes professional qualification standards.

NMAC 4.10.11 - Issuance of Permits for Unmarked Human Burials

Regulation establishing the procedures for the issuance of permits to excavate unmarked human burials on state or private land in New Mexico.

NMAC 4.10.14 - Cultural Properties on Private Land and Mechanical Excavation Permits

NMAC 4.10.14 describes procedures used to assist owners to preserve cultural properties and registered cultural properties situated on privately owned land and the procedures and standards to excavate an archaeological site on private land using mechanical earth-moving equipment.

NMAC 4.10.15 - Standards for Survey and Inventory

NMAC 4.10.16 - Standards for Excavation and Test Excavation

NMAC 4.10.16 establishes standards and procedures to excavate archeological sites and areas of historic and scientific interest and to conduct test excavations of archaeological sites on land owned, controlled or operated by a department, agency, institution or political subdivision of the state.

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