Soil Disturbance on University Lands: Research or Teaching Activities

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Policy Number:
UW-6032
Responsible Office:
Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

UW-Madison has stewardship responsibility for archaeological sites on university lands that have been used by humans for over 12,000 years. Archaeological sites may include cultural resources related to human burials or human habitation. UW-Madison is committed to protecting and preserving these sites as required by state and federal law.

This policy details roles and responsibilities for UW-Madison faculty and staff engaged with pre-planning research and teaching activities that will disturb or have the potential to disturb soil on university lands. This pre-planning process offers oversight and training opportunities in conjunction with implementing statutory compliance requirements (Wis. Stats. §§ 44.40 and 157.70).

Soil disturbance associated with construction and maintenance operations are included in a separate policy. See UW-6033 Soil Disturbance Within Archaeological Sites on University Lands: Construction and Maintenance Operations.

Definitions:
Archaeological Resources
Objects of archaeological interest, aboriginal mounds and earthworks, ancient burial grounds, prehistoric and historical ruins, Indian mounds, historic and prehistoric watercraft and associated objects, aircraft and other archaeological and historical features.
Archaeological Site
Any area known to include archaeological resources determined to be eligible or listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), or are designated as a catalogued or uncatalogued burial site recorded on the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Database (WHPD).
Field Archaeology
Activity related to the study of the traces of human culture by means of surveying, digging, sampling, excavating, or removing objects.
Soil Disturbance
Any compaction, displacement, addition, or removal of soil.
University Lands
All real property owned or leased by the Board of Regents on behalf of UW-Madison and all other real property otherwise subject to the custody or control of UW-Madison.
Scope:

This policy applies to all persons planning to engage or engaging in soil disturbance on university lands for research and teaching purposes, including field archeology.

Policy:
  1. Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture (CPLA) shall be responsible for the following:
    1. Developing, maintaining, and publishing a map or maps depicting all known archaeological sites on university lands.
    2. Developing procedures and providing guidance for implementation of this policy. The procedures shall include:
      1. Developing and maintaining an online system through which persons engaged in research or teaching activities on university lands that involve soil disturbance can submit a request for permission from CPLA to engage in such activity.
      2. Separate approval processes for persons engaging in:
        1. Field Archaeology, with appropriate measures for obtaining field archaeology permits from the Wisconsin Historical Society in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 44.47(4).
        2. University research and teaching activity that is not field archaeology.
  2. No person shall engage in field archaeology on university lands without a permit from the Wisconsin Historical Society in accordance with Wis. Stat. § 44.47(4).
  3. Persons engaging in activity involving soil disturbance that is not field archaeology may only do so outside of archeological sites, and only with permission from CPLA, subject to any limitations imposed by CPLA.
  4. Persons planning to engage in activities on university lands that involve soil disturbance shall be responsible for complying with:
    1. Procedures developed by CLPA under this policy.
    2. All other applicable laws, policies, and procedures related to use of University Lands and the activities with which they intend to engage (e.g.,  Wis. Admin. Code § 18.06[1]).
Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Associate Vice Chancellor Facilities Planning & Management
Policy Manager:
Director, Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture
Contact:
Director, Campus Planning & Landscape Architecture -- Scott Utter, scott.utter@wisc.edu, (608) 263-3023
Effective Date:
05-29-2026
Date Issued:
05-18-2026
Retrieved:
05-30-2026 13:07:34