In compliance with federal and state requirements, full access to the archaeological site database is restricted to those with a verifiable need for detailed location data; namely archaeologists meeting the Secretary of Interior standards as well as tribal preservation staff. To request access, please fill out this request form which will then be reviewed by the Office of the State Archaeologist. If access is granted you will receive email notification and your account will become active.
This application is for individual access, not institution/agency/company-wide access. Any abuse or unauthorized distribution of individual account information is considered a violation of the user agreement and requires its termination.
OSA Portal User Agreement
I. Purpose
The purpose of this document is to set forth the agreement between the Department of Administration’s Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA), the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), and the User relating to the use of the OSA Portal (Portal).
II. Individuals authorized to access to nonpublic data
OSA maintains data identifying the location and nature of archaeological and historic sites within the State of Minnesota. MnDOT maintains the Minnesota Statewide Archaeological Predictive Model (MnModel) which indicates the probability of locating an archaeological site. To protect sites from looting and vandalism, archaeological site data are not public data under Minnesota Statute § 307.08, subd. 11, Minnesota Statute § 13.37, and Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act. OSA and MnDOT agree to share nonpublic data on archaeological sites through the Portal with Qualified Users. Nonpublic data can only be accessed and used for professional purposes by Qualified Users. Qualified Users (Users) include tribal historic preservation officers, the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, and qualified archaeologists. To verify that an individual meets these standards, OSA may require an individual requesting access to nonpublic data to submit a curriculum vitae.
III. Requesting access to nonpublic data
Individuals can request access to nonpublic data from OSA using the Portal. If approved as a User, the individual will be given access to nonpublic data on the Portal based on his or her professional qualifications and professional need to access the data.Individuals can request access to nonpublic data from OSA using the Portal. If approved as a User, the individual will be given access to nonpublic data on the Portal based on his or her professional qualifications and professional need to access the data.
IV. Data Usage
The Portal and the data it contains, including MnModel (collectively hereinafter “data”), are provided for informational purposes only. The User accepts the data as is. The data in the Portal were developed for internal business purposes, collected from various sources, and will change over time without notice. Data in the Portal merely indicate the probability of locating an archaeological site, so they do not replace the need for field verification. A qualified archeologist must undertake an independent investigation in order to assess actual impact to known or potential sites. Neither OSA nor any of its officials or employees, nor MnDOT, nor the State of Minnesota guarantees the accuracy or quality of the data on the Portal. There is no guarantee that data are error free. Accessing data through the Portal is not a warranty. OSA, MnDOT, the State of Minnesota and its officials and employees make no warranty of Portal data - express or implied - including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. OSA, MnDOT, the State of Minnesota and its officials and employees assume no responsibility or legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, reliability, timeliness, or usefulness of any of the data in the Portal, nor do they represent that use of the data will not infringe upon privately owned rights. OSA, MnDOT, the State of Minnesota and its officials and employees assume no responsibility for actual, consequential, incidental, special, or exemplary damages, or damages of any kind caused by – or associated with – any User’s reliance on, or use of, the data even if appraised of the likelihood of such damages occurring. All end Users of the Portal, and the data it contains, assume all risk associated with use.
Neither OSA nor any of its officials or employees makes any warranty of any kind for the data, express or implied, including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, nor shall the distribution of this data constitute any warranty. The data is collected from various sources and will change over time without notice. OSA and its officials and employees assume no responsibility or legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, reliability, timeliness, or usefulness of any of the data provided nor do they represent that the use of any of the data will not infringe privately owned rights.
V. Additional Terms
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Users of the Portal are hereby notified that OSA monitors usage through various tracking procedures. This data is used for system assessment and security purposes.
Users of the Portal agree to indemnify and hold harmless OSA, MnDOT, the State of Minnesota, and its officials and employees against claims arising out of any violation of this agreement or use of data contained in the Portal.
Users of the Portal will keep User passwords protected and shall not share, transfer, or make a User password available to any other person or entity. The User will safeguard all data printed or downloaded from the Portal to prevent their dissemination beyond that which is absolutely necessary for the User’s professional purposes. The User may not, under any circumstances, publish images or data from the Portal without the written permission of MnDOT (in the case of MnModel data or images) or OSA (for all other Portal data).
The User agrees to use data contained in the Portal for environmental review, site protection, and other professional purposes only.
VI. Length of Agreement
The terms of this agreement commence on the date access is first granted to the User.
A. This agreement may be renewed at OSA’s sole discretion.
B. OSA may terminate or suspend access to the Portal without prior notice if, in its sole discretion, it determines that the User has failed to comply with the terms and conditions of this agreement.
C. OSA reserves the right to charge a fee - where permitted by law - for access to the Portal at any time. The User will be notified in advance of any such charge.
D. OSA and MnDOT reserve the right to change this agreement at any time. The User will be notified in advance of any such change.