NVCRIS Archaeological/Architectural Database
According to NRS 383.021 and the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (54 U.S.C. § 302303(b)(1)) the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) must keep an inventory of the state’s cultural resources to assist federal, state and local agencies in planning projects as to avoid impacts to important cultural resources.
The Nevada Cultural Resource Information System (NVCRIS) is a collection of online GIS database services that contain recorded archaeological and architectural resources and inventories for the state. These services utilize 7.5' USGS base maps not property ownership records.
PLEASE NOTE: NVCRIS does not contain specific information about known prehistoric or historic human burials. SHPO does not catalog information about discoveries of human burials in any database as they are not considered cultural resources. Resources with traditional religious or cultural significance to Tribes are not entered into this database unless the tribal governments have previously approved their inclusion.
There are two levels of access to the NVCRIS system: Restricted and Unrestricted.
- The Restricted NVCRIS service is available to those users who meet the Secretary of Interior's Professional Qualification Standards for Archaeology, as the service contains privileged archaeological information.
- Unrestricted NVCRIS contains non-sensitive architectural resources and inventories, as well as some archaeological inventory data.
To request access to either NVCRIS service, please email nvcris [at] shpo.nv.gov for application forms and subscription information.
NVCRIS subcription rates and services are located here: NVCRIS Subscription Information
Site and Resource Number Assignments
To request a Smithsonian trinomial or an architectural resource number, please read the following instructions and send your information to nvcris [at] shpo.nv.gov.
Blank geodatabase for NVCRIS Site Requests
Digital File Uploads
The Nevada SHPO and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have recently determined that inserting digital storage media from outside the state system (e.g., USB flash drives, DVD’s, CD’s) into state network computers is an unnecessary security risk. As a convenience to our federal partners, the SHPO has developed a new portal for the submission of GIS digital data. This one-way anonymous FTP portal will only receive uploaded files without the need for passwords or credentials. Users will not be able to view or download files from this link, only the NVCRIS Manager has access to the files posted through the portal. Please note that the portal only accepts .zip files with a maximum size of .5 gigs. If your files are larger than .5 gigs, please contact the NVCRIS Manager to find a suitable alternative file exchange platform.
Hard copies of transmittal letters, reports, maps, and site forms are required for Section 106 consultation with the SHPO. Information concerning the minimum documentation requirements can be found in the authority under which consultation is being conducted.
- If consultation with the SHPO is required under the appropriate authority (e.g., 36 CFR Subpart B, agreement document, Protocol Agreement) these submissions are not final when submitted to the SHPO for consultation. These documents are considered final when consultation with consulting parties is complete as is required under the appropriate authority:
- Upon completion of consultation with the SHPO and any other required consulting parties, the last SHPO reply letter after our review will supply instructions to federal agencies for contacting and sending final digital products to our statewide database, NVCRIS, through the Jotform portal. These documents may include:
- GIS data; and
- Final reports prepared upon completion of consultation with the SHPO and other consulting parties; and
- Final archaeological or architectural forms prepared upon completion of consultation with the SHPO and other consulting parties.
- Once contacted by a federal agency, or its delegated consultant, the NVCRIS Manager will send a link to the anonymous FTP site.
- Upon completion of consultation with the SHPO and any other required consulting parties, the last SHPO reply letter after our review will supply instructions to federal agencies for contacting and sending final digital products to our statewide database, NVCRIS, through the Jotform portal. These documents may include:
- If consultation with the SHPO is not required by the appropriate authority, such as for “under-threshold” undertakings as defined by the BLM Protocol with our office, these documents do not require consulting party review in most circumstances and are considered final when the federal agency sends them to NVCRIS:
- Starting October 1, 2022, the SHPO will accept 100% digital submissions for under-threshold projects. As reports for these projects are considered final documents upon submission and do not require SHPO review, courtesy hard copies are no longer required. A complete digital submission will include a cover letter stating the submission is under-threshold, report, site forms, maps, and GIS data formatted to NVCRIS standards. Guidance for how project data is to be organized and labeled can be found here on the website: https://shpo.nv.gov/nvcris or in the attached document. Submissions received with correctly organized and labeled data will allow for more timely entry of the data into NVCRIS. Please use this link to submit documents for under threshold projects: https://form.jotform.com/221105322853041.
- The Submission ID for such reports and supporting documents is the Federal fiscal year and then four zeros: “2023-0000”.If the BLM would like to add their report number, it would be after the first number such as: “2023-0000/6-1234”.Please note that the portal only accepts .zip files with a maximum size of .5 gigs.If your files are larger than .5 gigs, please contact the NVCRIS Manager to find a suitable alternative file exchange platform.
- If projects eventually require consultation with the SHPO, or are elevated to Above Threshold status, a paper copy must be submitted for SHPO review.
Guidelines for submitting digital data for incorporation into NVCRIS
Archives
For paper-based archaeological records, contact our two cultural resource archives. Please be aware that these archives maintain their own fee schedules. For the most accurate costs, contact the archive directly.
Northern Counties:
Nevada State Museum
April Van Wyke
775-687-3002
avanwyke [at] nevadaculture.org
Southern Counties (Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye, White Pine):
Southern Nevada Archaeological Archive at DRI
Jeffrey Wedding
702-862-5352
snaa [at] dri.edu
Architectural Archive:
SHPO is the repository for architectural records, which are stored in our architectural Annex. While these records are available to those who request them, physical access to the Annex is not. If you wish to view original architectural records, please make arrangements with the NVCRIS Coordinator, who will pull the files. Please note that fees may apply to make paper copies of these forms.