Below is a contribution from GMPT Business Member Nienow Cultural Consultants, now Braun Intertec Corporation. Nienow Cultural Consultants LLC was acquired by Braun Intertec Corporation. For more information, please visit braunintertec.com.
Planning a new trail, campground, or boat launch? Knowing your archaeological requirements early can protect your timeline and budget, and it starts with one conversation.
To increase Cultural Resources capacity in the Upper Midwest and expand the quality services already available to a diverse client base, Braun Intertec Corporation (Braun Intertec) acquired Nienow Cultural Consultants LLC (NCC) in June of 2026. NCC has been a business member of GMPT for several years and has provided archaeological services for multiple county and regional parks, including Bend in the River Regional Park, Belle Prairie County Park, and Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo. NCC, and now Braun Intertec’s Upper Midwest Archaeology team, is led by Jeremy L. Nienow, Ph.D., RPA. Jeremy has over 30 years of archaeological experience in precontact, contact, and historic properties and has overseen excavations at some of Minnesota’s most iconic locations including Lower and Upper Posts of Fort Snelling, the Minneapolis waterfront, and the Minnesota State Capitol.
Adding expanded Cultural Resource Management (CRM) to Braun Intertec means they can now provide multidisciplinary project planning deliverables including environmental assessment, permitting and compliance, wetlands and species identification, geologic, geotechnical, and hydrologic conditions, and of course architectural and archaeological efforts.
“What's the first step we should take when thinking about archaeology?”
This is one of the most common questions clients ask during the initial meeting. Archaeology is not typically front of mind when members are planning new boat launches, trails, bathrooms, pavilions, campgrounds, disc golf courses, etc. Finding a design team, managing the logistics of existing services, and determining how to fund the project are usually top priorities. However, archaeology should be considered early in the planning process, especially if you are using state or federal funds, working on public lands, might need an Army Corps permit, or if you are working around properties which are eligible or on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
The first step in determining your archaeological needs is to simply consult with an archaeologist. The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) maintains a list of qualified archaeologists; however, most project owners start by talking to their peers to see if they have worked with an archaeologist in the past. Reputation and word of mouth are valuable commodities in the archaeological community. The next step is completing a Literature Review and Archaeological Assessment, often called a Phase IA. This document will tell you if you have any known archaeological sites within your project area, if any previous archaeological investigations have been done, and a wellspring of background information on area soils, historic environment, archaeological regions, cultural histories, etc. At the conclusion of this report, there is typically a section of recommended next steps which may include consultation with Tribes, completion of an archaeological survey, reaching out to the Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) or State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
While archaeological requirements vary from project to project, the first step is often the simplest: consulting with an archaeologist to understand what may be needed and how those requirements could affect your timeline, budget, and project goals.
Have questions about the archaeological needs of your project? Braun Intertec's cultural resources professionals can help you understand potential requirements and determine next steps. Contact our team at 651-295-3744, JNienow@Braunintertec.com, or visit braunintertec.com to learn more about all our services, including cultural resources.
