[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 5]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR767.2]

[Page 485-486]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                   CHAPTER VI--DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
 
PART 767_APPLICATION GUIDELINES FOR ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PERMITS ON 
 
                  Subpart A_Regulations and Obligations
 
Sec. 767.2  Definitions.

    Aircraft wreck means the physical remains of an aircraft, intact or 
otherwise, its cargo, and other contents. Aircraft wrecks are classified 
as either historic structures or archeological sites.
    Archeological site means the location of an event, a prehistoric or 
historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether 
standing, ruined, or vanished, where the location itself maintains 
historical or archeological value regardless of the value of any 
existing structure. A ship or aircraft wreck, along with its debris 
field, is an archaeological site when it lacks the

[[Page 486]]

structural integrity of an intact aircraft or vessel and when it and its 
location retain archeological or historical value regardless of the 
value of any existing remains.
    Artifact means any object or assemblage of objects, regardless of 
age, whether in situ or not, that may carry archeological or historical 
information that yields or is likely to yield information to the 
scientific study of culture or human history.
    Cultural resource means any prehistoric or historic district, site, 
building, structure, or object, including artifacts, records, and 
material remains related to such a property or resource. Historic 
aircraft wrecks or shipwrecks are classified as either archeological 
sites or historic structures.
    Gravesite means any natural or prepared physical location, whether 
originally below, on, or above the surface of the earth, where 
individual human remains are deposited.
    Historic structure means a structure made up of interdependent and 
interrelated parts in a definite pattern or organization. Constructed by 
humans, it is often an engineering project large in scale. An aircraft 
wreck or shipwreck is a historic structure when it is relatively intact 
and when it and its location retain historical, architectural, or 
associative value.
    Permit holder means any person authorized and given the exclusive 
right by the NHC to conduct any activity under these regulations.
    Permitted activity means any activity that is authorized by the NHC 
under the regulations in this part.
    Research vessel means any vessel employed for scientific purposes 
under the regulations in this part.
    Ship wreck means the physical remains of a vessel, intact or 
otherwise, its cargo, and other contents. Shipwrecks are classified as 
either historic structures or archeological sites.
    Wrecksite means the location of a ship or aircraft that has been 
sunk, crashed, ditched, damaged, or stranded. The wreck may be intact or 
scattered, may be on land or in water, and may be a structure or a site. 
The site includes the physical remains of the wreck and all other 
associated artifacts.