The article seems a little light on detail.  I wonder what the commission was thinking with a two-foot over excavation and sifting...seems to me that is the antithesis of preservation-destroy via data collection (?).  I don't think we are getting the whole story here.  Sadly, this is not the approach CRM should be taking with the end result being a lack of progress.  A key element of CRM is the M, for Management.  Manage the resource...capping was not an option (?), with data recovery sited specifically to footings or trenches, if needed after capping (?).

Something about this article does not seem to be complete in terms of explanation.

I think your right Frogsmom,  it seems that we are getting the exaggerated version of the story told from the developer.  Even the comments are totally bogus due to this misleading article.  It almost makes you wonder if the reporter had some ties to the developer in an attempt to make the SHPO and regulations look anti-progressive.