Site Preservation Cost Calculator

A higher threat level generally means the intervention itself needs to be more robust and urgent — a critically threatened site facing active looting or erosion needs a more thorough, faster-executed preservation effort than the same site facing only a low background risk, not just a flat surcharge on top of the same work. Scaling the base cost multiplicatively reflects that threat level changes the scope and intensity of what's actually required, not just an add-on fee.

Not necessarily, especially over a longer time horizon — while initial preservation costs can look modest compared to a full data recovery excavation, ongoing monitoring and eventual re-intervention as materials degrade or threats resurface can add up substantially over years or decades. The five-year total this calculator shows is meant to make that ongoing commitment visible rather than comparing only the smaller upfront number.

A site generally needs a secure perimeter and a documented baseline record regardless of whether the actual preservation intervention is simple vegetation stabilization or full structural conservation, so these two cost lines scale with the site's own physical characteristics — perimeter length and documentation thoroughness — rather than with which preservation method is applied. This keeps the estimate from understating total cost when a site needs strong protection and documentation but only a lighter-touch preservation method.

Monthly monitoring visits compound over time in a way the one-time preservation, fencing, and documentation costs don't, so even a modest per-visit monitoring cost can rival or exceed the initial preservation spend once projected out five years or longer. This is exactly why the calculator separates the initial cost from the five-year total — a site with a small upfront bill but expensive ongoing monitoring can end up costing more over time than one with a larger initial investment but minimal monitoring needs.