About Us


Eetza Research Associates, a Nevada small business, woman and minority owned consulting firm founded in November 2010, offers Cultural Resource-related Services.


Our firm presents Patti DeBunch (Owner, Manager and Field Archaeologist) obtained a BA in Social Studies from the Instituto Mexicano de Cultura in Mexico City. Patti’s experience of 30 years with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) includes statewide surveys and inventory of prehistoric, historic and paleontological sites in Nevada. In addition, Patti assisted in the development of the Section’s database and management during her tenure while undergoing several computer formats. In the last ten years of her career with NDOT, Patti was also the principal field photographer for the Archaeological Section. Some of her training at NDOT included courses from the National Preservation Institute (NPI) and from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Managed projects as principal and co-owner of Bunch-DeBunch Consulting Services in 1980. Her creative and artistic abilities made her a member of the Guild of Scientific Illustrators for the Smithsonian Institute in the 1980s, her work has been published by UNR Press, University of Arizona and Utah Press, USFWS, and the Smithsonian Institute Press among others. Prior work experience includes working under Dr. David H. Chance, excavating prehistoric and historical sites in the Pacific Northwest as well as working with Dr. Kenneth M. Ames exposing prehistoric houses near Lewiston, Id. under contract for the IDOT and the University of Boise.


Jim Bunch (Co-Owner and Principal Investigator). Obtained his Masters of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Nevada-Reno (1984) and his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Washington (1973). Jim has undertaken specialized training in several areas of research, methodology, preservation and conservation through UNR advance programs, National Preservation Institute (NPI) and from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). His research interest in Mesoamerican archaeology principally with polychrome ceramics and working in Eastern Nevada has largely contributed to his interest of prehistoric ceramics in addition to site inventory and statewide surveys while working for the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT). Jim was co-owner of Bunch-DeBunch Consulting firm in 1980. Jim’s experience prior to working for NDOT includes working in the Pacific Northwest under Dr. David H. Chance, excavating Hudson Bay and prehistoric sites as well as working with Dr. Kenneth M. Ames excavated very old remains confined within an ancient river gravel bar adjacent to the Snake River dating 10,000 years ago under contract for the IDOT and the University of Boise. In Nevada his experience includes working for the Nevada State Museum in the mid 70s under Dr. Jonathan O. Davis and Mary Rusco and as member of the original survey team conducted the initial survey of Rye Patch Reservoir.  In 1979, Jim also acted as a teaching assistant for the Anthropology Department’s field school, University of Nevada-Reno.


Over the years several consultants have collaborated in various projects and together we are a creative team with over 175 years of collective experience in the Great Basin. Eetza's extensive cultural resource expertise with 30 years in transportation recognize us as leaders in transportation archeology in the State of Nevada conducting: Class II and Class III Archaeological Resource Surveys and Inventories (highways, frontage roads, bridges, railroads, material borrow pit sources and related infrastructure), Record Searches-Literature Review, Archaeological Inventories, Evaluation and Testing, National Register Eligibility Determination, Treatment Plans, Monitoring, Sensitivity Studies, NEPA, Section 106, Section 4(f), NAGPRA/ARPA Compliance and Desert Tortoise Surveys and Relocation essential to obtain solutions and compliance goals for our clients.



CONSULTANTS


Lorie Bellis, Biologist

Sean Block, Videographer

Clint Cole, Archaeoloogist

Jim Feathers, TL Dating, University of Washington

Lou Groffman, Geologist

Gene Hattori, Editor and Advisor

Anne Jeton, Geologist

Jannie Loubser, Specialist in Graffiti Removal, Stratum Unlimited LLC

Angus Quinlan, Archaeologist and Rock Art Specialist, Nevada Rock Art Foundation

Mark Rincon, GIS Specialist

Linda Scott Cummings, PaleoResearch Institute

Jeanne Schaaf, Archaeoligist and Paleobotanist

Dave Smee, Graphic Artist Illustrator

Steve Stearns, Archaeologist

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