2014-10-10_PERMIT FILE - C1996083 (3)

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years. These items could be unrelated to archaeological excavation, and could instead relate to a number of other activities, such as the nearby transmission lines and related access roads, or environmental engineering activities. The site remains in the same condition as the 2011 recording. With the present visit, a thermal feature ( #1) was located at the south end of the site exposed in the roadbed. The feature measures approximately 1.1 m x 90cm and contains fire - cracked rock and ash stained soils. The previously recorded metate was also relocated and mapped, along with eleven flakes. Eight of the flakes are of opalitic chert and three are of a gray metaquartzite. Only one flake is of secondary production and it was large while the rest are small and of tertiary manufacture. Evaluation and Recommendation As stated by the initial recorders in 2007, the site exhibits diverse cultural materials including chipped stone and groundstone artifacts, diagnostic tools, and is in good condition and may contain intact, buried cultural deposits. Research domains include Formative Era/Protohistoric Era settlement patterns and subsistence. The site has been deemed officially eligible by the State Historic Preservation Officer (2007) and there is no change to that determination with the present recording. Presently several power line access two track roads traverse the site. Protection and preservation are recommended. Site 5DT1795.3 is a segment of the Pitkin Mesa Domestic Pipeline. It is located at elevations ranging between 8080 and 8400 feet. The aqueduct crosses the West Fork of Terror Creek and the north half parallels Cunningham Gulch which is located about 200 meters to the west. Vegetation consists of dense oakbrush, serviceberry, aspen and conifer trees, mountain mahogany, skunk cabbage, and dense mountain grasses. Soils are a tan sandy, aeolian loess. Soil depth is unknown, but presumed to be more than a meter deep. Ground visibility was approximately 5% due to the density of grasses. The site (5DT1795.1) was originally recorded in 2010, by Curtis Martin and Michael Brown with Grand River Institute (Conner 2010). The following is excerpted from their report: The Pitkin Mesa Domestic Pipeline (aqueduct) originates at an unnamed spring at the head of Sink Creek, elevation 9645 feet, located in Gunnison National Forest. It crosses the Overland Ditch about 0.5 mile after having dropped 200 feet in elevation, traveling south - southwest. Following Stevens Gulch, it terminates on Pitkin Mesa at the Fire Mountain Canal, elevation 6220 feet, after having traveled a total of nearly 9 miles. The actual construction date of the aqueduct is not known at this time. It, however, predates construction of the Fire Mountain Diversion Dam and Canal which occurred primarily from 1949 -1953 (personal communication, Dan 26