2017-09-11_PERMIT FILE - C1981019 (3)

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Cultural Resource HPTP for MK- 1 -082317 and MK -2-082317 Colowyo Coal Company encountered, further sampling will occur. The radiocarbon results will also be compared to all stratigraphic data and any recovered temporally diagnostic artifacts. 3.2.2 Subsistence Practices Subsistence practice research into prehistoric human populations has focused on the observable changes in practices through time. The research has particularly focused on suspected prehistoric hunter -gatherer populations due to the assumption that such populations are more sensitive to shifts in the subsistence resource base. Research has shown that temporal environmental shifts change the availability, location, and density of food resources across the landscape at varying scales of analysis. Prehistoric hunter -gatherer groups in particular are theorized to have modified their adaptions and cultural practices in response to such changes (Kelly 1995). In western Colorado, much of the archaeological research has centered on the material evidence for subsistence practices (Black 1991, Reed and Metcalf 1999, Stiger 2001). Site specific research into subsistence practices center on analyzing physical evidence to determine the methods of procurement, processing, consumption, and storage of one or more identified food resources. Thermal features, such as hearths, can yield significant subsistence practice data and will be focused on during data recovery. Zooarchaeology has also made significant contributions to the study of prehistoric subsistence practices throughout the Intermountain Region of the United States including northwest Colorado. By studying the animal bone recovered within and around hearth features, contributions can be made to questions of resource exploitation, processing, and consumption. Faunal analysis methods are discussed in Section 3.4.2. 3.2.3 Intrasite Spatial Organization How prehistoric groups organized their space can be as informative as the material evidence indicated what they did within their space (Kroll and Price 1991). Such organization can provide evidence to cultural constructs that, in themselves, leave no direct material signature. At an intrasite level, ethnographic and archaeological hunter -gatherer studies have provided insight into group makeup, organization, and division of labor. Intrasite data for northwest Colorado is admittedly low since subsurface cultural components tend to preclude the removal of broad areas of sediment across the living surface. Ethnographic research suggests a typical archaeological investigation only uncovers a third of living space at even temporary hunter - gatherer campsites. Tetra Tech plans to utilize the mechanical stripping already occurring at the locality to try and open a broad area within the disturbance area and collect spatial data that may contribute to our understanding prehistoric hunter -gatherer spatial organization in northwest Colorado. 3.3 Data Recovery Methodology Data recovery efforts will conform to standard archaeological excavation practice (ex. Renfrew and Bahn 1991) to yield information in support of the above research design. Some data recovery activities, such as excavation of the two discovered features and mechanical topsoil stripping will occur independent of the evaluative testing (see Section 3.3.2). Evaluative testing results will determine additional data recovery efforts within the Project disturbance area. Tetra Tech August 31, 2017 11