|
the site area: a Homestead Entry (original) assigned to a Homer Leighter in 1919.
<br />Additionally, the Colorado Decision Support Systems database was searched for information
<br />pertaining to the reservoir next to the site. The reservoir is the Velanzas Livestock Pond 1
<br />and is sourced from the nearby Jeffway Gulch. It was appropriated in August of 1940, and
<br />adjudicated in April of 1942. The pond also appears on the 1971 Breeze Mountain Quad.
<br />United States Census records from the year 1940 indicate that family with the last name of
<br />Velanzas were residents of Moffat County. Members of the Velanzas family included
<br />Thomas (head of family, age 52), Autrey (wife, age 48), Bob (son, age 16), and Polly
<br />(daughter, age 7). Thomas Velanzas immigrated from Greece, however his wife and children
<br />were born in the United States. The family's occupation is listed as "Sheep Herders" on the
<br />census. The exact purpose, culture, and time period of the site's construction remains unclear
<br />as none of the previously discussed historic documents provide direct Association.
<br />Additionally, a prehistoric component, a mano, was newly recorded near a large
<br />sandstone boulder in the northeastern portion of the site. The mano is a quartzitic cobble and
<br />exhibits oxidation, bifacial grinding, and battery. It was found in a disturbed area and maybe
<br />indicative of buried prehistoric cultural remains; however, no additional prehistoric
<br />manifestations were observed.
<br />Evaluation and Management Recommendation
<br />The site as a whole has experienced disturbance from weathering, vegetal overgrowth,
<br />and historic construction however; historic integrity is present in the aspects of feeling,
<br />setting, and location. Integrity of association, design, materials and workmanship may be
<br />present although additional historic research as well as exploring for subsurface cultural
<br />deposits is required to confirm this. The site is field evaluated as need data; testing and
<br />archival research are recommended. The site may be affected by any surface disturbing
<br />activities
<br />Site 5MF7402.1, a segment of an unnamed historic two -track road, passes over a
<br />saddle of the Williams Fork Mountains. It ranges in elevation from 6720 to 7320 feet. The
<br />road is vegetated with dense grass in the saddle and valley bottoms, while the surrounding
<br />hills have dense serviceberry and Gambel oak with an understory of sagebrush, yarrow,
<br />mules ears, snakeweed, manzanita, lupine, aster, globe mallow, snap dragons, mint, sego lily,
<br />wild rose, wild pea, saw grass, thistle, and Indian paintbrush. The site is underlain by
<br />Cretaceous age sandstone, shale, and major coal beds of the Williams Fork formation. Soil
<br />on the site is a light brown clay loam with a depth of up to 60 inches. These well drained
<br />soils are formed from loess, colluvium, and residuum derived from sandstone and shale and
<br />are composed of Foidel loam, Hesperus loam, Hesperus fine sandy loam, Lamphier fine
<br />sandy loam, Morapos loam, and Winevada-Splitro complex, which are found on plateaus,
<br />hills, and mountainsides (USDA NRCS 2004). The nearest source of permanent water,
<br />Jeffway Gulch, lies approximately one mile southeast of the site.
<br />19
<br />
|