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Feature 1 consists of four oxidized sandstone slabs in an area measuring 50cm in <br />diameter. No charcoal or ash was observed; potential for radiocarbon dating is poor. The <br />metate is a long, narrow, sandstone shallow basin with unifacial grinding. One of the manos is <br />a quartzitic cobble with unifacial pecking and grinding on the flat end. It is located 3.5 meters <br />to the southeast of the metate. The second mano is a quartzitic cobble with unifacial pecking. <br />Data recovery was conducted on September 9`h and 10`h of 2015. Prior to excavation, <br />the surface of the site was re -mapped using a BLM certified Trimble Geo XT GPS unit. Only <br />one artifact was newly recorded — a quartzitic cobble that exhibits possible peck marks on one <br />end. The three artifacts that were previously recorded in 2014 were reclassified as a <br />hammerstone, cobble man -u -port, and possible netherstone. All of the surface artifacts were <br />assigned an "FS" number and photographed. None were collected. <br />A temporary datum was established near the southeastern periphery of the site. The <br />datum was plotted with the Trimble GPS unit. A total of twelve auger tests (AT 1-12) and one <br />test trench (TT 1) were established in relation to the datum. Three shovel tests (ST 1-3), one <br />trowel test, and five additional auger tests (AT 13-17) were established in intuitive locations in <br />and around the site in an effort to better define the extent of the site in subsurface contexts <br />(Figure 10). All excavated sediment (from auger tests, shovel tests, and the test trench and <br />trowel test) was sifted through 1/8 -inch mesh rocker screens in search of cultural materials. <br />Auger Tests 1 through 12 were laid out in 10 meter intervals established from the <br />datum, while Auger Tests 13 through 17 were placed intuitively in locations south of the site <br />(Figure 10). Shovel Test 1 was conducted near the possible netherstone (FS #3), Shovel Test 2 <br />was conducted near Feature 1 (Plate 10), and Shovel Test 3 was intuitively placed south of the <br />site. In an effort to determine depth of fill and possibly retrieve charcoal and ash to yield a <br />radiocarbon date, one trowel test was conducted beneath the largest sandstone slab in Feature 1 <br />(Plate 11). A single basalt cobble was uncovered. The tests failed to yield any evidence of <br />subsurface cultural manifestations. <br />The northwest corner of Test Trench 1 was established three meters east of the datum <br />from which point the trench then extended one meter east and 50 centimeters south (Figure 11). <br />Trowels, brushes, and whisk brooms were primarily used to excavate the test trench. <br />Excavation proceeded in arbitrary 5cm levels as measured from present ground surface at the <br />test trench corner stake highest in elevation. Final depth of excavation reached a maximum of <br />20 and 30cm below present ground surface. The trench was void of any evidence of subsurface <br />cultural material. <br />Soil on the site is light brown, clay loam with a depth of up to 60 inches. The soil, <br />Hesperus loam, is found on plateaus and hills and is well drained and formed from loess and <br />alluvium derived from sandstone and shale (USDA NRCS 2004). <br />30 <br />