2018-07-11_PERMIT FILE - C1981019 (2)

Home Browse Search

Cultural Resource Historic Properties Treatment Plan for BK -2-082818 Colowyo Coal Company diagnostic artifacts (if any) will inform on temporal utilization of the locality within and across associated era(s), tradition(s), phase(s), and period(s). Once the HPTP is approved, Tetra Tech will collect C-14 samples from the feature and any additional datable cultural material discovered during field work. Samples will be submitted for processing upon completion of all field work. If additional datable features are encountered, further sampling will occur. The radiocarbon results will also be compared to all stratigraphic data and any recovered temporally diagnostic artifacts. 3.1.2 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 are theorized to have modified their adaptions and cultural practices is 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 1996, Stiger 2001). Site specific research into subsistence practices center on analyzing physical evidence to determine prehistoric 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 method and theory has made significant contributions to the study of prehistoric subsistence practices throughout the Intermountain Region of the U.S. including northwestern Colorado. By studying the animal bone recovered within and around hearth features questions can be answered regarding resource exploitation, processing, and consumption. Faunal analysis methods are discussed in Section 3.3.2. 3.2 Data Recovery Methodology Data recovery efforts will conform to standard archaeological excavation practice (ex. Renfew and Bahn 1991) to yield information to support of the HPTP research design. 3.2.1 Data Recovery Scope All data recovery activities will be limited to the disturbance area. Cultural resource components found to extend outside the disturbance area will not be further investigated during the data recovery. Instead, they will be left intact for preservation and future investigation. Tetra Tech will map, document, and describe the site portions extending outside the disturbance area to support preservation and management. Documentation will include mapping, photograph, and verbal descriptions to allow for accurate relocation, protection, and future study if necessary. Intact site portions outside of the disturbance area will be protected using existing avoidance measures for cultural resources. Colowyo is not permitted to disturb outside of the limit of the disturbance so any intact portions of the site outside of the limit of disturbance will be protected long-term. Should additional ground disturbance need to occur Colowyo would be required to engage with DMRS, OSRME, and OAHP to develop and receive approval of a treatment plan for data recovery on the remaining portions of the site. Tetra Tech June 29, 2018