2022-09-29_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (4)

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CONTAINS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION – DO NOT DISTRIBUTE 8 equally important in determining their significance. However, prehistoric cultural resources are most frequently evaluated under NRHP Criterion D, which pertains to the potential for the resource to yield scientifically important information. The measure of importance of the scientific data is based on research questions that are widely recognized as appropriate by the scientific community. Regional contexts documents often serve as the foundation for evaluating scientific significance. Historical sites can potentially meet any of the four criteria for eligibility to the National Register. The focus of historical site significance is generally on architectural significance or association with individuals or events of historical importance, though the value of archaeological data is no less important. Under Criterion D, the condition of structures is less important than the presence of artifacts and cultural features that can yield important information that can be used to address research questions. Regional historical contexts identify the attributes of sites that justify inclusion in the NRHP for historical archaeology. Once evaluated for eligibility, a site must also display enough integrity (i.e., aspects of location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association) to properly convey its significance {Little, 2000 #6537;National Park Service, 2002 #11481}. The importance of each aspect of integrity depends on the nature of the site and the r elevant criterion of NRHP eligibility and any single site need not retain all aspects of integrity to be significant. For example, if a site is recommended eligible under Criterion A or B, then integrity of location, setting, design, materials, and association are important. A site recommended eligible under Criterion C should retain sufficient integrity of design, materials, and workmanship while a site recommended eligible under Criterion D is likely to retain integrity of location, design, materials, a nd association, though workmanship may not be necessary. Other aspects of integrity (i.e., setting and feeling) may increase an ability to recognize or interpret a site and are important for sites that might be eligible under any criteria. Identification and evaluation of significant cultural resources in the project area permit formulation of management recommendations, which generally include site avoidance or data recovery. Management recommendations are typically based on careful assessment of projec t- specific impacts to sites, although site impacts may not be well understood for some undertakings (e.g., land exchanges) and in those cases only very general recommendations are possible. Sites and IFs that are determined to be not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP by state and federal agencies require no further management consideration. METHODS The project area was surveyed by three archaeologists walking transects spaced no wider than 15 m (50 ft.) apart to cover the block inventory areas. When cultural materials were discovered, the surrounding area was examined to determine whether a site or IF was present. Sites were defined as discrete areas with cultural features or culturally patterned distributions of artifacts in excess of 50 years in age, at which the preponderance of evidence suggests either one -time diagnostically interpretable use or repeated use over time, a prehistoric or historical occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether standing or ruined, where the location itself possesses historical, cultural, or archaeological value regardless of the value of any existing structure. Loci with artifacts that do not indicate discrete human patterning beyond use of the area in a single - activity event were defined as IFs, regardless of the quantity of artifacts. Alpine’s site recording focused on the portions of the site within the APE. All cultural resources were recorded on the appropriate Colorado OAHP Cultural Resource Survey forms (Appendix B) and evaluated for eligibility for inclusion in the NRHP by assessing the specific criteria discussed in the previous section.