PERMFILE64022

• Permit No: M2004043
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 8/13/2004
• Doc Name: Historical Society Report & letter to Las Animas County
• From: Valco Inc
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Q Cuarteiejo $P Associates Inc.
718 West 2"" Street
~ 0 La Junta, Colorado 81050-1428
Tclcphonc/Fax Na 719.384.8054 - email address - cuartcleian7.centurvtetnet
August 5, 2004
A Letter Report Outlining the Results of
A Class III Cultural Resource Site Recording
at the Valco T Pit,
6 PM, Township 32S, Range 63W, Section 35
Las Animas County, Colorado
(Colorado Archaeological Permit No. 2004-76)
Introduction
On July 30, an archaeological site recording was carried out at the proposed Valero T Pit in l.as
Animas County. The purpose of the site recording was to undertake a recording of three potential site
locales (Temporary Site Nos. 04.VTP.01-04.VTP.03) located during an archaeological survey conducted
on a 35-acre plot that Valco, Inc. proposes to use for a gravel pit. The original purpose of the survey was
to make a detetmination concerning an anonymous report of an "Indian Burial Ground" being located at the
Valeo T Pit location (Carrillo 2004). Although no evidence of a burial location was found, two probable
prehistoric sites, and one historic road, were located within the property bouudaries. As a result, Valco,
Inc., consented to undertake a follow-up assessment and recording of the three sites. Two extant gravel
pits - Tortoticc (Gooding 1985) and the Heart-T, operated by [.one Sand and Gravel -are presently
situated on the SW quarter of Section 35 to the northeast and north, respectively. Additionally, The
Cusimano Pit (M-9I-135), situated in the adjacent Section 34 was surveyed in 1992 (Carrillo and
Anderson 1992).
During the survey the potcnual sites were only minimally outlined and recorded during the
archaeological survey due both to time constraints and the weather conditions. They consisted of the
following:
I) Two presumed prehistoric Native American sites of undetermined age and function were
located in the course of the survey. The general boundaries of both sites were flagged and
each site was assigned a temporary site number (e.g. Temp. Nos. 04. VTP.UI and
04. VTP.02). The sites were thought to contain groundstone artifacts.
2) Additionally, the remains, of what is thought to represent a N/S trending historic road or
trail (U4, VTP.03), are in evidence between the tower terrace and west bank of the unnamed
drainage a[ the valley bottom within the property boundary. Additionally, it appears that
evidence of a trail or road network can be seen in selected locations along both the west
and cast sides of the drainage. The early nail or road extends beyond the present property
boundazies in a general N/S direction. There are no previously recorded historic roads
recorded within Section 3.5 and the surrounding sections within T.32S, R.63W, or T.33S,
R.63W. A close examination of the Trinidad East topographic map revealed an FJW
oriented road that served as llie Trinidad to Trinchera Road approximately 3.5 miles south
of the project area in T. 335, R. 63W, Section Z4. It is possible that the road system
within the project area may have represented ancillary wagon roads that connected to the
main N/S trail or wagon road oriented north to the Santa Fc Trait and south to the
Trinidad-Trinchera road. Additionally, some of the ancillary roads may represent early
quarrying activity in the area. Further research wilt be conducted and results outlined in
the final report.
On the NAtt of the Doerlerlands
Fortlerlmds, Ilhtorlnl, Urban & Induanial ArchaeolaFy, Archival & niAerknl Rersarch, C<"m12I7ROrk Pro<rwaen A Cotton) Fnwrce LfnnaFement