PERMFILE68702

• Permit No: C1981038
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: Volume 9B ARCHAEOLOGY APPENDIX Part 2 of 4
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

SECTION VII
I • INVfNPORY FII,IDINGS
Existing Data Crng~ilation Through 1984
f The review of existing data showed that one historic ~ro-Artierican
I site (SU1'125), one prehistoric site (SUT271), and four isolated finds of
aboriginal stone tools (5DT159, 160, 161 and 165) had been previously
recorded in the 880 acres of the 1986 study area (Figure 4). The
historic site was the original Conine Mine recorded by Baker (1977). The
other resources had all been rewrded by Archaeological Associates with
the West Central Coal Environmental Study (Hibbets et al. 1979). The
Conine Mine (SDT125) was considered to be insignificant as a resource and
was clearly not eligible for inclusion on the National Register (Baker
1977; Hibbets et al. 1979; Baker 1984). The prehistoric site (SDT271)
was believed to be potentially eligible for the National Register. It
was tentatively identified as an open lithic scatter frtim the "late
Post-Archaic Period" or A. D. 950-A.D. 1500 (H.ibbets et al. 1979:133). It
was reeamer,ded that this resource be subjected to test excavation in
order to formally determine its eligibility for the National Register.
The isolated finds of prehistoric stone tools were all considered to be
undiagnostic except for SDT160 which was a projectile point assigned to
the Early Post-Archaic Period of A. D. 400-A.D. 950 (Hibbets 1979:128).
Information acquired during the 1984 baseline inventory (Baker 1964)
expanded that already in hand and suggested that at least one focus of
• local aboriginal activity was around the terraces and benches at the
mouth of streams where they issued fran the high bluffs onto the upper
terraces of the North Fork Valley. As mentioned previously, these
locations appear to correspond to the natural ecotone between the
juniper, spruce and sage zones and the more upland areas now covered with
scrub oak (Baker 1984). As exartQles (Figure 3), prehistoric sites
5DT659, 69G and 691 are situated around such a point on Coal C~lch, an
ephareral stream at the east edge of Colorado Westmoreland's permit area.
SD'i'271 and 702 as well as isolated finds are located on Fast Roatcap
Creek where it issues fran the high bluffs and 5L7I'692, 693 and 694 are
located at a similar point on West Roatcap Creek (Baker 1984). A sucm,ary
of the previously inventoried resources in the 1986 study area may be
found ir, Table 9.
1986 Field Inventory Results
The Class III inventory of the initial area of undertaking resulted
in the discovery of one additional prehistoric site (SU1'771). One area
of widely dispersed lithic tools and flakes (SDT772) was formally treated
as an isolated find and a lithic source area was noted (Table 4, also
Figure 4). Additionally, a series of small alcoves in an exposed cliff
face on Last koatcap Creek in ar, area of significant prehistoric activity
has been noted at~i aesignated as a location of high probability fur the
existence of additional prehistoric resourcxs. The ruute of the water
line from Section 13, through Section 19 into Section 23 was found to be
• uYn~letely free of cultural resources (Figure 4) .
,i 1