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SDCPION VIII <br />~ • S[AMARY FIImINGS AND ODNCLiISICNS <br />Three archaeological sites, five isolated finds, one lithic source <br />area and one highly probable site location have been recorded within the <br />88U acres of Colorado Westmoreland's initial area of undertaking for the <br />west portal at the. Orchard Valley Mine. The area of uncle aki has been <br />revised and significantly decreased in size so that none of these <br />resources or potential resources currently appear to be threatened with <br />iirpacts from the portal construction itself (Figures 4 and 6). <br />As indicated in Table 4, sites SDT125 and 771 are thought to be <br />insiynificant and not eligible for the National Register as they are <br />currently understood. Sdi'771 was subjected to a test excavation program <br />in 1986 and was found to be an insignificant prehistoric site (Baker <br />1986). The vicinity of SUI'771 does, however, still have a chance of <br />producing additional and perhaps National Register eligible prehistoric <br />resource(s) in association with a cluster of basalt boulder features <br />which were possibly used as game blinds. It is reoamiended that <br />inventory efforts along the ridge where SUP771 is located not be <br />considered oarglete until such a time as an archaeologist monitors ground <br />surface disturbances there. Current portal development plans apparently <br />will not impact this area. The historic caul mine designated SDT125 was <br />evaluated in previous reports (Bakes 1977; Hibbets et al. 1979). It is <br />insignificant and requires no further consideration. <br />• As reoamiended by Hibbets et al. (1979), SUT271 is believed to have <br />been potentially eligible for the National Register due to its capacity <br />to yield information it~orttant to the study of the prehistory of the <br />North Fork Valley. S~rbstantial test excavations and emergency mitigation <br />efforts were completed at this site during August of 1986 and are the <br />subject of separate reports (baker 1966a and 1987). Evaluations are <br />continuing as part of the preparation of that report but the sites <br />eligibility for the National Register teas been considerably diminished as <br />a result of the excavations cQCgleted there. These are reported on in an <br />executive sumRary prepared in association with this report (Baker 1966a). <br />The revised area of undertaking for this site (Figures 4 and 6) indicates <br />that it will not be subject to impacts from development of the rew <br />portal. <br />The five isolated finds of prehistoric artifacts in the initial area <br />of undertaking are considered to be insignificant and will not be <br />ir[Qacted by the portal development. It has been suggested that an <br />archaeological site could exist in the vicinity of 5i7f772. An <br />archaeological monitor has been remrtnended w Oversee any future <br />construction activity which might take place in the high benches around <br />SI11'772. <br />~ A series of rock alcoves inr the exposed cliff Laces adjacent to <br />SUP271 are suggested as probable locations of National Register eligible <br />• prehistoric resources. A test excavation program was needed there as <br />part of the lnvenrtor}~ effort of the initial area of undertaking. This <br />has, however, been indefinitely postponed and the alcoves appear to be <br />ao <br />