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West Elk Drill Pads, Panels 18 to 24, Cultural Report <br />specific contributions of individuals significant in our past; (c) its engineering, artistic, or <br />architectural values; or (d) its information potential for important research questions in history or <br />prehistory. <br />Prehistoric resources are most often evaluated under Criterion d, for their potential to yield <br />information important in prehistory. Significant information potential in a prehistoric site requires <br />that the site contain intact cultural deposits or discrete activity areas that can be securely associated <br />with a temporal period or discrete cultural group. The potential for intact deposits or <br />cultural/temporal associations may be inferred from surface evidence of cultural features or <br />undisturbed Holocene deposits, and the presence of temporally or culturally diagnostic artifacts. <br />Historic resources may be evaluated under any of the Criteria. However, in the absence of structural <br />features or documented association with significant historic events or the important contributions of <br />persons significant in history, historical resources more than 50 yeazs old are evaluated under <br />essentially the same criteria as prehistoric resources. <br />Based on information available from files searches and previous research experience in the area, <br />Greystone anticipated that prehistoric and historic cultural resources would be unlikely, but might <br />include historic livestock grazing features, historic mining features, or isolated prehistoric tools. <br />METHODS <br />Because of the rugged terrain and often dense brush, transect spacing was itregulaz and emphasis was <br />on inspecting open or gently sloping areas. Areas of dense brush and slopes greater than about 20% <br />grade were not within the defined project areas. Areas of steep slopes aze unlikely to contain <br />significant cultural resources and are generally undesirable settings for drill pads. Special attention <br />was given to areas of enhanced subsurface visibility such as erosion cuts, road ditches, anthills, and <br />the backdirt of animal burrows. <br />Surface visibility and weather were fair to good for the discovery, documentation, and evaluation of <br />cultural resources. Even in areas where brush was neazly impassible, surface visibility was typically <br />fair to good (30-60%). In meadows and more open brush on ridgetops, surface visibility was often <br />excellent. In contrast surface visibility on the floors of gulches was often poor to fair due to leaf <br />litter, deadfall, and underbrush. Weather was warm and cleaz. <br />Any discovered cultural materials were classified either as sites .or as isolated finds, were <br />documented on appropriate Colorado Cultural Resource Survey forms, and their locations were <br />plotted on 7.5' USGS topographic maps. An isolated find consists of five or fewer surface artifacts <br />with no associated cultural features and minimal potential deposition. A site consistsoffive or more <br />artifacts within 50 meters of one another, or at least one cultural or structural feature. The full extent <br />of each site was established, a site sketch map was drawn, and photographs were taken of the site <br />area and any distinctive features. <br />MtnCoalWestElkPane1s18to24Cult(210-50)rpt - 3 - 10/30/2001 <br />