GENERAL32783 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Existing Data and Literature Review A files search conducted through the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Denver revealed the Following information. Several previous cultural resource inventories have been completed within and adjacent to the present study area. Recently, MAC completed cultural resource surveys for several water monitoring locations and core holes for Peabody. No cultural resources were discovered on these small scale projects (Rood 1990a, 1990b). O'Neil (1989) and Harrison (1990) both completed archaeological surveys for well pads near the project area. Neither study produced cultural sites. In 1989, MAC completed test excavations at 5RT132 which is within the Seneca II mine plan area. This site was not considered to be eligible for nomination to the NRHP (Metcalf 1989). Site 5RT132 did produce a single radiocarbon date of 1590 + 80 which suggests an early Late Prehistoric occupation for the site. This early Late Prehistoric date is consistent with findings from nearby areas (LaPoint 1987). In 1980, Western Cultural Resource Management (WCRM) completed a Class III survey of over 4,300 acres for the Seneca II-W mine. Fifteen cultural resources were recorded and 5RT132, discussed above, was considered to be the only significant resource (Wheeler 1980). Other cultural resource surveys in the project vicinity include work by Johnson (1981) for the Yoast Coal lease; a seismic line (Avazian 1985); a well location (Metcalf 1985); and several drill holes for Freeman Cosl (Kranzush 1979; 1982). All of these above mentioned projects, with the exception of the Yoast Project, were negative in terms of cultural resources: Johnson (1981) recorded only four sites and four IFs in over 1400 acres of surveyed ground. The culture history of the project area is presented in Guthrie et al. (1984), Grady (1984), Mehls (1984) and Husband (1984). Overall there is a low site .density of prehistoric locations in this area. Topographically, the area is very steep and generally, visibility is low throughout the project area. One previously recorded site, 5RT118 is within the Seneca II-W expansion area. .-This site was originally recorded in 1979 and consists of three anthropomorphic pictographs on a cliff face. These figures are round headed with square shoulders and the legs consist of continuations of the body lines. They are approximately four feet tall and are rendered in red paint. One of the figures consists of only the head with the remainder lost due to a small. 5RT118 is within the expansion area and may be impacted by the project. Testing recommendations are presented in a later section of this report. Statement of Objectives Previous work in the vicinity of the project area has demonstrated an overall low density of cultural resources. It is unknown if the paucity of cultural sites is due to poor visibility, steep terrain, or simply a general lack of sites. All three factors probably pertain to this area. In spite of the established low density of cultural resources, rock art (Johnson 1981; 5RT118) and lithic scatters are known to exist in the project