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Lorencuo Canyon ,t1me Con(ou. Cuts Culmra! Resources lnvenrory <br />• with a moderate amount of chipped stone and ground stone artifacts. There are three features that <br />are possible eagle traps or vision quest structures. In one of these features is a historic feature, a <br />rock cairn with a crude cross. The cross was probably supported by rocks but has since fallen. <br />There is also a small outcrop of sandstone in the southwest portion of this bench with leaf fossils. <br />The prehistoric component of [his site consists of 100+ flakes representing all stages of lithic <br />reduction, i.e., primary, secondary, and tertiary flakes. The debitage is 90 percent felsite and 10 <br />percent basalt. In addition, there are three ground stone artifacts, one metate, one felsite core, and <br />one basalt biface fragment. The site has been picked over by collectors and there are several <br />collector piles. These piles are concentration of flakes. The site is devoid of any formal tools. <br />Three features are also prehistoric and could be eagle traps or vision quest locations. The features <br />are roughly in line with each other and occur near the edge of the bench on the northeast <br />boundary of the site. They are simitaz in size, shape, and construction. The features are oval with <br />sandstone slabs arranged around the perimeter. The inside is approximately 20 cm below <br />surrounding ground level. Feature l and 2 measure approximately 5 by 3.5 meters, outside <br />dimensions, and 3.25 by 2.5 meters, inside dimensions. Feature 3 is slightly smaller measuring <br />4.25 by 3.25, outside dimensions, and 2.25 by 1.5 meters, inside dimensions. It is possible that <br />the three were built at different times with sandstone from an earlier feature used in a later one. <br />Feature 3 appears to be in [he best condition and may have been the last constructed. Presently, <br />there is only one layer of sandstone slabs around the perimeter but may have originally been built <br />up with several layers. The slabs were likely robbed to construct the historic rock cairn. These <br />structures seem more likely to be for trapping eagles than for vision quests given their location. <br />• This is on a prominent point above the Purgatoire River, good for attracting eagles but easily <br />accessible and rather public for vision quests. In addition, this location shares the same <br />characteristics as other locations found in the project area and reported by McKibbin et al (I 997). <br />They are all on prominent ridges overlooking water resources. They are all approximately the <br />same size, shape, and construction technique. Altogether, in the mine azea, there are six to eight <br />of these structures in this relatively small geographic area. There are no artifacts in association <br />with any except the three in SLA9561 and it is possible that the features and the lithic scatter are <br />manifestations of different cultural groups or separated by time. The cultural affiliation of the <br />lithic scatter and the eagle traps are unknown. These three features and the other eagle traps may <br />retain significance to Native American groups. Consultation with Native American groups is <br />recommended to assess potential significance. <br />The historic component of this site consists of a pile of sandstone with a fallen cross. The <br />sandstone slabs were likely taken from [he eagle traps and the pile of rock is located in the center <br />of one of Feature 1. The rock pile measures 1.5 by 1 meter and is 20 to 30 cm in height. The <br />cross is constructed of pinon (trunk and limb with no indication of cut or saw mazks). The cross <br />members are nailed together using two 20-penny wire box nails. The nails suggest a date of post <br />1910. The function of the feature is uncleaz but may have been a mazker or memorial. <br />Considering the prominent location of the site, the cross would have been visible from the valley <br />below. Because of the presence of the cross, a historic grave was considered as a possibility. <br />However, there is very little soil deposition, especially in the center of the feature. There would <br />be insufficient soil to adequately cover a body. The stones could have been placed over the body <br />• but the pile does not seem adequate to keep predators from disturbing any remains. In addition, <br />CunnmK.'uaCulRr.~~R/'Tp;SJFev//dpri/?', 100I 8 <br />