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boundary. A maintained gravel road makes up the southern boundary. This road was arbitrarily <br />chosen as the site boundary in order to separate this site from previously recorded sites 5RT512, <br />5RT1369 and 5RT1370 which are all located south of the road on a lower terrace of the east- <br />flowing drainage. All three of these previously recorded sites are recommended as needs data or <br />eligible for the NRHP. Aeolian deposition is present on the upper bench in the north/northeast part <br />of Site 5RT2739 and in isolated pockets in the western half of the site. The slopes along the <br />southern and eastern boundaries are eroded. The south-facing slope is covered with an abundance <br />of sandstone gravels while bedrock outcrops along the eastern boundary. Vegetation on-site <br />includes sagebrush, sparse, tall mountain mahogany rabbitbrush, purple thistle and grasses. <br />The artifact assemblage consists of three bifaces, two flake tools, 37 pieces of debitage and <br />two metate fragments. One area of burned soil was recorded near the center of the site. No fire- <br />altered rock, charcoal or artifacts were found in association with the staining and it may be natural <br />burning. Two biface fragments were manufactured from gray chert; one is made of white chert. The <br />flake tools are each flaked on one lateral margin. One is composed of tan/orange quartzite; the other <br />is made of white chert. With the exception of one secondary flake, all of the flakes are at the tertiary <br />reduction stage. The predominant flake material type is white chert. Small amounts of semi- <br />translucent white, tan, brown and gray chert and gray quartzite were also recorded. Two pieces of <br />groundstone, metate fragments that were refit, were also recorded. <br />Eligibility and Management Recommendations. This site may retain integrity. Aeolian <br />deposition remains intact on top of the bench and in pockets along the west half of the site and <br />artifacts appear to be eroding downslope from these sediments. What appears to be continuous, <br />intact deposition on the northeast portion of the bench could contain buried and datable cultural <br />material that would provide information important to the prehistory of the area (Criterion D). MAC <br />recommends this site as needs data. If the site will be subjected to physical disturbance from mine <br />facilities, testing and/or data recovery should occur. Assessment of potential effects from <br />subsidence will be evaluated as part of a recommended site condition monitoring program for the <br />mine. Testing or data recovery may be triggered under this program if the potential for site <br />degradation from subsidence is observed during the monitoring program. <br />5RT2740 (MM8931) <br />Site Description. This newly recorded, prehistoric site is a small, open lithic scatter located <br />on the slope and near the north/northeastern base of a small knoll on a terrace at the confluence of <br />two deep, intermittent drainages. Bedrock outcroppings and several large sandstone boulders are <br />located on the eastern edge of the terrace and on the small knoll. A section fence runs north/south <br />through the site. The site measures approximately 24 m N/S x 15 m E/W. Vegetation on-site <br />includes low sagebrush, bunch grasses and sparse mountain mahogany. Tall oak trees are growing <br />in the drainage bottom east of the site. No Holocene deposition is present. The site area is eroded <br />with an abundance of sandstone gravels at the surface. <br />Artifacts include 10 flakes (eight tertiary and two secondary) and three biface fragments. <br />Flake material includes white and semi-translucent white chert. Biface 1 is an early-mid stage <br />biface fragment of brownish chert. Biface 2 is a mid-stage fragment of white chert. Biface 3 is a <br />small fragment that is likely a projectile point tip composed of white chert. <br />36