2009-08-24_REVISION - C1982056 (4)

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Site Description. Site 5RT2745 is a newly recorded, prehistoric open lithic scatter that lies in a narrow valley about five miles south of the Yampa River. The site is on the west side of County Road 27 which travels north/south following the valley floor. The site, measuring 380 m N/S x 60 m E/W, is situated on the northern side of a northeast-flowing, unnamed, intermittent drainage. The terrain slopes gently downhill to the northeast. The southwestern portion of the site is vegetated by tall sagebrush with tall, thick grasses and forbs covering 80% of the surface. Downslope to the northeast, vegetation is more sparse with smaller sagebrush and scattered grasses and forbs. Small stands of scrub oak grow along the edge of the terrace. Deposition is primarily alluvial. Slopewash has eroded away most of the deposition in the northeastern portion of the site. The southwest half of the site still retains good soil deposition. The artifacts on the site include 40+ lithic flakes, one retouched flake made of red chert, six manos, two hammerstones and one utilized/shaped elongated cobble. The lithic debitage includes primary (10%), secondary (40%) and tertiary flakes (50%). The flakes are predominantly composed of chert (40%) and chalcedony (40%) with a number of quartzite flakes (20%) also found. There are two artifact concentrations, one in the southwestern part of the site and the other at the extreme northeast edge. Although there is a 60 m gap between these two concentrations, they were recorded within a single site boundary. It appears that the artifacts to the northeast have been redeposited through slopewash erosion and are likely associated with the area to the southwest. Artifact density is highest in the southwestern portion of the site where heavy rodent activity is present. Deposition in this area is at least 30 cm., Eligibility and Management Recommendations. The southwestern portion of Site 5RT2745 appears to retain integrity. Although erosion from slopewash has removed much of the deposition from the site's northeastern half, alluvial deposition of up to 30 cm remains in the southwestern half of the site. A high artifact density in an area of heavy rodent disturbance suggests that buried artifacts are present where deeper sediments remain. The site also has several tool types and a moderate variety of material types. Additional information about the subsurface deposits would help to clarify the site's potential to yield information important to prehistory. MAC recommends this site as needs data. If the site will be subjected to physical disturbance from mine facilities, testing and/or data recovery should occur. Assessment of potential effects from subsidence will be evaluated, as part of a recommended site condition monitoring program for the mine. Testing or data recovery may be triggered under this program if the potential for site degradation from subsidence, is observed during the monitoring program. 5RT2746 (MM7905) Site Description. Site 5RT2746 is an historic habitation site measuring 260 m N/S x 85 m E/W. This newly recorded site is on the west side of County Road 27. It sits on the west bank of an unnamed, intermittent drainage that flows north out of Nofstger Zeigler Reservoir. The drainage is flanked to the east and west by long, low hills. The drainage joins Scotchmans Gulch about %2 mile north of the site. Nofstger Zeigler Reservoir is located about one mile to the south. A recently plowed field is just west of the site. To the north, east and south, the site is surrounded by previously plowed fields that have been revegetated with wheatgrasses. Transmission lines pass through the northern portion of the site. Previously recorded site 5RT991.1 is contained completely within this new site. Site 5RT991.2 is an earthen ditch that parallels the site along the eastern boundary before diverting to the east. 39