2009-08-24_REVISION - C1982056 (4)

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Open prehistoric sites recommended as eligible include 5RT1368, 5RT1369, and 5RT1370. Need data sites of potential concern include 5RT20, 5RT22, 5RT512, 5RT2699, 5RT2737, 5RT2739, 5RT2741, and 5RT2745. EVALUATION OF RESEARCH The results of the inventory were somewhat consistent with expectations. Surface visibility across most of the inventory areas was good, and the patterns of erosion in the study area provided a means of assessing subsurface potential of many of the sites through inspection of cut-banks and incised cattle trails. The late summer-early fall span of fieldwork provided good working conditions, so weather was not a factor influencing the inventory. The overall number of sites and isolated finds was greater than expected, though not surprising considering the kinds of terrain targeted for inventory. Although overall site densities reflected in previous inventories is low, sites tend to cluster along streams, on ridges and hills, and along the base of sandstone cliffs. Since these are precisely the terrains forming this inventory area, the relatively larger number of sites is consistent with, though somewhat greater than, was expected (cf., Barclay and Slaughter 1999; O'Brien 2007). Areas of low expectation, such as ridge tops, were also included in the survey strategy and produced expected results. The general condition of sites was also consistent with expectations. Sites falling into the eligible or need data categories are those located in areas where Holocene-age sediment deposits accumulate-ridge lees and alluvial sequences along streams. All the recorded sites have suffered, the effects of erosion to some degree, but retain enough integrity to be interpretable. Drainage incision in the last century or so has exposed some sites that may have otherwise been invisible, but has not been severe enough to destroy them. Diagnostic projectile points found during survey reveal that sites of all time periods occur in the area. An isolated late Paleoindian point (5RT2701) is consistent with finds at nearby 5RT 139. Points indicative of the Middle and Late Archaic Eras were also found; intact sites of Late Archaic age would be particularly interesting since this period seems to be under-represented in the archaeological record of the area. The Late Prehistoric periods are also represented by projectile points. No post-contact Native American sites were found, however. Relatively little information about the areas geoarchaeological record was collected during the inventory. One of the goals of the recommended baseline data collection will be to use the master stratigraphic profiles at the selected pilot study sites as a means of better characterizing the ages and potentials of the alluvial sediments in the area. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Inventory resulted in discovery and documentation of 18 new sites and the visiting and updating of an additional 19 previously recorded sites. Of the total 37 sites, 25 are prehistoric, nine are historic, and three have both prehistoric and historic components. Of these, 24 have recommended evaluations of "not eligible" for the NRHP. Four sites are evaluated as eligible, and 46