2011-06-15_PERMIT FILE - C1981038 (2)

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_~ extremely stony and is a poor source of topsoil, primarily due to its stony >>ature (United States Department of Agriculture 1980). Vegetation on the ridge crest (Figures 4, 5 and 6) is of the Pinyon~7uniper type. This consists of a scattering of piuiyon and juniper in an open canopy fashion. The juniper is currently dartinant over the pinyun with shrub species daitinating the understory. Chi the ridge crest these shrubs include Utah servicel~erry, true nountain mahogany and bitterbrush. G~mibel oak tends to danuiate on the steep side slopes of the ridge. Avery sparse weeKly herbaceous understory is present with prevalent cheatyrass, Richardson tansynntstard and bedstraw (Colorado Westmoreland, Inc. 1986). 1 The most conspicuous aspect of the ridge crest is the hurcmocky topography. Along the ridge line, one will notice large basalt boulders piled up into a series of hunmxks with pinyon and juniper trees growing frun them. This series of humrpcks has not been mapped, but extends along the ridyeline in a fashion suggestive of terraces. These features often rise two or three meters above a well established game/cattle trail which winds airong the numerous rcx:ky hutrmocks which characterize the local environment. Equally conspicuous with the hurmiocks is the bridge formed by the ridge between the flat tablelands of Fry Mesa on the sout3i and the upland bluffs on the north. In inrtiating the ~ inventory of the ridge crest, the archaeological team was attuned to the probability that this ridge might once have been a route of considerable local importance in the movement of big gam, such as deer and elk. Environmental studies conducted by Colorado Westmoreland have indicated • that ttie Fry Mesa vicinity is critical habitats for both deer arKl elk (welt 1986). Field crew mecbers reported personally observing elk - wintering ire the iiate vicinity (Potter and Welt 1986). All things considered, it was strongly suspected that prehistoric hunting blinds ` atd/or driveline features might exist along the ridge. Evidence; of prehistoric hunting activity was eventually found near ttbe ex~rtlr elid of the ridge (Figures 3, 5 and 6) near where it widens and turns abruptly uptrill. At this point, the game trail similarly turns - uphill and bLOadens out into a series of trail meanders. Up to this point, however, the trail is generally well defined and the ridge top quite restricted by the steep slopes off to each side (Figures 5 - 9) . - At this point, for a distance of about six or eight meters, a small numbor of flakes of various types of tool stone were found. These were all smaller interior flakes initially suggestive of tool resha.rpeniny activities. The variety of tool stone represented and the sn~ll size of the flakes suggested that this was more than a sir~le reduction site where one or two tools might have been fashioned. There was also a curious alignment of small basalt boulders as well as more naturally situated boulders at this location. The entire ground surface in this area was, however, quite rocky and distinctions betwc~ti natural and man- madu rock alig~unents were quite difficult if not impossible to niaJ:e (Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) . Other than the few flakes (Figures 8 anu 13; Ttrble 1) , the problematical stone alignments (Figures 7 ar~d 8) , and numerous natural blinds on the ridge crest, nothing else of potential • archaeological nature could be observed. Previous Class III swvey 7