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Study Objectives <br />'The purposes of the inventory were to conduct an intensive archaeological survey of <br />areas, subject to direct impact from road construction, to identify and accurately locate <br />archaeological sites and/or districts and isolated finds: to evaluate these surface finds for <br />inclusion on the National Register of I listoric Places (NRFIP); to determine the potential <br />effect of the project on all NRHP-eligible resources; and to make recommendations for the <br />mitigation of the adverse effiects on those cultural resources. The presence of cultural <br />resources was considered likely based on previously recorded sites and isolated rinds in the <br />vicinity. <br />Field Methods <br />A I W percent. intensive (Class 111) cultural resource survey ofthe 180 acre study area <br />was carried out by a GRI archaeologist walking a series of tratisects spaced at 15m wide and <br />working 1r(lin I JSGS 7.5 minute series maps. Steep slopes were contoured. Approximately <br />30 acres %kIthIn the project boundary has been previously disturbed. <br />Cultural resources were sought as surface exposures and were characterized as sites or <br />isolated finds. A site is the locus of previous (50 N ear age minimum) human acti%-Itx at which <br />the preponderance of evidence suggests either one -tinwe diagnostically interpretable use or <br />repeated use overtime, or multiple classes of act ix i ties. For example: a) isolated thermal <br />features such as hearths. which due to the interpretable function of such utilization and the <br />potential for chronometric and economic data recovery, are to be designated as sites, even <br />though they may represent a single event; b) single element rock art panels. which are to be <br />designated as sites due to the interpretable nature of such an event and the potential <br />diagnostic value or the motif: c) isolated human burials: or d) loci exhibiting ground stone <br />and flaked stone in association. An isolate refers to one or more culturally modified object(s) <br />not found in the context of a site as defined above. Note that this definition makes no <br />reference to an absolute quantitative standard for the site/isolate distinction. For example: a) <br />a discrete concentration of flakes from the same material, regardless of the number of <br />artitlicts present, likely represents a single, random event and is properly designated as an <br />isolate. or h) a ceramic pot bust. regardless of number of* sherds that remain. <br />Iinvironmental constraints which might be expected included previous ground <br />disturbance that has modified the surface so extensively that the likelihood of finding cultural <br />resources is negligible: human activity within the past 50 years that has created a new land <br />surface such that all traces of cultural resources have been eradicated; natural environmental <br />characteristics that are unfavorable to the presence of historic properties-. slopes greater than <br />30% where no potential for rock shelter, rock art, or other cultural properties associated with <br />rock faces or ledges exist: and areas with I OW/6 vegetation coverage. All cultural resources <br />that qualified as sites, such as prehistoric open canips, lithic scatter-,, occupied overhangs. <br />