Four Separate Class III Cultural Resources Surveys in Support of Department of the Air Force's NH&S Rdt&e Program, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. Short Report

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DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE CULTURAL RESOURCES RECONNAISSANCE Four separate Class III cultural resources surveys 1n support of the Department of the Air Force's NH&S RDT&E Program, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. This report assesses the cultural resources in four separate areas proposed by the Air Force for the HN&S RDT4E Program. These areas, numbered 1 through 4, represent alternative sites which will be evalu ated for project suitability by the Air Force. The initial evaluation process includes both seismic investigations and the excavation of a 4' x 12' x 12' geological exploration trench at each site. Consequently, this report addresses two concerns: (1) the assessment of potential adverse impacts to significant cultural resources by the above site characterization activities and (2) the suitability of each area, from a cultural resources point of view, for further project development. HN&S SEISMIC AREA NO. 1 GEOGRAPHIC AND NTS AREA: East Jackass Flat, NTS Area 14, Nevada Foot MAP REFERENCE: U.S.G.S. Skull Mountain 7.5' Topographic Quad., Nye Co., DATES OF FIELD RECONNAISSANCE: March 29 through March 31 and April 4, PERSONNEL: Cari Lockett, Lonnie C. Pippin, Ronald L. Reno PREVIOUS CULTURAL RESOURCES STUDIES IN AREA: Pippin and Zerga (1980) provide a brief overview of archaeo logical research on the Nevada Test Site. No previous cultural resource studies have been conducted on the Skull Mountain Quadran gle, Nye County, Nevada. Nevertheless, the historic mining camp of Wahmonie and the historic Horn Silver Mine occur one mile to the east of HN&S Seismic Area No. 1. Little is known concerning the 324), but the Horn Silver Mine must have been discovered prior to 1905 as Ball (1907:140) mentions it in his geologic survey of southwestern Nevada. Apparently, the discovery of high-grade sil ver ore at the Horn Silver Mine in February, 1928, ignited a

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flamboyant mining rush which, in four months, resulted in Wahmonie townsite, complete with post office, cafes, grocery stores, land offices and, of course, saloons. However, as Paher (1970:324) notes, "by the end of that hectic year the town was bust; Wahmonie had produced more excitement than minerals." Long (1950:103) men tions that when she visited Wahmonie, apparently in 1928, the townsite consisted of tents along a single street, but a map of Wahmonie produced by Webb and Wilshire (1980, fig. 1) shows five parallel streets. It is clear that the history of Wahmonie and of the Horn Silver Mine has yet to be unraveled and the townsite should be considered as eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places until such studies can be completed. This mining camp reflects a stage in boomtown development that is rarely preserved in the archaeological record; i.e., the initial development of tent camps associated with mining and prospecting. In fact, I know of only one other site, Ramona in the Borealis Mining District near Hawthorne, Nevada, that provides a comparable HN&S Seismic Area No. 1 (Figure 1) occurs on a southwest slop ing (5%) pediment surface and bajada radiating into Jackass Flats from Lookout Peak. Most of the project area is underlain by hydrothermal ly altered andesite, dacite, latite and tuff, but the south ern and western edges are covered by Quaternary age, alluvial fan sediments (Ekren and Sargent 1965). It was these hydrothermally altered volcanics that undoubtedly attracted early prospectors to the Wahmonie area. A thin, poorly developed desert pavement covers the ground surface throughout the project area and erosion has dissected the pediment and bajada with numerous, shallow, ephemeral Beatley (1976, fig. 4) classifies the vegetation in this region of the Nevada Test Site as transitional between the Mohave Desert and Great Basin Desert. Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramnossima) shares dominance with the spiny hop sage (Grayia spinosa), desert creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). Less conspicuous, but also common, are bur sage (Ambrosia dumosa), needlegrass (Stipa speciosa) and Indian ncegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoidesH Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) occurs in the northern portion of the study area, but is not common there. Coyote (Cam’s latrans) and deer (Odocoileus hemionus) scats, as well as the Burrows of both large and small' rodents, were observed throughout the study area. RECONNAISSANCE METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The center of HN&S Seismic Area No. 1 (Nevada Foot Coordinates N752,471.46/E640,738.63) had been marked with a lath and orange flagging. Four additional lath, placed around this center point, East) of the proposed, 1/2 mile seismic transects; however, these

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transects had not been previously flagged. In accordance with instructions from the Air Force, 200 ft (120 m) corridors were surveyed for cultural resources along each seismic line and the center line of those corridors were flagged by DRI archaeologists. These corridors were surveyed by walking four 30 m wide, zig-zag transects. In addition, a 30 m wide, linear transect was walked along the supposed access road which had been initiated by off-road vehicular travel between the Cane Spring Road (paved) and the study On April 4, 1983, the Air Force proposed two additional seis mic lines in HN&S Seismic Area Mo. 1. These two lines, bearing S47°W and S580W respectively, had been flagged and are situated in the southwest quadrant of HN&S Seismic Area No. 1. Both these additional seismic lines were surveyed for cultural resources by walking two, 30 m wide, zig-zag transects along the flagged routes IDENTIFIED CULTURAL RESOURCES: As expected, the cultural resources reconnaissance of HN&S Seismic Area No. 1 revealed several historic sites associated with the mining activities at Wahmonie. Twelve of these sites, grouped under a single site number (S032983WM1), were mining claim markers (lettered A through J on Figure 1). Three of these markers (Fea ture A) were elaborately constructed stone cairns ranging from 80 cm to 2 m high and 80 cm to 1.75 m in diameter. Four markers. small rock piles and were associated with shallow prospects. Piles of rocks also mark the locations of Features F, G, H and J, but 4" x 4" wood posts were found only at Feature J. Prince Albert tobacco tins were found at Features C and G. The final mining claim marker, Feature I, was situated outside the surveyed areas but consisted of a highly visible rock cairn (75 cm high) built atop a large (5 m diameter) boulder. The reconnaissance of the access route into the project area disclosed that this route crosses a historic water canal. The purpose, age and association of this canal is not known; however, it abuts to the bed of a historic railroad track to Wahnomie (Fig ure 1). The only other historic cultural resource (S033083C15) found at HN&S Site No. 1 was an isolated "hole-in-top" milk can which had been opened by two narrow knife slits. This type of can was commonly manufactured prior to World War I. Prehistoric cultural resources discovered at HN&S Seismic Area No. 1 included seven isolated artifacts and an opportunistic chert quarry. Three of the isolated artifacts (S032983CL1, S033083LP3 and S040483RR2) were white chert core reduction flakes. Three other isolated artifacts (S033083CL2 and 040483RR1), two of which were found within 1 m of each other and assigned the same site number (033083CL2), were obsidian core reduction flakes. The final isolated artifact was a broken, brown chert Rose Spring

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corner-notched arrowpoint. The opportunistic chert quarry (S032983LP3) consisted of approximately 25 pieces of debitage found in a 3 m diameter area. These artifacts included core fragments, decertification flakes, core reduction flakes and undiagnostic lithic shatter, apparently all from the same white chert toolstone. This sort of archaeological site has been commonly found in areas on the Nevada Test Site where toolstone naturally occurs in the desert pavement of alluvium and colluvium. SITE EVALUATIONS AMO STATEMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE: Mining claim markers, like those found in the HN&S Seismic Area No. 1, are common throughout Nevada and mark the locations that once interested miners. Consequently, their primary value, for historians, lies in their distribution on the landscape. Since this information was recorded during the cultural resources recon naissance of HN&S Seismic Area No. 1, we believe this value has been preserved. However, as with the mining claim markers at Fea ture A, these claim markers also may be considered valuable for their architectural and aesthetic characteristics. In recognition of this principal, 35 mm color photographs were taken of the three claim markers at Feature A of S032983WM1. Although this action should preserve the architectural value of these mining claims, their aesthetic value would be altered if land disturbing activi ties occur in the area. Isolated artifacts, such as those found at sites S032983CL1, gain their scientific value from the nature of each artifact and its location on the landscape. Because the isolated artifacts at the above mentioned sites were collected and their context and provenience recorded during the cultural resources reconnaissance, this scientific value has been preserved. The opportunistic quarry, S032983LP3, at HN&S Seismic Area No. 1 is quite similar to several other archaeological sites which have been studied in the Yucca Mountain region to the west (Pippin, Clerico and Reno 1982). The scientific value of this kind of site rests with its potential to reveal information on how natural occurring toolstone was shaped into stone tools, how this activity was patterned on the landscape, and what types of tools were made at each locality. If considered as single entities, the potential information revealed by any single opportunistic quarry is, how ever, limited. But, if considered as a part of a region wide dis tribution of toolstone sources, these archaeological sites may provide extremely important information regarding prehistoric pat terns of resource (toolstone) procurement. Site S032983LP3 is the only known opportunistic quarry from the eastern Jackass Flats region. Consequently, its importance can not be fully assessed without a better sample of opportunistic quarries in this region. The archaeological site was adequately recorded, but was not col lected during the cultural resources reconnaissance of HN&S Seismic

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ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS: The seismic studies at HN&S Site Mo. 1 will be conducted using 5 lb explosive charges placed at regular intervals along each transect. Geologic studies there will require the excavation of a single 4‘ x 12' x 12' bulldozer trench at an unspecified location along one of the transects. Potential adverse impact to cultural resources at HN&S Site No. 1 will occur if either of these activi ties are conducted on or near the archaeological sites (S032982WM1 and S032983LP3) that were not collected during the cultural RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL RESOURCES: cultural resources reconnaissance and need no other protective measures. Similarly, the mining claim markers and prospector pits of S032983WM1 have been properly recorded. However, Feature A at S032883WM1 and the opportunistic quarry at S032983LP3 should be avoided by land disturbing activities if at all possible. HN&S SEISMIC AREA NO. 2 GEOGRAPHIC AND NTS AREA: Topopah Valley, NTS Area 25, Nevada Foot MAP REFERENCE: U.S.G.S. Topopah Spring 7.5' Topographic Quad., Nye Co., DATES OF FIELD RECONNAISSANCE: March 30 through March 31 and April 4, PERSONNEL: Cari Lockett, Lonnie C. Pippin, Ronald L. Reno PREVIOUS CULTURAL RESOURCES STUDIES IN AREA: Pippin and Zerga (1980) provide a brief overview of archaeo logical research on the Nevada Test Site. Although no previous cultural resources surveys have been conducted in the immediate vicinity of HN&S Seismic Area No. 2, several cultural resources are known to occur there. Worman (1969:15-16) briefly mentions his toric "ranch debris" and several prehistoric artifacts that occur around Topopah Spring (26Ny201) located about 2-1/2 miles north of the center point of HN&S Area No. 2. This spring is a well-known watering spot (Mendenhall 1909; Thordarson and Robinson 1971, Table 5) and was undoubtedly used by both historic and prehistoric peo ples. Our knowledge of cultural resources at and around this spring, however, is quite limited. During a familiarization survey of the NTS during 1978, DRI archaeologists recorded a small rockshelter (26Ny960) on the south

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facing slope of Shoshone Peak. Cultural remains at that rockshel ter consisted of polychrome pictographs and a small lithic scatter. Because this is only one of three archaeological sites on the Nevada Test Site known to contain pictographs, it has been deter mined to eligible for nomination to the National Register. Finally, a "large surface scatter" (26Ny405) has been recorded on the northeast side of Shoshone Peak. This site is briefly men tioned in the Navy's Seafarer Site Survey report (EDAW 1975), but site forms and more detailed descriptions are lacking. Steward (1938:183-184) notes that the Southern Paiute and Shoshoni of the Ash Meadows region would visit Shoshone Mountain in order to harvest the pine nuts and deer that occurred there. He (Stewart 1938:183) also notes that these Ash Meadows peoples would visit the Calico Hills region, situated on the southwestern edge of Topopah Valley, in order to collect grass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) Finally, the U.S.G.S. Topopah Spring 7.5' Quadrangle displays various prospects and mines in the Calico Hills region to the west of the project area and on the VABM Topopah Hills southeast of HN&S Seismic Area No. 2. HN&S Seismic Area No. 2 (Figure 2) is situated on the south west facing, gently sloping (4% slope) valley floor of Topopah Valley. Topopah Wash, an ephemeral drainage characterized by a 10 to 20 ft deep channel, skirts the southeastern portion of the study area; whereas, the foothills of Shoshone Mountain, composed of rhyolite lava flows and ash-flow tuffs, mark the northwestern boun dary. The valley floor itself is composed of a series of alluvial bars, terraces, fans and wash beds which display varying degrees of desert pavement and varnish. Obsidian nodules occur in the desert pavement on the terraces which skirt Topopah Wash. Although the source of these nodules is unknown, they appear to be restricted to sediments directly along the margins of Topopah Wash and do not occur along its tributary drainages to the northwest. Beatley (1976, fig. 4) classifies the vegetation of Topopah Valley as belonging to the blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) com munity of the Transitional Desert. The actual distribution of vegetation at HN&S Area No. 2 is a mosaic of areas occupied almost exclusively by blackbrush, areas characterized by blackbrush, nevadensis), spiny hop sage (Grayia spinosa), and desert thorn (Lycium andersonii), and areas of mormon tea, spiny menodora (Menodora spinescens), bladder sage (Salazaria mexicana) and cholla (Opuntia ecmnocarpa). The modern floodplain of Topopan Wash also supports other species of rabbit brush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus, axillaris)" The foothills to the west of HN&S Area No. 2,

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although characterized by blackbrush, also support scattered occur rences of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), cliffrose (Cowania mexicana spp. stansburiana), and green mormon tea (Ephecfra yi'ridis). Coyote, deer and rabbit scats, as well as the borrows of both large and small rodents, were observed throughout the project RECONNAISSANCE METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The center point of HN&S Seismic Area No. 2 (Nevada Foot Coor dinates N782,657.39/E613,445.86) is marked by the intersection of the Topopah Valley Road (bearing N29°E) with a graded, unnamed crossroad bearing N75°W (Figure 2). Initially, cultural resources surveys were conducted along 1/2 mile segments of each road radiating from this center point (road intersection). Follow ing this initial reconnaissance, however, …