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DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE CULTURAL RESOURCES RECONNAISSANCE A Class III Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of an Access Road and Pad for a CCT Van Associated with Event Site U19au, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, DRI surveyed an access road and proposed pad for a CCT Van associated with U19au. No antiquities were found in previously undisturbed areas. Two small archaeological sites were found in previously disturbed (bladed) areas along the access road. One of these sites was collected and the other is sufficiently disturbed that it is not significant. The pad and access road are cleared of significant cultural resources. No further archaeological work is recommended in the project area. GEOGRAPHIC AND NTS AREA: Pahute Mesa, NTS Area 19 U.S.G.S. Dead Horse Flat and Ammonia Tanks 7.5' DATE OF FIELD RECONNAISSANCE: Ronald L. Reno and Nick Chapin PREVIOUS CULTURAL RESOURCE STUDIES IN AREA: Previous research in the area has been summarized by Pippin (1986). Six major DOE projects involving cultural resources inventories have been done in
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the vicinity of the project area (Fig. 1) and three of these project areas have also been subjected to archaeological mitigation work. Three separate phases of archaeological work have been carried out at this event site. In 1982, the drill pad, cableway, and trailer park were surveyed. Two archaeological sites consisting of an isolated uniface and a locality with six flakes were found (Reno 1982). An expanded area was surveyed in 1985. Five additional sites were found, including three lithic scatters and two isolates (Lockett 1895). One of these lithic scatters (26Ny4569) was later collected. The report on that collection is in progress. Three diffuse lithic scatters were found in this area, which was surveyed to find a suitable place for relocating a powerline farther from a proposed event site to the north (Reno 1983). Event site U19as was surveyed in 1983. At that time many cultural resources were found, including highly significant structures made of limbs and standing juniper trees (Henton 1983). DRI returned to the site, which was renamed U19au to excavate test pits, and collect large areas to clear the area for the test. The report on this mitigation work is in progress. A 3000 foot square area centered on this proposed drill hole was surveyed in 1983. A total of 33 archaeological sites were found but due to lack of funding or authorization from DOE, no report was ever prepared for the survey.
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Figure 1. Location map for OCT Van and access road, Pahute Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. U.S.G.S Dead Horse Flat and Ammonia Tanks 7.5'
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A 3000 foot square area centered on this proposes drill hole was also surveyed in 1983. A total of 49 archaeological sites were found but due to lack of funding or authorization from DOE, no report was prepared for this A 3000 foot square area centered at U19aq was surveyed in 1985 (Lockett 1985). Virtually the entire area contained cultural resources and subsequent subsurface testing revealed the existence of a buried component. A major surface collection and expanded excavation project was then completed. While analysis and report preparation was in progress, DOE decided to locate another event site, U19az, just east of U19aq. Archaeological clearance including limited excavations, scrapes, and surface collections were expanded into the new area. Reports for mitigation work at both of these event sites are in The project area is located on top of a low ridge on top of Pahute Mesa (Fig. 1). Elevations range from 6840 to 6950 feet. Vegetation is dominated by pinyon (PLnus monophylla), juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and black sagebrush (Artemisia nova). Grasses including cheatgrass are common as is The survey was conducted at the request of Bob Bivona, NTSO. Janet Appenzeller accompanied the DRI team to the field, where she pointed out the access road and proposed pad area. Most of the access is along previously
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bladed roads, with the final approach along the circle road around drill hole U19i (Fig. 2). The proposed pad area was marked with red flags on laths, as was a short section of access over undisturbed ground. These areas were surveyed by four 20 nt wide transects allowing ample room for the access road, pad, and vehicle turn-arounds during construction. The two archaeological sites found were recorded on DRI site encoding forms and the isolate was IDENTIFIED CULTURAL RESOURCES: Two small sites were found. Site 051288NC01 is an isolated chert Elko Series projectile point. This point was found on the existing bladed access road. Site 051288NC02 is a small locality consisting of 19 flakes, a core, and a Stage III biface fragment. Most flakes are from biface thinning. All artifacts are made of local white welded tuff. The entire site and surrounding area have been bladed. SITE EVALUATIONS AND STATEMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE: Site 051288NC01 has been collected and its former field location is no Site 051288NC02 has been greatly disturbed by bulldozing. It does not have sufficient integrity to be considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS: Most of the access road will be on existing bulldozed roads. A short section of access road will be bulldozed through the trees between the existing access road and the proposed pad (Fig. 2). The pad for the CCT (Closed Circuit Television) van will be just large enough for the van and a service vehicle to turn around.
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Figure 2. Detail map of CCT Van archaeological reconnaissance, Base Mac: NTS Atlas
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RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL RESOURCES: 1983 A Class III Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of Drill Hole U19as, Pahute Mesa, Nye County, Nevada. Desert Research Institute Cultural Resources REconnaissance Short Report No. SR101783-1. 1985a A Class III Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of Drill Pad U19af. Desert Research Institute Cultural Resources REconnaissance Short 1985b A Class III Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of Drill Pad U19aq, Pahute Mesa, Nye County, Nevada. Desert Research Institute Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Short Report No. SR062185-1. 1982 Class III Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of a Drill PAd, Cableway, and Trailer Park for Drill Hole U19af. Desert Research Institute Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Short Report No. 1983 A Class III Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of Drill Hole U19j and a Power Line near Drill Hole U19ad on Pahute Mesa, Nye County, Nevada. Desert Research Institute Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Short Report No. SR042783-1. 1986 An Overview of Cultural Resources on Pahute and Rainier Mesas on the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. Desert Research Institute Social Sciences Center Technical Report No. 45.
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DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE Site Inventory Form Permanent Site Number: 26NY Temporary Site Number: S051288NC01 Area ID Number: 19 Hap: DEAD HORSE FLAT 7.5 Geographic Area: PAHUTE MESA Description: Site is an isolated chert Elko projectile point found on Pahute Mesa. Diagnostic Artifacts Present: Artifact Types Observed: Boundaries: Clear Collection Status: Complete Estimated Depth: Surface Excavation Status: None Location and Topography: Primary Substrate: Colluvium Desert Pavement: None Secondary Substrate: Alluvium Top, apex or head Edge or side Owner: Department of Energy
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DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE Site Inventory Form Project: CCT VAN Permanent Site Number: 26NY Temporary Site Number: S051288NC02 Hap: DEAD HORSE FLAT 7.5 UTM Zone 11 557460 E / 4122880 N Geographic Area: PAHUTE MESA Area ID Number: 19 Site Type: Locality/Lithic Scatter Description: Site is a locality of 19 flakes, 1 core, and 1 stage III biface fragment. Most flakes are from biface thinning. All artifacts are made of white welded tuff. The entire site and surrounding area has been bladed. Artifact Types Observed: Boundaries: Gradual Collection Status: None Estimated Depth: 0-20 cm Excavation Status: None Location and Topography: Primary Substrate: Colluvium Desert Pavement: None Secondary Substrate: Aeolian Top, apex or head Top, apex or head Edge or side Owner: Department of Energy
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Description of Division 1 Artifact Types Observed: Debitage: Area for Sample (square meters): 1885 Material Decort CR Shatt BF Thin Press - White Welded Tuff 3 3 - 12 Flaked Stone Artifact(s): Count Comments - Core i White Welded Tuff - Biface (Stage III) i White Welded Tuff COMMENTS: Most of the site is located in a 30 x 30 meter area. The area is heavily disturbed by a bladed road and bulldozing. The core is multidirectional with cortex present.