Mesa Verde Waterline Replacement Project Phase III Archeological & Historical Studies... United States Department of the Interior... 1999

429 Pages·1999·37.4 MB·English

by  Department of the Interior

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MESA VERDE WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT PHASE Il
ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL STUDIES
PAG JR
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Cay A twee, JoelM . Bieteten, Julie A. ell
( yothie| Williams Patria BR Pliwt lacey Stowe Laonungues
Diviwon of Research and Resource Managemen «Mess Verde National Part « Cotorado
2000-0059 38MF J
Dedication
This report is dedicated to the memory of Jack O Neak
Denver Service Center Chie! Inepector of the Mesa Veruk
Waterline Replacement Project. Phase HI lt was
ALL soure to work with one of the finest and the best
|

Abstract
The Mesa Verde Waterline Replacement Project Phase Il, 1992-1997,
provided an opportunity to investigate human land use and settlement pat-
terns through time in the Colorado Plateau region of southwest Colorado
A total of 4) ha was surveyed for cultural resources along the 63 km route
of the waterline across three different ecological zones lower montane
joothill, river valley Noor, and mesa top A total of 47 sites was discovered
during the construction of the waterline replacement and effects of con-
struction work were mitigated on 45 sites by testing and excavation Over-
all the cultural resources discovered ranged in time from the late Archaic
Period (ca. 1000 B.C -ca. 300 BC _) through the Anasazi occupation (A.D
|- 1300) through the Euro-American histone period (A.D. 1600-1950) The
sites reflected a wide range of land use including small campsite fire pits,
pottery firing kilns, mountain resource procurement sites, prehistoric hort-
cultural habitation sites, historic homesteads, camps, trails, historic rail-
roads, and federal park development
One of the most significant contributions to our understanding of the past
was through the excavation and analysis of nine Anasaz: pottery firing kilns
at seven sites on Chapin Mesa within Mesa Verde National Park The kilns
were among the first Pueblo Il trench kilns excavated in the Mesa Verde
Region The stratigraphic deposits indicated a four stage firing process for
Anasazi pottery and the fuel used in the firing was identified as primarily
pinyon and juniper

Acknowledgements
Thanks are in order to the many individuals who, in Anasazi Heritage Center, Victoria Atkins, Susan
one Way oF another, made a contribution to the comple Thomas, Carolyn Landes, Tom Vaughn, Frances
Hon of this project Durocher, Kathy herencevieh
NPS Rovky Mountain Region Adrienne Anderon Doug Scott, Steve
Domingues, Denny Danielson
NPS Superintendents: Robert Heyder, Terry Gers,
Private Landowner. Bob and Thelma Bement, Russell
Larry Wiese
and Ann Hindmarsh, Stanley and Mary Hindmarsh
Mesa Verde Division of Research and Resource
Management; Jack Smith, Gary Matlock, Steve Companies, Empire Electric, who let us use the
“Cherry Picker” to take photos of site SMT 10594
Chomko, Linda Towle, Kathy Fiero, Margie Pruitt,
Anita Vialpando, Elizabeth Bauer, Steve Budd-Jack.
Mesa Verde Waterline Archeologists, Gay Ives, Earl
Mary Griffitts, Marilyn Colyer, Pat Oppelt, Mark
Mead, Joe! Brisbin, Greg Fox, Janet Weeth, Dana
Johannsen, Raymond Begay, Willie Begay, Kee Char
Robinson, Bill Matthews, Karl Schaffenburg. Julie
ley John, Gene Trujillo
Bell, Cynthia Williams, Bill Dale
Mesa Verde PVirsiottore ction, Howard Dimont,
MWesaa tVerede rlinEdeito rs: Marjane Ambler,
Denise Fuller, Kelley Shepherd, Ev Whitehead, Jim
Patricia Flint-Lacey
Cutler
WashingD.tC.o NnPS . Katie Ryan
MIensat eVrerpder etation. Don Fiero, Linda Martin,
John Kenoyer. Aaron Kay, Art Hutchinson, Mona With special thanks to Mallory Hope Ferrell for kind
Hutchinson permission to reproduce his Rio Grand Southern Rail-
road Map
Mesa Verde Administration, Jack Muller, Dixie
Sparks, Brenda Tupec. Beverly Cunningham, Manlynn Thanks also to the 1997 Hovenweep Artist in Resi
Heath dence, Deborah L. Kelley, for illusttrhea litthiicn tgool s
and bone gaming piece included in this report.
MMeasai Vnetrdee nance. Bob Bangs. Ron Mallory.
Gerald Lange. Pat Treacy. James Perry, Terry Wiermer. Thanks to those reviewers who made substantivaen d
Harold Welty editorial comments on the 1997 draft report: Kristie
Arrington, Crow Canyon Archaeological Center,
BLM. Kristie Arrington, Katherine Bulinski, Leon
Frances Durocher, Mark Varien, Kathy Fiero, Carol
Lujan, Sally Wisely, Mark Hollis
Gleichman, Linda Honeycutt, Jerry Fetterman

(Contents
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH DESIGN 0. ccmmmmmmmnnnnnnnnernnnnnes
Project Study Area
Culture History
Research Design
Site Typology
Investigative Strategies
Summary
CHAPTER 2
OVERVIEW OF THE MESA VERDE WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ......... scceccee OE
Introduction i
Summary of the Water Supply History (1 888-1979) 12
The Waterline Replacement Project (1979-1995) 23
Management Organization for Phase III 26
Summary 28
CHAPTER 3
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT
Colorado Plateau
CHAPTER 4
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW oo 9
Introduction ............ ”
Historic Context: Ute and Euro-Amencan Contact | W
Histonc Context: Spanish Exploration 4)
Historic Context: The Fur Trade and American Exploration .. news i 42
Historic Context: The Early Gold Rush 43
Historic Context: The Railroads 44
Historic Context. Ranching, Farming. Water, and Irrigation 44
Historic Context: Federal Activity: Development of Mesa Verde National Park 46
Historic Context: The Establishment of Early National Park Service (NPS) Administrative Facilities in
Mesa Verde National Park, 1921-193) 53
vil
Historic Content: Depression- Era Development at Mesa Verde National Park, 1951-1942 57
Description of Historie Districts and Sites Impacted by the Waterline Replacement Project within
Mesa Verde National Park w
Effects of the Waterline Replacement Project upon Historic Structures and Features in Mesa Verde
National Park OA
Summary and Conclusions of Mesa Verde Waterline Replacement Project Histoncal Overview 66
CHAPTER 5
CULTURAL RESOURCE BASE: ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY ...cccccccccccceeceeennennnnnnns veveeveee OF
Introduction 67
Preconstruction Surveys 68
Chapter 5 Section | Mancos Segment 69
Chapter 5 Section 2) Montezuma Valley Segment 78
Chapter 5 Section 3: Mesa Verde National Park Segment: Park Entrance, Morefield Campground,
Navajo Hill-Far View, and Chapin Mesa 102
Summary of the Mesa Verde Waterline Replacement Project Cultural Resource Data Base 121
CHAPTER 6
MANCOS VALLEY SEGMENT TESTING AND EXCAVATION: SITES 5MT10969, SMT4035,
FRET BATS, FRET UAT SR, FRAT ERTS ccccccccecccccscescvececcccvecosccescnsceeocecssoossocsoonsossoosssccsecees ccecscrcscnscce MSD
Introduction 123
Mancos Valley Segment Physiographic Setting 123
Site SMT 10969: Historic Homestead 123
Site SMT4035° Rio Grande Southern Narrow Guage Railroad Grade 134
Prehistoric Upland Procurement Camp Sites SMT11731, SMT11732 & SMT11733 1%
Site SMT11731 137
Site SMT11732 14]
Site SMT11733 1S
Sumamnd aComprariyson of Sites SMT11731, SMT11732, SMT11733 uw 16
Summary of Mancos Segment Testing and Mitigation . 19
CHAPTER?
MONTEZUMA VALLEY SEGMENT TESTING AND EXCAVATION:
SITES SMT 10834, SMT11706, SMT11728, SMT11729, SMT 10595 ............ , 161
Introduction cose GE
Site SMT 10834, Basketmaker III Habitation ao 161
Site SMT11706, Pueblo Il Habitation ———~
Site SMT11728, Anasazi Jacal Structure —
Site SMT11729, Oxidized Pit Feature , 175
Site SMT 10595, Pueblo Il Multicomponent Habitation , ) —
Montezuma Valley Segment Testing and Excavations Summary ——————
CHAPTERS
MONTEZUMA VALLEY SEGMENT EXCAVATION AT SITE S5MT10594 - 191
Introduction : 191
Methodology 191
Architectural and Feature Descriptions of Component | at Site SMT10594, Basketmaker III/Pueblo I
vill
Occupation 92
Architectural and Feature Deseriptions of Component 2 at Site SMT 10594, Pueblo TH Occupation 229
Interpretation and Conclusions on Site SMT 105904 231
Summary of Site SMT10S94 Ww
CHAPTER ®
MONTEZUMA VALLEY SEGMENT TESTING AND EXCAVATION:
SITES SMT 11451, SMT 11452, SMT11667, SMT 11668, SMT1L709, AND SMTLETIO......c0. 24
Introduction 24)
Site SMT11451 (Pueblo | Rubble, Basin Feature, Lith and Ceramic Scatter) 24)
Site SMT11452 (Pueblo II Lithie and Ceramic Scatter) 245
Site SMT1 1667 (Basketmaker I1/Pueblo Il Rubble Mound and Artifact Scatter) 247
Site SMT11668 (Basketmaker III Feature and Artifact Scatter) 254
Site SMT11709 (Basketmaker III/Pueblo I Artifact Scatter) 289
Site SMT11710 (Hearth and Fire Cracked Rock) aed)
Montezuma Valley Segment Testing and Excavation Summary 262
CHAPTER 10
MESA VERDE SEGMENT TESTING AND EXCAVATION; SITES SMV 3970, SMV 3987,
SMV 3971, SMV 3978, SMV 3942, SMV 3962, SMV 3963, SMV 3964, SMV3965, SMV 3966,
SMV 3973. rovcccccecsesoeoesoesoecsosessoocsoocsesesesesocossoocneoees 268
Site SMV 1970 (Hearth) 265
Site SMV 3987 (Slab Lined Hearth) 266
Site SMV 397) (Bell Shaped Pit) 267
Site SMV 3978 (Prehistoric Burial) 267
Site SMV 3942 (Prehistoric and Historic Check Dams) — 268
Site SMV 3962 (SprucTere e Maintenance Yard) ..... we , 270
Site SMV 3963 (Deep Water Well) ........... - AURAL 272
Site SMV 3964 (Chapin Mesa Water Catchment and Storage System) ~— , —
Site SMV 3965 ( Spring Water Storage Tank).................... , : 276
Site SMV 3966 Feat2u (Hirsteori c Trash Pit)........ 277
Site SMV 3973 (Utility Trenches) ......... 278
Other Histone Features Affected On Chapin Mesa 279
Summary and Conclusions Mesa Verde Segment Testing and Excavation ... 280
CHAPTER ll
MESA VERDE SEGMENT POTTERY FIRING KILNS 281
Historyo f Kiln Research. sonantenssectetmnanneneeneemmeemmneennmnemee
STII uncaresnenenemineeneenennneerenemmnmnennnennrene meneennnete : .. 288
aE icsrressenseneucteveneeunestnntenmnnnseminennnenens PeRRAaNRNREANNENRNNRNT: 290
a . : a | paneedimmmene . 292
Site SMV 3945, The EABORTY IAB ...0:0ccccccceeeseeee - en meneame 295
Site SMV 3982, Jack Mueller Kiln. a a mmeee 296
Summary of the Chapin Mesa Kiln Sites C onstruction and Stratigraphy - . 297
Temporal Placeofm tehe nChtapi n Mesa Kilns .............. a
Ceramic Material Culture Assemblage Characteristics at Chapin Mesa Kilns. , —_— .. W2
Lithic Material Culture at Chapin Mesa Kilns ............ aoe | , Mad