The Dirt on Archaeology

This fall I have been busy with the inventory of special collections, working on NAGPRA compliance issues, and continuing field investigations of Barrier Canyon and Fremont sites on the San Rafael Swell. Our new archaeology collections volunteer is Yvonne Wilson, and she is helping with cataloging and inventory.

I have given talks about the archaeology of Range Creek to archaeological societies in Durango and Cortez, Colorado, and am presenting the results of the Range Creek Archaeological Project and OSL flute dates at the Great Basin Anthropological Conference.

Lithic Sources on the Swell

In the field, I am finding a lot of natural cherts and chalcedony occurring in the Morrison and Summerville Formations, overlying Navajo Sandstone along the edge of the reef. Archaeological sites are found wherever the materials are exposed, and it looks like the Native peoples that inhabited the Swell during the Archaic and Formative periods used these areas as quarries for material to make their projectiles, hammerstones, knives, scrapers, and other tools.

Barrier Canyon Style Project/Backpacking the Swell

I spent several days camping and recording archaeological sites with the BCS group: Rock Art Specialist David Sucec, USU artist/photographer Craig Law, Virginia Art Professor Jim Farmer, and guide Morris Wolf. We hiked in several miles and set up a camp, then hiked about 4 to 7 miles per day from camp to find the rock art panels and other sites. These scholars and authors of "Sacred Images" have probably seen and documented more Barrier Canyon Style rock art sites than anyone, and it is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with them. Even the arguments are quite informative. I have been "schooled" about the difference between Barrier Canyon, "classic" Fremont, and mixed styles, and am still learning. It is like a Prehistoric Art History course.

UVU Honors Archaeology Interns

Allen Hill, the Honors Program Coordinator with Utah Valley University, returned with a group of 16 students this fall to help record rock art on the Swell. Camp aids Ali and Dylan Dastrup quickly set up camp at the edge of the San Rafael Reef, and we hiked in to record Archaic lithics and Barrier Canyon Style pictographs in the Old Woman area of the Swell. The hike was long, and everybody helped pack in water, food and equipment. The students spent hours measuring, drawing, photographing and filling out IMACS forms for the rock art panels. The interns were awesome, and found lots of additional rock art and lithic artifacts at the site, as well as several projectile points, including an Elko point! The days were hot, the food was great, and I really enjoyed spending time with this crew.

Nine Mile Canyon Stewardship

The Nine Mile Canyon Site Stewardship began, and we spent several days in the classroom and on site training with Price Field Office archaeologist Blaine Miller. The archaeology in the canyon is fantastic! Look for more opportunities to volunteer for Site Stewardship training and help us with the documentation of these amazing sites.