Abstract

Cultural resource reconnaissance was conducted on 3625 acres within a 4320 acre block area planned for oil and gas continued development. A total of 204 cultural localities have been recorded within the study block area, and other historic sites over 100 years old are known to occur here but have not been recorded. Prehistoric and presumably protohistoric sites contain tipi rings, walled lodges, rockpiles, rock cairns, possible graves, lithic artifacts (chipped stone, ground stone, incised stone), and cut tin can strips and discs. Anglo related historic sites appear to be related to early surveying, early herder activity, homesteading, and possibly later mineral claim and surveying activity. These sites include homesteads, homestead related trash dump and rock alignment, and various rockpiles and rock cairns. The area was intensively utilized, apparently for a variety of reasons, during a very long time. A couple of possible channel flakes and one possible paleoindian dart point suggest an early date of at least 10,000 years ago for initial occupation, although earlier materials could likely occur. Late Indian use is indicated by historic period cut tin can strips and discs. Anglo occupation dates back to at least 1882, and historic references indicate familiarity with the area at least back into the 1850's. This survey was conducted as a planning survey, and the significance or information potential of most sites have not been evaluated; no subsurface testing was conducted, and intensive mitigative type surface recording mostly was not done. Very little presently is known about the details of the prehistoric or early historic Indian occupation, either on a regional basis or for individual sites. Additional work is therefore recommended for almost all sites. These recommendations are in agreement with other early archeological work conducted throughout central Wyoming.