An Archaeological Survey of Selected Tracts in the Pawnee Buttes Region, Weld County, Colorado by Kevin D. Black Principal Investigator with a contribution by Aaron V. A. Theis for the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners Eaton, Colorado Sponsored by History Colorado Office of the State Archaeologist of Colorado Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification Denver, Colorado Colorado State Permits #2012–50, 2013–16, 2014–10 May 2017 Abstract During the 2012–2014 field seasons, an archaeological survey was conducted in dispersed portions of northeastern Colorado as part of the training available in the Program for Avocational Archaeological Certification (PAAC). The project thus depended heavily on the efforts of volunteers, most of whom are members of the Colorado Archaeological Society (CAS) already enrolled in PAAC, supervised and trained by the Assistant State Archaeologist from History Colorado. The inventory was completed on just under 1,500 acres of state trust lands in four separate tracts in the vicinity of the Pawnee Buttes in northern Weld County, Colorado. These four parcels cover a range of open grassland settings along four different drainages: Geary Creek, North Pawnee Creek, South Pawnee Creek, and Wild Horse Creek, all at elevations of 1,450–1,634 m (4,765–5,360 feet). This area was intensively surveyed in part to train the 46 PAAC volunteers in archaeological inventory and mapping methods, but also to gather data on the archaeological record of state-owned lands adjacent to Pawnee National Grasslands properties in a part of Weld County witnessing intensive oil and gas development in recent years. As a result of the survey a total of 52 sites and 77 isolated finds (IFs) were recorded for the first time, and one other previously documented site was formally re- recorded. Both American Indian and non-Indian resources are well-represented in that total. Historic period non-Indian sites comprise a mix of artifact scatters, concentrated trash dumps, and domestic sites primarily related to ranching and farming, especially in the 1910–1935 period. The somewhat more common prehistoric sites are mainly open lithic scatters lacking diagnostic tools, but a majority of those containing diagnostics (solely projectile points; ceramics are absent) date to the Early Ceramic period. Limited evidence for more ancient Archaic and more recent Middle Ceramic period activity was found. Features on project area sites are not common but include artifact concentrations, ground depressions, and a few fire- cracked rock (FCR) concentrations. No spaced stone enclosures (“tipi rings”) were encountered, although many such sites are known from the wider region. Burial of archaeological materials is most likely to occur in alluvial deposits along the courses of the four main streams and their larger tributaries. However, sites on the rolling plains and hills above the drainages may also contain some shallow buried remains. Overall, human occupation of the project area has been less intense than in some nearby prairie settings, for a variety of factors. Still, four sites have been evaluated eligible for the National Register of Historic Places based solely on surface evidence, and 13 others are potentially eligible pending the availability of additional information such as from test excavations. ii Table of Contents Page # Abstract ................................................................................................................................... ii Management Information Form ........................................................................................ v List of Figures ....................................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ xii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ xiii Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 Effective Environment......................................................................................................... 6 Physiography and Topography .................................................................................. 6 Geology and Geoarchaeology .................................................................................... 9 Soils and Vegetation................................................................................................... 11 Fauna ............................................................................................................................ 14 Climate .......................................................................................................................... 15 Environmental Constraints ...................................................................................... 17 Existing Data and Literature Review ............................................................................... 18 PBS Land Records ..................................................................................................... 27 Statement of Objectives ..................................................................................................... 32 Methods................................................................................................................................. 34 Results.................................................................................................................................... 38 The Sites ....................................................................................................................... 38 South Pawnee Creek Parcel .......................................................................... 38 Wild Horse Creek Parcel ............................................................................... 54 North Pawnee Creek Parcel ......................................................................... 63 Geary Creek Parcel ......................................................................................... 70 iii The Isolated Finds...................................................................................................... 78 South Pawnee Creek Parcel .......................................................................... 79 Wild Horse Creek Parcel ............................................................................... 85 North Pawnee Creek Parcel ......................................................................... 90 Geary Creek Parcel ......................................................................................... 93 Observations on the PBS Data .............................................................................. 100 Chronology and Cultural Affiliation ......................................................... 100 Site Types and Features ............................................................................... 103 Settlement Patterns ...................................................................................... 110 Material Culture ............................................................................................ 112 Evaluations and Recommendations .............................................................................. 120 Summary and Conclusions .............................................................................................. 123 References Cited ................................................................................................................ 127 Appendix I, Project Data Tables .................................................................................... 141 Appendix II, Modeling Prehistoric Settlement .......................... [under separate cover] Appendix III, OAHP Site and IF Forms ................................... [under separate cover] Appendix IV, Project Area Maps ................................................. [under separate cover] iv History Colorado-Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation COLORADO CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY Cultural Resource Survey Management Information Form I. PROJECT SIZE Total federal acres in project 0 Total federal acres surveyed 0 Total state acres in project 2,762.9 Total state acres surveyed 1,495.8 Total private acres in project 0 Total private acres surveyed 0 Total other acres in project 0 Total other acres surveyed 0 II. PROJECT LOCATION County: Weld USGS Quad Maps: Buckingham, Grover SE, Hereford SE, Raymer NW, Reno Reservoir (all 1997) Principal Meridian: 6th Township 8N Range 59W Section 36 SE ¼ & SW ¼ & NW ¼ ¼ Township 10N Range 59W Section 16 SE ¼ & SW ¼ & NW ¼ & NE ¼ Township 10N Range 60W Section 36 SE ¼ & NE ¼ & NW ¼ ¼ Township 10N Range 63W Section 14 SW ¼ of SW ¼ ¼ ¼ Township 10N Range 63W Section 15 NE ¼ of NE ¼ & SE ¼ of SE ¼ Township 10N Range 63W Section 23 SE ¼ & NE ¼ & NW ¼ & SW ¼ Township 10N Range 63W Section 26 NE ¼ of NE ¼ ¼ ¼ Township 10N Range 63W Section 36 NE ¼ of SE ¼ & SE ¼ of SE ¼ III. SITES Resource Type Eligibility Management Recommendations ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' s to Smithsonian Number Test Work Avoid Other Historic Eligible Monitor Archival Archival Unknown Prehistoric a District Excavate Research Preserve / / Preserve NeedData NoFurther NotEligible Paleontological Contribute ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 5WL1239 × × × × × 5WL7174 × × × × 5WL7175 × ' ' ' ' × ' ' × ' ' ' ' ' ' 5WL7176 × ×