A Cultural Resource Inventory of 247 acres of the Old Fort Lewis, La Plata County, Colorado

By Mona C. Charles James Gustine Danielle Sheptow Alexis Schank

Department of Anthropology and Office of Community Services Fort Lewis College 1000 Rim Drive Durango, CO 81301

Report Prepared for the State Historic Fund SHF 2007-02-019 Deliverable 3 Denver, CO

September 2008

Abstract

A cultural resource inventory of 247 acres surrounding and including the Old Fort Lewis Complex near Hesperus, Colorado, was undertaken by the Anthropology Department at Fort Lewis College. The archaeological inventory was but one component of a larger State Historical Fund grant awarded to the Office of Community Services, at Fort Lewis College. The goal of the project is to establish a multi-year program to protect the historic and archaeological resources at the Old Fort Complex while accommodating the existing use of the facility. The other components of the assessment and preservation plan include a historic buildings survey of standing architecture and a structure conditions assessment of the buildings. As a result of the cultural resource inventory, 21 newly recorded archaeological sites were identified, 14 isolated finds were recorded, and a single site 5LP1968 was reevaluated. One prehistoric site was recorded and the remaining sites are historic. The dominant historic site type is general artifact scatters. The sites are related to the use of Fort Lewis from its incipient occupation in 1881 as a military outpost through its tenure as a junior college until the college moved to its present location in Durango in 1956. The 21 newly recorded sites are recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A of the National Register of Historic Places. Each site is also evaluated individually for potential nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The 14 isolated finds are not recommended as eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic places. The Old Fort Lewis Complex, which includes both the educational and military facilities, is assigned one site number-Smithsonian number 5LP1968. Twenty-eight features were recorded within the Complex. These include building foundations, side-walks, artifact scatters, ski-lift, skating pond, rodeo grounds, entrance gates, and a retaining wall.

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Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1

Culture History ...... 3 Prehistoric ...... 3 Protohistoric ...... 7 Historic ...... 7

Literature Review ...... 8

Methods ...... 9

Results ...... 11

Conclusions and Management Recommendations ...... 73

References Cited ...... 77

Appendix I Feature Msps, 5LP1968

Appendix II Site Forms

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List of Figures

Figure 1. General location of the Old Fort Lewis archaeological inventory ...... 2

Figure 2. Cultural resources documented for the Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey 12

Figure 3. Site 5LP1968, Educational Complex, Old Fort Lewis ...... 13

Figure 4. Conversion of survey data to the GIS Geodatabase ...... 20

Figure 5. Southern entrance gates (Feature 1) looking north at 5LP1968 ...... 21

Figure 6. Portion of sidewalk on the main campus (Feature 4) at 5LP1968 ...... 22

Figure 7. Portion of the old ski lift (Feature 5) at 5LP1968 ...... 23

Figure 8. Foundation of Feature 8 at 5LP1968 (old carriage house in background) . . . 24

Figure 9. Grass outline of foundation of Feature 9 at 5LP1968 ...... 24

Figure 10. Unknown foundation of Feature 12 at 5LP1968 ...... 25

Figure 11. Feature 13, experimental farm at 5LP1968 ...... 26

Figure 12. Feature 18, former faculty residence at 5LP1968 ...... 28

Figure 13. Foundation attached to a sidewalk (Feature 19) at 5LP1968 ...... 28

Figure 14. Headgate of the H & H Ditch (Feature 1) ...... 31

Figure 15. Plan map of Feature 1, site 5LP8426.1 ...... 32

Figure 16. Headgate for the H & H Ditch (Feature 2) ...... 33

Figure 17. Recording Station for the H & H Ditch (Feature 3) ...... 33

Figure 18. View of 5LP8427 looking east ...... 34

Figure 19. Plan map of 5LP8427 ...... 35

Figure 20. View of 5LP8428 ...... 36

Figure 21. Plan map of 5LP8428 ...... 37

Figure 22. View of 5LP8429 ...... 38

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Figure 23. Plan map of 5LP8429 ...... 39

Figure 24. View of 5LP8430 ...... 40

Figure 25. Plan map of 5LP8430 ...... 41

Figure 26. Site overview of 5LP8431 ...... 42

Figure 27. Plan map of Locus A at site 5LP8431 ...... 43

Figure 28. Overview of 5LP8432 ...... 44

Figure 29. Plan map of 5LP8432 ...... 45

Figure 30. View of 5LP8433 ...... 46

Figure 31. Plan map of 5LP8433 ...... 47

Figure 32. View of rock-lined features (graves?) at 5LP8434 ...... 49

Figure 33. View of depression features (graves?) at 5LP8434 ...... 49

Figure 34. Plan map of old cemetery, site 5LP8434 ...... 50

Figure 35. Overview of the main dump area, 5LP8435...... 51

Figure 36. Plan map of 5LP8435 with Features A through D ...... 52

Figure 37. Wooden structure (Feature 1) at 5LP8436 ...... 53

Figure 38. Plan map of 5LP8436 ...... 54

Figure 39. Site overview of 5LP8437 ...... 55

Figure 40. Plan map of 5LP8437 ...... 56

Figure 41. View of 5LP8438, looking north toward Red Mesa Power Station ...... 57

Figure 42. Plan map of 5LP8438 ...... 58

Figure 43. View of 5LP8439 ...... 59

Figure 44. Plan map of 5LP8439 ...... 60

Figure 45. View of 5LP8440 ...... 61

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Figure 46. Plan map of 5LP8440 ...... 62

Figure 47. Concrete and cobble feature at 5LP8441 ...... 63

Figure 48. Plan map of rock and concrete feature, 5LP8441 ...... 64

Figure 49. Site overview of 5LP8442 from the east ...... 65

Figure 50. Plan map of 5LP8442 ...... 66

Figure 51. Overview of broken down plow at site 5LP8443 ...... 67

Figure 52. Plan map of 5LP8443 ...... 68

Figure 53. Lory Spring gate, site 5LP8444 ...... 69

Figure 54. Plan map of headgate at Lory Spring site 5LP8444 ...... 70

Figure 55. Site overview of 5LP8445 looking southwest ...... 71

Figure 56. Plan map of 5LP8445 ...... 72

Figure 57. Overview of target staging area at site 5LP8446 ...... 73

Figure 58. Plan map of 5LP8446 ...... 74

List of Tables

Table 1. Cultural Resources documented, Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey . . . . . 14

Table 2. Collected Artifacts from the Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey...... 17

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1.0 Introduction

A cultural resource inventory around and including the Old Fort Lewis complex was conducted in May through July of 2007 as part of State Historical Fund grant 2007-02-019 awarded to the Office of Community Services (OCS) at Fort Lewis College (FLC). The first documented use of the Old Fort Lewis in Hesperus, Colorado was as a U.S. military post. In August of 1880 the original Fort Lewis in Pagosa Springs moved to the Hesperus location where it was active until it was decommissioned in 1891. At this time, the land and the buildings were transferred to the Secretary of Interior to be used as an Indian boarding school. The boarding school operated until 1911. Declining enrollment in boarding schools in general along with the construction of schools on the reservations brought a close to the period of Indian boarding schools. Many of the buildings constructed by the military were reused during the boarding school tenure while others were demolished. New buildings were constructed to accommodate the boarding school staff and students. In January 1911, the boarding school closed and the 6318-acre military reservation and infrastructure were transferred to the state of Colorado where it was converted to a rural high school. In 1927, college courses were added to the high school curriculum and it became a two-year college in 1933. The two-year college was housed at the Old Fort Lewis until 1956 when it moved to its present location in Durango. Throughout this time, many new buildings were added and a few older ones were destroyed or remodeled. Today the campus houses Colorado State University’s San Juan Basin Research Center (SUBRC), one of ten experimental stations in the state. Other uses of the campus include hands-on teaching by the biology and physics departments at Fort Lewis College and general use of the campus by members of the community at large. The Mesa Verde Interagency Helitak fire crew and the San Juan Hot Shots used the property for office space, living quarters, and training grounds.

Prior to the military’s presence, this part of the La Plata Valley was used extensively during prehistoric and protohistoric times. Archaic, Basketmaker, and Puebloan sites are found on the terraces and mesas above the La Plata River. Previous archaeological work shows that the heaviest prehistoric occupation was in the lower reaches of the river near its confluence with the San Juan River during the Pueblo II and Pueblo III periods. Earlier, the Basketmaker and Pueblo I people preferred the higher elevations of the upper La Plata River where a series of stepped terraces with deep, well-drained soils, adequate water supplies, land for crops, and plenty of fuel and construction materials were readily available and inviting. The Ute and Navajo camped in the valley and their sites, although much less visible than the earlier settlers, are present in the form of lithic and ceramic scatters and scarred Ponderosa pine trees. It is even rumored that early Spanish explorers passed through the valley very near the site of the Old Fort Lewis.

Given this long history of use, reuse, and abandonment it was anticipated that the 247 acre survey area surrounding and including Old Fort Lewis would yield a high number of sites most of which would relate to the historic occupation. Additionally, it was predicted that a number of prehistoric sites would be encountered on the terraces above the river.

The survey area includes land on either side of the La Plata River on the floodplain, the T1 terrace, and some areas on the T2 terrace (Figure 1). A somewhat arbitrary polygon encompassing approximately 247 acres is designated as a local historical district (Francis 2006).

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2.0 Culture History Prehistoric The prehistory of this project falls within the broader prehistory of the Colorado Plateau and adjacent cultural regions including the Greater Southwest and the Great Basin. The earliest Paleo Indian presence is from groups described by Pitblado (1993) as a Foothills/Mountain adaptation. A study of projectile points from the San Juan National Forest (SJNF) north of the Old Fort Lewis site suggests that resident populations possessed a material culture inventory that evidenced the influences of both Great Basin and Oshara complexes (Charles 1998). Black (1991) argues for an in situ origin for the mountains of Colorado, which he names the Mountain Tradition. Regardless of the specific origins, Native American occupation and utilization of the project area began with the end of the last glacial retreat about 13,000 years ago and continued until the late 1800s with the arrival of the large numbers of EuroAmericans.

Paleo Indian The earliest definitive human occupation in North America is referred to as the Paleo Indian period (9500-6000 BC). Seasonal occupation, a subsistence economy of large game hunting, gathering wild plants, and a distinctive flaking technology define this period. There is little evidence of Paleo Indian occupation in the project area, although projectile point fragments of Paleo Indian points are reported from the nearby SJNF (Charles 1998; Charles and Curtis 1997; Pitbaldo 1993; York 1991). Bonnie Pitblado (1993) analyzed 166 projectile points from 110 locations in both public and private collections from 13 counties in Western and Southwest Colorado. She concluded that Paleo Indian occupation in southwest Colorado developed from resident Foothills-Mountain adapted groups, who practiced a generalized subsistence strategy, as opposed to the specialized big-game hunters of the Plains. Unfortunately, the Paleo Indian period is inconclusive in the archaeological record for the immediate area around the Old Fort Lewis, and it can only be assumed that the paucity of Paleo Indian artifacts from the area reflects, among other things, a sampling bias. Perhaps further work will lend insight into this little known period in Southwestern Colorado.

Archaic The next major period of human occupation is referred to as the Archaic period (6000 BC – 500 BC). The Archaic period is separated into three sub-periods: early, middle, and late. The Archaic economy was chiefly based on hunting and gathering. Archaic hunters relied on a diverse flaked-lithic tool kit, increased social organization and seasonal sedentism. The Archaic period is known for an increase in population as well as overall population dispersion. The Archaic period is well represented from Ridges Basin, near the present study area, with temporary hunting and gathering sites, as well as seasonal habitation sites (Charles 1992; Nickens and Chandler 1981; Smiley 1995, Winters et al. 1986) and in the San Juan Mountains to the north (Charles 1998, Duke 1998, Hibbets and Wharton 1980) where it has been suggested that projectile point types loosely reflect Oshara typologies (Charles 1998). In the nearby Durango area, terminal dates for the Archaic period occur around 300 - 500 BC (Charles 2000; Smiley 1995).

The three periods are not equally represented in the area or in the nearby San Juan Mountains. Instead, there is a relatively small number of sites that are attributed to the Early Archaic Period. Presently, there are very few Early Archaic sites recorded in the area.

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Beginning with the Middle Archaic Period, there is a substantial increase of sites over that of the Early Archaic. Most of the diagnostic projectile points assigned to the Middle Archaic most closely resemble the Bajada points of the Oshara Tradition to the south and large side-notched varieties (Sudden Side-Notched and San Rafael Side-Notched) from the Great Basin (Charles 1998). It has been speculated by many (Benedict) that the increase in Middle Archaic sites from the mountains and higher elevations coincides with the Altithermal (Antevs 1955), a period of warmer temperatures and less effective moisture on the surrounding lower elevations. The Late Archaic Period in the area is perhaps the least well understood of any of the three, particularly because of the confusion surrounding the terminal Archaic/Basketmaker II transition. Irwin-William (1973) introduced the En Medio phase (800 BC to AD 400) of the Oshara Tradition to include the Late Archaic. It is certainly the case that many projectile points from the immediate area resemble the En Medio types. However, if one considers a date of circa 300 to 500 BC for the emergence of the Baskemaker Tradition, then many sites previously considered to be Late Archaic could be reassigned to the Basketmaker II period. There are sites that lack evidence for cultigens but date to the period under discussion (Fuller 1988) in the immediate area.

Basketmaker II (BM II) The project area witnessed a major transitional development known as the Basketmaker II period, beginning perhaps as early as 500 BC but no later than 300 BC and extending through AD 450. This period is significant in the prehistory of the Southwest (Matson 1991) and specifically in the Upper San Juan Drainage (including the Pine, Piedra, Animas, La Plata, and San Juan Rivers and their tributaries), which includes the project area. Sites around Durango specifically represent the largest settlements of Basketmaker II thus far known for Southwest Colorado. Other nearby areas of concentrated Basketmaker II sites include the Navajo Reservoir (Charles, Hovezak and Sesler 2006; Sesler and Hovezak 2006; Eddy 1966), less than 30 miles from Durango. Scattered Basketmaker II habitation sites were excavated in the La Plata River Valley (Reed and Horn 1988; Brown 1991) and in the Dolores River Valley (Gross 1988). This period is defined by use of domesticated crops for subsistence (namely corn, and squash), which may have led to permanent, year-round settlements. If the sites were not occupied year-round, they were at least occupied for longer periods of time than the preceding Archaic habitations.

The Basketmaker II period is viewed as a developmental phase in southwest agriculture from mobile hunters and gatherers of the Archaic period to sedentary farmers of later Basketmaker and Puebloan periods. The transition from forager to farmer in the American Southwest assumes a pivotal role in understanding the American agricultural system, and in the Durango area, this transition is visible at sites such as Talus Village (Morris and Burgh 1954), the Darkmold Site (Charles 2000), and the Falls Creek Shelters (Morris and Burgh 1954).

The Basketmaker II of the Durango area was first identified by Zeke Flora and Earl Morris in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The work by Morris (Morris and Burgh 1954) resulted in bringing to the discipline a more comprehensive view of Basketmaker II culture than was available from the works of Kidder and Guernsey (Kidder and Guernsey 1919; Guernsey and Kidder 1921). Up to this time, Basketmaker II sites were mostly represented by cave sites in southwestern Utah (Grand Gulch) and northeastern Arizona (Atkins 1993; Blackburn and Williamson 1997). The presence of habitation structures at the open site of TalusVillage and the

4 along with those from the Falls Creek Shelters suggested that habitation was either year-round or at least semi-permanent indicating a greater subsistence upon cultigens that previously thought.

Morris and Burgh (1954) recognize differences between the Durango Basketmaker II and those to the west in Utah and Arizona. These distinctions involve architecture, landscape position, and artifact styles. Nevertheless, Morris and Burgh defend general cultural associations by demonstrating that eastern and western groups possess 70% shared traits. Matson (1991) recognizes the distinctions first identified by Morris and Burgh (1954) and notes that distinctive differences in material culture and symbolic markers associated with architecture, projectile point morphology, basketry, cordage, and rock art are sufficient to consider these two groups as different but related traditions. More recently, Florence Lister (1997) reports early radiocarbon dates for corn at the Falls Creek Shelters and notes the possibility of a relationship with Archaic hunter-gatherers of the Uncompahgre Complex (Wormington and Lister 1956; Buckles 1971). Charles and Cole (2006) believe that the Basketmaker II all across the American Southwest are typical of a large population with individual differences that reflect their Archaic origins rather than representing distinctively different ―ethnic‖ groups.

Basketmaker III (BMIII) Around AD 450, the area witnessed the end of the Basketmaker II period, which was accompanied by an overall decrease in population that minimally lasted until AD 650 and probably more like AD 700 to 750. The main cause for this drop in population has been interpreted as climatic. It is generally accepted that pottery was introduced during this period, although there is increasingly convincing evidence that pottery may have been introduced a bit earlier during the Basketmaker II period (Wilson and Blinman 1993; Hovezak 2001). Two sherds were found in the fill of a Basketmaker II burial from the Darkmold Site (Charles 2000). Charcoal from this fill was dated to 1,78050 years BP (AD 120-390). Basketmaker III pottery was either plain gray wares (Rosa Gray), lead-based glaze wares (Rosa Black-on-White), or plain brownwares (Sambrito Brown). It is generally held that the bow-and-arrow replaced the atlatl during this time period (see Reed and Kainer 1978 for an opposing argument). Pit structures became larger and deeper for the most part, with more complex entryways and antechambers. This period is known as the Basketmaker III period (AD 450-AD 700).

While there are Basketmaker III sites from the La Plata River valley, most of these are further downstream and closer to the confluence of with the San Juan River. The Basketmaker III occupation of the Animas Valley is equally scarce from the upper reaches. There are, however, a few sites from the general area that date to the Basketmaker III period and certainly as one travels west and south this occupational period becomes much better represented (Wilshusen 1999 b, c). The lack of well-dated sites has led to an inability to separate the defining qualities of Basketmaker III from Pueblo I periods in the Durango area. This confusion has resulted in the commonly accepted term Basketmaker III Pueblo I transitional period to categorize most sites in this area. Lastly, not disregarding the above, there appears to have been a valid hiatus at this time. Although, recent work by Curtis (1998) suggests the Durango area was not entirely abandoned at this time, the archaeological evidence indicates that the area most certainly witnessed a major period of reduced population if not abandonment.

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Basketmaker III (BMIII) Pueblo I (PI) Transitional and Pueblo I

The most visible occupational period represented in the area occurs between about AD 725 and AD 800. (Charles 1994; Charles and Schriever 1999; Duke 1985; Fuller 1988; Gooding 1980; Gregg et al. 1995; Hibbets 1976; Wilshusen 1999 c; Winter et al. 1986). We have chosen to lump Basketmaker III/Pueblo I Transitional with Pueblo I because it is becoming ever more obvious that sites originally referred to as BMIII/PI Transitional should be singularly designated as Pueblo I period sites based on architecture, social integration, and chronology. This period is defined by aggregation into larger village communities consisting of two or more pit structures and increased surface structures most likely used for storage. This period of aggregation is believed by many to have occurred because of continued climactic stress. According to Gooding (1980), these villages are primarily situated on higher elevations, most likely to take advantage of increased moisture. This period is most conspicuous in Bodo Industrial Park (Applegarth 1975; Charles 1994; Gooding 1980; Hibbets 1975), in Ridges Basin (Duke 1985; Fuller 1988; Nickens and Chandler 1981; Smiley 1995; Winter et al. 1986), along Blue Mesa (Fetterman and Honeycutt 1982; Hibbets 1975), in Hidden Valley (Carlson 1963), and along the La Plata River Valley (Morris 1939; Wilshusen 1999 c).

The ceramic assemblage continued to be dominated by Rosa Gray and Rosa Black-on- White with the introduction of neck-banded varieties.

Hunting undoubtedly played a major role in the lives of the Pueblo I population, and almost certainly it is assumed that during this period there was a commitment to agriculture as well. The importance of hunting (wild game may have supplied a smaller proportion of the total diet), socially or politically should not be underestimated. Possibly the population participated in limited residential mobility as suggested for other groups with similar subsistence and economic strategies (Kent 1989). Regardless of subsistence strategies or mobility patterns, local Pueblo I populations were fairly healthy (Martin and Goodman 1995). Dental data show frequencies of caries to be consistent with other agricultural groups, but also that diet varied and was not exclusively reliant upon maize.

Perhaps with continued climactic stress the inhabitants of the Durango area left to seek areas where moisture was more abundant or where communal support was available. The La Plata canyon, the Dolores River Valley, Navajo Reservoir, and Mesa Verde are all examples of areas that were inhabited during later Pueblo I times ([AD 800-AD 900] Eddy 1966; Eddy et al. 1984; Hovezak 2001; Fuller 1988; Wilshusen 1999 c; Winters et al. 1986) after the Durango area was abandoned. There is controversy over the presence of late Pueblo I occupations in the Ridges Basin and Bodo Industrial Park areas, however, more terminal dates of occupation for the region and additional clarifying information are still needed.

Pueblo II (PII) and Pueblo III (PIII) The next time periods established for the Four Corners region are Pueblo II and Pueblo III (AD 900-AD 1300) periods. These periods are associated with the monumental architecture of Chaco Canyon, Chimney Rock Pueblo, and Mesa Verde. There are no major habitation sites associated with these time periods in the immediate vicinity of the project, but as one travels south and west, sites belonging to these period become common. The lower reaches of the La

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Plata River and the Mancos and Johnson canyons are host to numerous large and small Pueblo II and Pueblo III sites. The sites of Aztec Ruins, Solomon Ruins, and Mesa Verde are but a few of the more popular of these. The La Plata River valley itself is home to several large sites including the Holmes Group, Morris 39, and Morris 41 (Morris 1939). Most of these large sites were heavily vandalized during the latter part of the 19th century and first part of the 20th century.

Protohistoric After the major exodus of the Four Corners region about AD 1300, the area was likely populated by Ute and Navajo tribes into the Protohistoric (AD 1500 - AD 1800) and historic periods (Baker et al. 2007). This information is speculative because few archaeological remains have been documented (Duke 1998; Hibbets and Wharton 1980; Heikes 1979; Morris and Burgh 1954). Historic accounts document the presence of Weeminuche and Capote Utes in direct contact with Navajos in the vicinity of the La Plata Mountains (Hibbets and Wharton 1980; Winter et al. 1986). Perhaps the lack of documented protohistoric sites is in part the result of the inability of archaeologists to recognize these sites in the archaeological record (Duke and Charles 1994). Early Navajo (Dinetah) sites are common in the surrounding areas, and sites with probable Navajo affiliations have been excavated in the Navajo Reservoir District (Hester 1962), lower in the La Plata Valley (Brown 1991; Reed and Horn 1988) and in the vicinity of Aztec, New Mexico (Honeycutt and Fetterman 1994; Wilshusen 1995). Site LA49498, located on properties leased by the La Plata Mine, was recorded by the Division of Conservation Archaeology, Bloomfield, New Mexico as a possible burned ―hogan‖. The site was subsequently excavated by Nickens and Associates and the remains of burned construction beams produced radiocarbon dates with a range from AD 1437 to AD 1466 (Reed and Horn 1988:286). It has been argued, however, that these dates reflect the ―old wood‖ problem and that more appropriately the region was settled by the Navajo in the 16th to 17th centuries and by the Ute closer to the 17th century.

Historic Early Historic The project area began to be developed by Anglos and Hispanics beginning around the 1870s because of extensive mining operations in Durango and farther to the north in Silverton. The city of Durango was established in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Originally, the railroad had intended to make Animas City its destination, but when Animas City failed to grant the railroad the demanded concessions, the railroad bought land to the south and established the town of Durango in September of 1880 (Duke and Matlock 1999:53). Durango soon became a primary economic center for the region. A narrow-gauge railroad (still in operation today) linked Durango with Silverton to carry ores and supplies to and from this isolated mining town. In addition, Durango claimed two smelters, San Juan and New York. Coal was mined from La Plata and nearby counties to supply the smelters. A series of toll roads connected Durango to the coal fields and to Silverton. These were quickly replaced by rail lines.

The history of the property on which Old Fort Lewis is located is discussed in detail in the complementary report by Jill Seyfarth. The reader is referred to this report for the historical overview of the project area.

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3.0 Literature Review

The culture history of the project area is discussed in several large reports including early works by Earl Morris along the La Plata District (Morris 1939) and archaeological mitigation reports for the La Plata Highway (Toll no date). Several archaeological surveys of substantial size provide a very thorough section on environment and culture history of Ridges Basin in their survey report for the first Animas-La Plata Project. Complete Archaeological Service Associates [CASA (Fuller 1988)] produced an excellent report summarizing the results of excavations from several sites within the uranium tailings relocation project just north of the Bodo alluvial fan between Ridges Basin and the Bodo Industrial Park. John D. Gooding (1980) edited a report on the excavations of two Late Basketmaker III sites located within the highway relocation project for Federal Highway 550 near the Bodo Industrial Park. These reports provide excellent culture overviews of the Durango area.

The Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists (CCPA) sponsored a series of regional culture resource contexts intended to serve as guidelines for archaeological work within the areas. The Southern Colorado River Basin prehistoric context (Lipe et al. 1999) is the source for a broad cultural/historical perspective while providing details on specific sites throughout southwestern Colorado including sites in the La Plata river valley. An older version of the Colorado Prehistoric Context for Southwest Colorado (Eddy et al. 1984) provides useful information as well even if it is a bit dated.

An excellent seven-set volume on the Animas-La Plata project in Ridges Basin is available from Northern Arizona University. These volumes include synthetic reports of data and literature research from previous investigations, including but certainly not limited to the reexamination of cultural remains from the collections at FLC and the analysis and interpretations of ceramics and flaked-lithic artifacts from surface collections performed since the initial cultural resource investigations for the Animas-La Plata Project.

An overview of the archaeological resources for the United States Forest Service (USFS) was spearheaded by Philip Duke of the Department of Anthropology at FLC. In this report Duke (1998) provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the cultural resources located on USFS lands in southwest Colorado. Among its other valuable contributions are several chapters devoted to quantifying and explaining the various culture historical periods represented in the region.

Other reports that have synthesized information for specific time periods in and around Durango include those written by Charles (2000, 2002a, 2002b), Charles and Schriever (1999), Fetterman and Honeycutt (1982), McAndrews, et al. (2000), and Woods Canyon Archaeological Consultants (1999). Two recent publications one by Lister (2000) and one by Duke and Matlock (1999) are written for the general public and focus on the prehistory of Durango specifically. The aforementioned reports are available at Reed Library on the FLC campus, the Durango Public Library, or through interlibrary loan, and they are recommended for those interested in more detailed information.

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It is anticipated that the forthcoming multi-volume report by SWCA on the results of survey, testing, and data recovery for the Animas La-Plata project will project much needed data to our growing information on the prehistoric settlement of the Animas Valley. This multi-year project emphasized sites dating to the Pueblo I period and how these sites fit in the overall scheme of the settlement and abandonment of the upper portions of the Animas river drainage.

4.0 Methods

Archival work for the survey began in April and May of 2007 with a site file search from the Colorado Historical Society (CHS), a search of the archives at the Center of Southwest Studies (CSWS) and a visit to the Old Fort Lewis. The CHS search on Compass showed only two sites had been recorded in the 247 acre tract. Site 5LP1968 and 5LP1969 were both recorded in 1974. No information was provided on who recorded these sites nor was there any substantial information on the sites themselves. 5LP1968 is named as the CSU Agricultural Experiment Station and the site type is listed as Educational Complex with a date range from 1910 to 1919. 5LP1969 is recorded as a Fort with a date of 1880 to 1889. The name on the site form was Fort Lewis Old No. 2, CSU AG Experiment.

The Center of Southwest Studies at FLC is the repository for most of the Fort Lewis archival information including the military and boarding school records. Several maps are housed in the Delaney Library along with historical photographs and various written records that pertain to the Old Fort. Several days were spent with the maps and written documentation before the field work.

Field work began with a reconnaissance of the property by Dr. Catherine Ortega and myself. Dr. Ortega had spent a significant amount of research time at the Old Fort. The primary objectives of our visit were to look over the project area, find some of the survey boundaries, and to begin formulating a plan for conducting the survey. This visit was especially important to decide on an area for the archeological field school to survey.

Field work followed on May 24th with the FLC archaeological field school. We spent four days conducting survey, site documentation, and remote sensing at Old Fort Lewis. William Tsosie and Danielle Sheptow served in the capacity of teaching assistants along with Mona Charles as the field school director. Participating field school students included the following: Melissa Goade, James Gustine, Jon Hedlund, Kevin Lacy, Katherine Miterko, Marin Millen, Cimarron Peterson, Jesse Robbins, Jonathan Sanford, Alexis Schank, Gerry Swickard, and Crystal Tewell. Survey was conducted in transects with spacing about five meters apart. When an artifact was found, the students were pulled from their transects to pin flag significant artifacts, features, and the site boundaries. Maps were made of the sites with compass and tape. Maps were drawn to true north, which was declinated to 14 degrees east. This was taken from the Kline, CO. 7.5’ U.S.G.S. quadrangle map. Map scales were variable and depended on the size of the site and how much detail was needed. Each site datum and each isolated find were mapped with both a Trimble III and a Garmin GPS. Students were trained in the use of both instruments. Colorado Cultural Resource Survey forms for sites and isolated finds were completed in the field. The appropriate supplemental forms were also completed. Site and

9 isolated find locations were plotted on the Kline, CO. 7.5’U.S.G.S. quadrangle map as well as on the aerial photograph provided by OCS. Black- and-white photographs were taken of each site and each feature. Digital images were taken of individual artifacts.

In general, this same methodology was followed during the formal survey. The transect width, however, was increased to 15 meters for the formal survey. Most of the survey was conducted by following azimuth angles that corresponded to the angle of the survey block.

The inventory included sites, features, and isolated finds. An isolated find was usually defined as a concentration of less than five artifacts. Sites were defined as loci of cultural activity that are represented by more than five artifacts and/or features that indicate human presence. Features could also include structures, foundations, graves, etc. Diagnostic artifacts or unusual or exotic items were sketched in the field or photographed. A few diagnostic artifacts were collected for further study in the lab.

The formal survey began on July 9th and continued until July 26th. Four crew members and Mona Charles, the principal investigator, completed the survey. The crew members included Danielle Sheptow, William Tsosie, James Gustine, and Alexis Schank. At the end of the survey, we had completed a pedestrian survey of all 247 acres. Some areas were not surveyed if the vegetation was too thick to see the ground such as along the river, or if the ground was too swampy to walk. It should be noted that the heavy spring rains and winter snowmelt resulted in thick grass and weed cover making visibility difficult. Undoubtedly we missed artifacts due to this heavy vegetation. In particular cheatgrass was ubiquitous and other tall grasses obscured the ground surface in some areas.

It became readily apparent that one adjustment had to be made during the formal survey. It was decided that we would use one site number for the Old Fort Lewis Educational Complex, whether discussing the military or the educational. In a few cases, the buildings of the earlier fort were reused during the educational period. More often, however, buildings were torn down and new ones constructed on the same location. A concerted attempt was made to locate any remains of the buildings or features present on the historic maps and historic aerial photographs. In most cases, nothing remained except for sidewalks, artifact scatters, and less commonly, left-over foundations. We used our judgment to determine if the structures/features were part and parcel of the original Old Fort Lewis Complex and whether they appeared on the historical maps which would indicate their use and time range. In these cases, we recorded each feature/structure as a Historic Feature within the larger Old Fort Lewis Complex. Historic Archaeological Component forms were completed for each of these. We did not, however, map in any standing architecture as this was the task of Jill Seyfarth, who conducted the standing architectural assessment survey.

Judgment was used to designate specific areas as sites rather than as features of the larger complex. Reasons for deciding that an area was a site instead of a feature were based on proximity to the complex, on whether it could be identified on any historic map, whether it was used by members of the community at large and not specific to the Old Fort Lewis Complex, or if we could not determine the use or function of the area. These areas include the shooting range, the cemetery, the large dump, the prehistoric site, the H&H ditch, and several general artifact scatters.

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Laboratory work on the survey began with the field school results. Site forms that were completed in the field were digitized into Word by the field school students and maps were scanned and digitized into AutoCad. The GPS waypoints were differentially corrected and were exported to ArcView shapefiles and then brought into ArcGIS. Location maps were made in ArcGIS and individual sites maps were printed from the AutoCad drawings.

As a rule, artifacts were not collected. In many cases they were drawn or photographed in the field. However, we did collect artifacts which we considered as temporally or culturally diagnostic, that were unique and could provide more information about the function of the site or that were in danger of begin lost, collected or eroded. Collected artifacts were given field specimen (FS) numbers by site and/or feature number. Each artifact to be collected was bagged separately, given the appropriate FS number, and the location taken with a GPS.

All collected artifacts were studied, photographed and/or drawn. Standard laboratory procedures were implemented to adequately document these artifacts. The majority of artifacts collected were glass, cartridges casings, and buttons. Miscellaneous artifacts collected included a curry comb, metal spike, ceramics, a projectile point, a casket handle, and other miscellaneous items. A spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel was created to record all of the important information from the artifacts.

5.0 Results

Results of archaeological inventory are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. A total of 21 sites were recorded along with 15 isolated finds (Figure 3). During the four days of field school we recorded five sites and four isolated finds and the remainder was recorded during the formal survey. All but one of the sites is historic and all most likely relate to the occupation of the Old Fort Lewis Complex at some point throughout its 126 years of occupation. One site number, 5LP1968, was applied to the Old Fort Lewis Complex. Originally there were two site numbers for the Old Fort Lewis Complex—5LP1968 and 5LP1969. One was used specifically for the two remaining military buildings. In discussion with Mary Sullivan at the OAHP, we made the decision to use only site number 5LP1968 and to disregard the second number. We recorded a total of 27 features that belong to 5LP1968 (Figure 4). Most of these are the ephemeral remains of buildings that were destroyed or that burned. Examples of features within the Old Fort Lewis Complex, 5LP1968 include the following: the skating pond, the tennis courts, the football field, noted grounds, the entrance gates, the ski tow, the experimental farm, the side walk system, and others.

A total of 76 artifacts were collected from the field for more detailed analysis. Table 3 summarizes the collected artifacts and provides date ranges, place of manufacture, and other pertinent information when possible.

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Figure 2. Cultural resources documented for the Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey.

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Table 2. Collected artifacts from the Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey.

FS # Artifact Northing Easting Temp No. Site No. Research Information 1 Plastic Button 4124315 762312 OFL-02 5LP8428 1930-Present 2 Glass with Writing 4124315 762312 OFL-02 5LP8428 California Fig Syrup Co. 1880's 3 Clear Bottle Bottoms 4124285 762284 OFL-02 5LP8428 Unknown 4 Brass Cartridge Casing 4124293 762291 OFL-02 5LP8428 45 Colt Government Benet Primer 5 Solarized Glass Bottle Neck 4124288 762285 OFL-02 5LP8428 Bead neck Finish 1985-1917 6 Brown and Clear Bottle Bottoms 4124286 762285 OFL-02 5LP8428 BR: Owens Illinois Glass Co. 1929-1930 7 Porcelain Doll Head 4124323 762309 OFL-02 5LP8428 Unknown 8 Crockery with Mark 4124292 762287 OFL-02 5LP8428 Unknown 9 Piece of a Marble 4124294 762258 OFL-02 5LP8428 Unknown 10 Decorative Cast Iron Piece 4124315 762312 OFL-02 5LP8428 Unknown 11 Blue and White Porcelain 4124308 762302 OFL-02 5LP8428 Blue Willow Pattern 1 Worked Clear Glass n/a n/a OFL-03 5LP8429 Unknown 2 Brown Bottle Top n/a n/a OFL-03 5LP8429 Whiskey Bottle Top 1 Solarized Glass Bottle Neck 4124170 762202 OFL-07A 5LP8431 Possible Inkwell Top 1885-1917 2 Cast Iron Piece with Lettering 4124174 762189 OFL-07A 5LP8431 Unknown 3 Crockery Fragment w/mark 4124170 762189 OFL-07A 5LP8431 32 oz Vitreous Stone Ink Bottle Circa 1862 4 Crock Lid w/Handle-Unknown Object 4124170 762189 OFL-07A 5LP8431 Possible Derby pottery, Salt Glaze pre-1920 5 Cast Iron Piece with Lettering 4124154 762170 OFL-07A 5LP8431 Unknown 6 Keyhole 4124193 762203 OFL-07B 5LP8431 Unknown 7 Cartridge Casing 4124212 762222 OFL-07B 5LP8431 April,1882:Carbine Rifle: Frankford Arsenal 8 Projectile Point 4124206 762211 OFL-07B 5LP8431 Looks Reworked 9 Shell Fragment 4124175 762209 OFL-07B 5LP8431 Unknown 10 Decorative Cast Iron Piece 4124232 762258 OFL-07C 5LP8431 Unknown 11 Ax Head Fragment 4124239 762262 OFL-07C 5LP8431 Unknown 1 Ceramic Bottle Tops 4123833 761754 OFL-011 5LP8432 Civil War Era 2 Blue and White Crockery 4123834 761766 OFL-011 5LP8432 Serving Bowl pre-1920 3 Metal Stake 4123843 761771 OFL-011 5LP8432 Unknown 4 Curry Brush 4123839 761763 OFL-011 5LP8432 Mid-late 1900s 5 Brown Bottle Top 4123840 761765 OFL-011 5LP8432 Whiskey Bottle 6 Stamped Crockery 4123835 761759 OFL-011 5LP8432 W.F. Murray and CO., Glasglow, 1870-1898 7 Cartridge Casings 4123866 761806 OFL-011 5LP8432 May 1886, Rifle: Frankfort Arsenal 8 Milk Glass Button 4123903 761859 OFL-011 5LP8432 Late 1800's-Early 1900's 9 Unidentified White Ball 4123897 761816 OFL-011 5LP8432 Unknown

17 Table 2. Collected artifacts from the Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey.

FS # Artifact Northing Easting Temp No. Site No. Research Information 10 Clear Glass Bottle Neck 4123891 761829 OFL-011 5LP8432 Prescription Bottleneck 11 Military Button 4123893 761840 OFL-011 5LP8432 Schoville, 1850's-1865 1 Casket Handle 4124504 762271 OFL-013 5LP8434 Unknown 2 Ceramic and Metal Wheel 4124540 762287 OFL-013 5LP8434 Unknown 1 Black on Red Pottery Sherd 4124483 762358 OFL-014 5LP8435 Pueblo I-II 700 -1100 AD 1 Military Button 4124026 761690 OFL-018 5LP8438 Horstmann Bros. Co 1859-1863 2 Bone Toothbrush 4123999 761716 OFL-018 5LP8438 1780-1917: Cow Thighbone 3 Dressing Bottle Bottom 4124006 761707 OFL-018 5LP8438 Dressing: New York, USA 1 Glass Bottle Bottom 4123934 761490 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 PAT. July 16, 1872 2 Hole in Top Can Lid 4123972 761515 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 1810-1920 3 Green Bottle Neck and Lip 4123973 761515 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Prescription Bottleneck 4 Cartridge Casing 4123983 761511 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Unknown 5 Solarized Glass Bottle Neck 4123979 761505 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Prescription Bottleneck 1885-1917 6 Square Nail 4173974 761508 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Before 1850 7 Military Button 4123974 761504 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 1850-1865 8 Cartridge Casing 4123971 761502 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Unknown 9 Aqua Glass Bottle Top 4123967 761509 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Straight Wine/Brandy 1800-1920 10 Whole Clear Bottle 4123967 761509 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Owens Illinois Glass Co. 1934 11 Aqua Bottle Bottom 4123977 761523 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Cunninghams & Co. 1889-1907 12 Aqua Milk Bottle Lid 4123977 761523 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Cohensey Co. Philadelphia, 1876-1900 24 Bitters Brown Bottle Bottom 4123976 761507 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Saxlehner Bitterquelle 1863 25 Solarized Glass Bottle Neck 412397 761516 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Prescription Bottle 1885-1917 26 Cartridge Casing 4123980 761522 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Morse Casing-Meant for Reloading 27 Rose Glass Bottom 4123953 761503 OFL-023 Feat. 15 5LP1968 Possible Perfume Atonizer 1919-1930 28 Solarized Glass Bottom w/Cross 4124183 761543 OFL-023 Feat. 17 5LP1968 1885-1917 29 Square Nail 4124187 761545 OFL-023 Feat. 17 5LP1968 Square Cut, Type B 1820 - 1890 30 Metal Pulley 4124182 761549 OFL-023 Feat. 17 5LP1968 Unknown 33 Whole Clear Bottle 4124618 761683 OFL-023 Feat. 19 5LP1968 Whiskey Bottle 1 3 Cartridge Casings 4123924 761553 OFL-023 Feat. 27 5LP1968 44-70 Maynard, 45/70 Govt. 1880, and Jan. 1884 2 Aqua Glass Bottle Bottom 4123890 761553 OFL-023 Feat. 27 5LP1968 Burlington Glass Works 1877-1909 13 Marble 4124088 761556 OFL-023 Feat. 6 5LP1968 1926 14 White Marble 4124091 761533 OFL-023 Feat. 6 5LP1968 Mid 1800's to 1915

18 Table 2. Collected artifacts from the Old Fort Lewis archaeological survey.

FS # Artifact Northing Easting Temp No. Site No. Research Information 15 Small Bottle 4124091 761533 OFL-023 Feat. 6 5LP1968 Possible Iodine Bottle 16 Aqua Bottle Top 4124084 761536 OFL-023 Feat. 6 5LP1968 Flat or Patent 1800-1920's 17 Whole Brown Bottle 4124566 761645 OFL-023 5LP1968 Prescription 18 Brown Bottle Bottom 4124335 761909 OFL-023 5LP1968 Modes Glass Company 1895-1904 19 Aqua Bottle Neck 4124335 761909 OFL-023 5LP1968 Double Ring Neck 1800-1920's 20 Crockery with Mark 4124335 761909 OFL-023 5LP1968 Unknown 21 Boy Scout Knife 4124348 761895 OFL-023 5LP1968 Pen Knife 22 Brass Disc 4124426 761817 OFL-023 5LP1968 Tack Ornament 23 Cartridge Casing 4124400 761812 OFL-023 5LP1968 Remington-Peters Cartridge Co. January 1800's 31 Unfired Bullet 4124295 761859 OFL-023 5LP1968 Remington-Federal Cartridge Co. Dec., 1883 32 Clear Glass Bottle Bottom 4124297 761859 OFL-023 5LP1968 Cannington and Shaw Co. 1875-1913 34 Cartridge Casing 4124174 761654 OFL-023 5LP1968 45 Colt 1 Spoon 4124800 761901 OFL-27 5LP8445 1847 Rogers Bros. Nickel and Silver

19 A stand-alone GIS was developed by James Gustine for the archaeological inventory. A geodatabase that included the digitized AutoCad maps of the sites and the features from 5LP1968, the isolated finds, collected artifacts and their field specimen numbers, GPS datum and boundary information, and associated raster were integrated into the GIS (Figure 4). This GIS is one portion of a larger Old Fort Lewis GIS currently being constructed by the Office of Community Services.

Survey to Geodatabase

GPS Differential Conversion Data Correction to Shapefile

Survey Boundary Datum IF FS Feature Sidewalk Parcel

Feature Classes

Research Photos info OFL Remote Archaeological CAD Sensing Geodatabase Maps Data

Figure 4. Conversion of survey data to the GIS geodatabase.

In the following section of the report, the individual sites, features and artifacts from the sites are briefly discussed. The isolated finds are reported in Table 1 and this information is not repeated in the following text. This sections begins with a discussion of the Old Fort Lewis Complex, 5LP1968 and includes descriptions of the 28 associated features. Discussion of site 5LP1968 is following by a brief description of the twenty-one newly recorded sites.

5LP1968 5LP1968 consists of the military and educational complex of Fort Lewis up until the college’s move to its current location in 1956. It is situated along the T2 and T3 terraces at an elevation of 2317m (7600 ft) asl. It appears on the U.S.G.S. Kline 7.5’ Quadrangle as the CSU San Juan Basin Branch Agricultural Experimental Station, and consists of 84.4 acres (Figure 3). On-site vegetation includes scrub oak, native grasses, and a large variety of introduced weeds, trees, shrubs, and flowers. Riparian vegetation along with pinion and juniper trees can also be found surrounding the site.

This site is now part of grazing land and a research center for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. Within this site twenty-eight features were identified and recorded. The site and its features are associated with the early occupation of the Old Fort Lewis beginning around 1881 and continuing up to at least 1956 when the education operation was moved to Durango. Each of the 28 features is discussed separately. Computer maps of each feature are included in

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Appendix A of this report. Photos are included in the following discussion when they enhance the discussion. In many cases, the features are barely discernible from the ground. In these instances, photos are not included in the text but are available in the individual site forms in Appendix B.

Feature 1 consists of two gated entryways located at the northern and southern ends of the complex (Appendix A). The southern entrance consists of two rock and concrete pillars approximately 5.5m apart, along with two metal poles, a concrete foundation, and a nearby rock alignment/foundation (Figure 5). Artifacts include eleven pieces of scrap metal and a gate/fence. The northern entryway is built in the same construction style as the southern gate, with the exception of four metal pipes about 5 cm in diameter that were included in the construction. These stone pillars are 9.8 m apart, and measure 5 m in length. This gateway is still in use and has suffered some damage. Artifacts included with the feature are 13 pieces of clear and light blue glass, fifteen wire drawn and square nails, a metal stake, and scrap metal. No artifacts were collected from either gate entrance.

Feature 2 consists of a concrete slab and pieces of foundation still in place with a short distance of sidewalk (Appendix A). This feature is believed to have been the location of the gymnasium. It is located Figure 5. Southern entrance gates (Feature 1). Looking just to the east and north of the rodeo north at 5LP1968. grounds, and 50 m north of the southern gated entrance. A 9 cm inscription with no date is located on the northeast corner of the concrete slab, and consists of the letters ―CHG‖. No artifacts were collected from Feature 2. Artifacts recorded include clear and solarized glass, an aqua glass insulator, numerous square, wire drawn, and roofing nails, a sanitary can, plaster, milled lumber, ceramic and cast iron pipe, mesh reinforcement, and tar paper.

Feature 3 is the foundation remains of a large building, 100 m x 80 m, which could possibly have been the Art building. There are remnants of a concrete foundation, bricks that were used in the construction of the building, and a sidewalk (Feature 4) leading to the foundation. No artifacts were collected from this feature. Artifacts noted include numerous pieces of different colored glass (including solarized glass), whiteware, square and wire drawn nails, and a large density of

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concrete, brick, and plastic. There may be other artifacts located beneath the irrigation pipes that are stored on top of the feature (Appendix A).

Feature 4 is the sidewalk system that runs throughout 5LP1968 (Figure 6). The sidewalk is constructed of concrete and is, in places, overgrown with vegetation. Roads now cross the sidewalk in areas and parts of it are no longer there (Appendix A). Where visible, the sidewalk was walked with a GPS unit. No artifacts were recorded.

Feature 5 is the remains of a small ski-lift. It is located on the terrace just behind the main buildings on the west side of the parade grounds (Figure 6). A hill on the northwest end of the field, and a glass scatter to the north help to establish the feature boundaries. This feature consists of a straight line of two standing wooden poles with a ski lift engine/motor to the northwest (Appendix A). No artifacts were collected from this feature. Artifacts reported were numerous pieces and colors of glass, an insulator, whiteware, wire drawn nails, milled lumber, nuts, bolts, sheet metal, pipe, wire cable, and a flywheel. Most of the artifacts located within this site pertain to the ski lift.

Feature 6 consists of a concrete and sandstone foundation that measures 4 m north-south x 1 Figure 6. Portion of sidewalk on the main campus (Feature 4) m east-west, which is thought to be the at 5LP1968. remains of the old military hospital and girl’s dormitory (Appendix A). There is also a metal pipe with a cover coming out of the ground approximately 23 m to the south of the foundation. There are sidewalk remnants that seem to lead to the foundation to the northwest. Artifacts observed include numerous colors of glass (solarized glass included), ceramic sewer pipe, blue and white porcelain with a lion emblem and the word ―iron‖ on it, roofing nails, scrap metal, bricks, plaster, and a pipe with ―kt valve No. 6 1/2 /Hemp/B6B‖ inscribed on the lid. Collected artifacts include two marbles, a small bottle, and an aqua bottle top.

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Figure 7. Portion of the old ski lift (Feature 5) at 5LP1968.

Feature 7 is located at the far southwest end of the complex and north of the old football field/rodeo arena. Two sidewalks lead to and from the few pieces of foundation that remain of Lory Hall (Appendix A). The sidewalk on the southern end is flanked by three pine trees on either side, which have been planted. No artifacts were collected from this feature. Artifacts documented include several colors of glass, porcelain, milled lumber, plaster, sheet metal, concrete, and bricks (one with the word Pueblo on it).

Feature 8 is comprised of a rectangular concrete foundation that levels out a slight west-facing slope, and meets ground level on the eastern edge (Appendix A). The concrete foundation lies directly behind (west of) the carriage house, and could have possibly been a stable of some sort due to its proximity (Figure 8). The north and south walls of the foundation consist of solid concrete, and the east wall is broken up into nine rectangular pieces of concrete. Inside the foundation, five square pieces of concrete can be seen on the northeast and southwest ends of the foundation. There were no artifacts collected at this feature. Artifacts observed include clear and window glass, wire cut nails, an oil can, concrete, milled lumber, sandstone blocks, bolts, metal pipe, an electrical outlet connected to wire, a black button, a metal square tub with holes, and two bricks with ―THE DE/HIFH/FIRE L‖.

Feature 9 was located by a change in vegetation (Figure 8). It lies directly to the northeast of the stone warehouse building. A small section of concrete is exposed at the northern end of the foundation (Appendix A). No artifacts were collected from Feature 9. Artifacts were observed and include brick, milled lumber, and sandstone. The original use was most likely a chicken house.

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Figure 8. Foundation of Feature 8 at 5LP1968 (old carriage house in background).

Figure 9. Grass outline of foundation of Feature 9 at 5LP1968.

Feature 10 consists of an exposed foundation (30 m east-west x 32 m north-south) that lies to the east of Feature 9, and about 50 m from the access road on Hwy 140 (Appendix A). A utility post

24 can be seen next to a tree on the western side of the foundation. Plaster is visible on the foundation that lies next to the utility pole that is no longer in use but which has ceramic resisters. Three evergreen trees to the southwest of the foundation were most likely planted there. No artifacts were collected from Feature 10. Artifacts reported include numerous colors of glass (including solarized glass), three pieces of white porcelain, a square nail, a piece of scrap metal, and concrete.

Feature 11 is located to the west of Hwy 140. It consists of a cement foundation (4.6 m x 3.1 m) with a line of fencing that extends from the southeast corner of the foundation (Appendix A). About 20 m to the east lays a pile of milled lumber with metal rings around pieces of it and scrap metal. Tall grasses and scrub oak cover parts of this feature, and artifacts are sparse in this area, aside from the trash from Hwy 140. No artifacts were collected, but those observed include square and wire cut nails, metal pipe, ceramic sewer pipe, pumice, and scrap metal.

Feature 12 consists of a large rectangular concrete foundation that measures approximately 45 m x 10 m (Figure 10). The foundation sits level with the ground, but has been filled in with manure

Figure 10. Unknown foundation of Feature 12 at 5LP1968. that in some places obscures the boundary. A large earthen mound lies to the east of the foundation and runs parallel with it. Part of the sidewalk (Feature 4) parallels the foundation along the west wide (Appendix A). Few artifacts are present and none were collected. The 25 condition of the grass was cut but dense, and more artifacts could be obscured in the vegetation. Artifacts observed include numerous colors of glass (including solarized glass), porcelain, ceramic sewer pipe, square headed nails, metal pipe, rebar, concrete, and scrap metal.

Feature 13 is comprised of the experimental farm remains (Figure 11). A set of two concrete foundations and scattered artifacts define the boundaries of this feature (Appendix A)). A huge scrap metal scatter is located to the southeast of the second foundation. To the northwest, 19 square concrete footers can be observed, and are in no specific order. No artifacts were collected from this site but a few did yield diagnostic information. These include a metal auto jack stamped with ―USA/Joseph SJ050‖, a seed can lid with ―Plant g. No.300A‖, a clear glass bottom with ―Lange FD‖, and a Colorado license plate with ―19…20-140‖. Other artifacts observed included numerous other pieces of glass, wire drawn nails, concrete foundation, concrete pylons with rebar (five ripped out), milled lumber, brick, wire mesh, farm machinery, and pipe fittings.

Figure 11. Feature 13, experimental farm at 5LP1968.

Feature 14 consists of the old football field/rodeo grounds. The field measures 50 m x 100 m and runs northwest-southeast (Appendix A). The field may have been turned into the rodeo grounds during the high school or two year college era. It has a cattle chute on the northwest end with barbed wire surrounding the field. The field is overgrown with weeds and invasive grasses, and the fences have not been maintained. Artifacts that were recorded include wire drawn nails associated with fencing, woven sheep fencing, barbed wire, milled lumber, and fence posts. No artifacts were collected.

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Feature 15 is located just west of Hwy 140 and on the southeast boundary line of the local historical district (Appendix A). It is fairly large and is covered with tall grasses, sage, oak brush, cottonwood trees, and cheatgrass. It lies on a slight slope from the terrace of the old highway to the new highway. This feature is littered with numerous objects of interest including multiple colors and pieces of glass (including solarized and rose glass), whiteware, porcelain, crockery, wire drawn and square nails, sanitary cans, milled lumber, scrap metal, a metal shovel head, stove leg and lid, metal strapping, and narrow gauge railroad line. Numerous artifacts were collected, which include three cartridge casings, a hole-in-top lid, a glass bottle bottom, a green bottleneck and lip, two solarized glass bottlenecks, a square nail, a military button, two aqua glass bottlenecks, a whole clear bottle, an aqua bottle bottom, a bitters brown bottle bottom, and a rose glass bottom. Feature 15 is thought to represent one of the early trash dumping areas beginning as early as the military occupation and continuing through the Indian boarding school period.

Feature 16 includes the two tennis courts that date to 1918. The tennis courts run northeast- southwest and measure 11.7 m x 25.7 m (Appendix A). They may have originally been grass but are now concrete pads, which are overgrown and used as storage for farm equipment and straw bales. They parallel one another and are 3 meters apart. In the center of the two courts are two metal pipes that would have held the nets. On the southwest end of the courts are three standing poles. This may have held a net to catch the balls or could also have housed lights. An electrical pole is present to the east of the courts. No artifacts were collected, and the only recorded artifact was a can.

Feature 17 consists of a large scatter of artifacts on the southwest corner of the military parade grounds (Appendix A). There are high density areas of coal and artifacts. A metal pipe/pole is located to the southwest of the artifact scatter, and measures 7.6 m long by .5 m in diameter. This is thought to be the location of the little boys’ dorm due to its location on military and boarding school maps. Three artifacts were collected and they include a solarized glass bottom with a cross, a square nail, and a metal pulley. Other artifacts observed include numerous colors of glass, a Pepsi bottle, whiteware, crockery, wire drawn and square head (2 ½ ―-6‖) nails, sanitary cans, a crushed cartridge casing, milled lumber, wire, scrap metal, and a marble.

Feature 18 is located near the northeast corner of the parade grounds and approximately 80 m northwest of the helipad. It consists of a concrete foundation with a sidewalk (Figure 12). The foundation measures 14.7 m x 8 m and has a modern clothes line to the northeast (Appendix A). No artifacts were collected in this feature. Others recorded were 3 inch wire cut nails, a large coffee can, milled lumber, gas piping, a harrow plow, wheel barrow wheel, and laundry line poles.

Feature 19 consists of a foundation that is attached to a sidewalk (Figure 12). It is located near the northeast corner of the parade grounds and is approximately 30 m north of Feature 18. The

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Figure 12. Feature 18, former faculty residence at 5LP1968 (Feature 14 in background).

Figure 13. Foundation attached to a sidewalk (Feature 19) at 5LP1968.

28 foundation exposure only measures 2.9 m, and has a concrete slab and a 2 m depression to the west of it (Appendix A). One artifact was collected, and it was a complete clear whiskey bottle. Other artifacts associated with this feature include bricks, milled lumber, concrete, and gas/water pipes.

Feature 20 is located in the middle of the parade grounds and is known as the skating pond. This feature consists of a shallow depression 22 m northeast-southwest by 72 m northwest-southeast (Appendix A). The depression is lined by a small bank of pine trees to the north, west, and east. The south boundary slopes up into a field. No artifacts were found in or around this feature.

Feature 21 consists of a foundation that appears as a concrete pad measuring 38 m north/south by 18 m east/west (Appendix A). There are two levels, which could point to an addition or to two sheds next to one another, each with ramps/docks entering them. The larger section of concrete has a small section of wall made of brick and mortar still standing at the northeast corner, while the smaller section has sandstone footers. The foundation is now used as a storage pad for trailers and other machinery. What is believed to be a flag pole is located to the southeast of the foundation. No artifacts were collected. Recorded artifacts include clear and light green glass, window glass, wire drawn nails, a can lid, brick, concrete, sandstone blocks, metal pipe, milled lumber, scrap metal, plastic pipe, and bolts and screws in the foundation.

Feature 22 is located to the west of Hwy 140 and south of the fire district entrance sign. It lies directly behind Feature 21 and consists of a raised cement foundation that measures 27 m north/south x 22 m east/west (Appendix A). It is used as a parking area for farm equipment and machinery and has a sewer pipe that runs directly east. Several small foundations lie around it and may at one time have been a part of the larger piece. A few artifacts are scattered around and include clear glass, five brown ceramic insulators, ten wire drawn nails, five tin cans, bricks, plaster, scrap metal, metal pipe, metal roof shingles, and milled lumber. No artifacts were collected from this feature.

Feature 23 is comprised of a concrete foundation that measures 26 m east/west x 9 m north/south and is 1 m tall (Appendix A). Concrete steps lead off of the foundation on the northeast corner. To the north is a concrete square line which may house a water or sewage pipeline. Wooden planks cover holes in the foundation in a few places, and much of this feature has been filled in with manure and is overgrown with various tall grasses. No artifacts were collected. Recorded artifacts include clear glass, chicken wire, five wire drawn nails, cement, milled lumber, tin shingles, plaster, corrugated tin, rebar, a ceramic insulator, barbed wire, and a wooden hinged door.

Feature 24 consists of a concrete foundation with two sidewalks leading into it—one in the front, and one in the back (Appendix A). It is located west of Hwy 140, and west of Feature 22. This feature is covered with tall grasses, including cheatgrass, and hawthorn trees. This feature is being used as a housing area for irrigation pipes and black stall lines. No artifacts were collected, and the artifact scatter was medium in density. Artifacts recorded include, clear, amber, and window glass, a piece of whiteware with a blue stripe, roofing nails, wire drawn nails, scrap metal, bricks, plaster, sandstone blocks, milled lumber, metal pipe, and a light fixture.

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Feature 25 is comprised of a historic sidewalk (Feature 4) that connects to an entrance foundation/sidewalk. A new machine shed straddles most of the foundation. The southeast corner of the foundation juts out onto a road. Pumice and vegetation cover most of the feature, and the structure measures 28 m x 36 m (Appendix A). No artifacts were collected from this feature, but artifacts recorded include a piece of purple glass, brown and clear glass, and concrete.

Feature 26 is located on the west side of Hwy 140 and directly south of the present day office. This feature lies directly in the middle of a new road and very little of the foundation can be seen. Two sidewalks lead up to what used to be a building (Appendix A). The main sidewalk crosses the road and meets up with the circular sidewalk of the library. No artifacts were collected and very few were recorded due to the scarcity of the objects. The only artifacts recorded include clear glass, milled lumber, and concrete.

Feature 27 is possibly related to the processing of sewage/waste from the Old Fort. It seems the ceramic pipe leads across Hwy 140 towards the main complex. Feature 27 consists of a rectangular foundation 15.1 m x 4.2 m and 1.5 m deep with a ceramic pipe that extends from and continues to the north (Appendix A). It is divided into four sections, and some of the walls have started to give way. It is overgrown with cottonwood trees and other heavy vegetation. It is located to the east of Hwy 140 and to the west of the La Plata River. The feature boundary measures 92.5 m x 40 m as determined by the extent of the artifact scatter. Four artifacts were collected from this feature. These include three cartridge casings and an aqua-colored glass bottle bottom. Other artifacts that were observed were numerous colors of glass (including solarized glass), ceramic sewage pipe, porcelain, whiteware, one handmade nail, bricks, concrete, scrap metal, cast iron pipe, and a metal shovel.

Feature 28 consists of a retaining wall that is located on the southeast end of the historical district, and on the west side of Hwy 140. It is constructed of sandstone blocks that range in size from 10 cm to 70 cm in diameter (Appendix A). River cobbles of various lithologies and concrete were also used in the construction. The entire length of the wall is 50 m, and ranges from 15 cm to 2 m tall and is 50 cm thick. It runs somewhat east to west at 230 degrees, and is capped with concrete. The concrete cap bears the inscription JEHH, and JBW. Four cast iron pipes can be seen on the top of the wall, along the base, and on the eastern most end of the retaining wall. Each pipe is filled with concrete and is 10 cm in diameter. No artifacts were collected and the few recorded include cast iron pipes and wire.

The 247-acre parcel including and surrounding the Old Fort Lewis Complex is included in the La Plata County Historical Record. The Old Fort Lewis Complex is recommended as potentially eligible under Criterion A for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing site to a larger historic district that includes the Old Fort Lewis Complex as well as individual sites. The complex is also eligible for nomination under Criterion D for its potential to yield significant archaeological information.

The following section includes brief discussions, maps, and often illustrations of the 21 sites that were recorded during the archaeological inventory of the 247 acre parcel designated as the Old Fort Lewis Historic District and included in the La Plata County Historical Register.

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5LP8426.1 This site includes the portion of the H & H Ditch running through the survey area. It runs approximately 600 m from the head gate to the southeast corner of the survey area. The ditch diverts water from the east side of the La Plata River and generally parallels the edge of the first terrace. There are three head gates/gauging stations associated with the H & H Ditch that were recorded with this survey. Riparian vegetation is associated with this site.

Feature 1 is the main head gate that comes off the La Plata River (Figure 14 and Figure 15). It is constructed of concrete, diamond-plated steel, and angle iron. The structure measures 5.7 m north/south by 22.28 m east/west, and stands 2.2 m from the river bottom. Feature 2 is the gate that diverts some of the water back to the La Plata River (Figure 16). It is constructed from the same materials as Feature 1. It is located underneath a wooden bridge that allows access across the ditch. It measures 3.7 m north-south by 4.9 m east-west. Feature 3 is a gate along the H & H Ditch that acts as a recording station with a concrete and wooden storage hut associated (Figure 17). No artifacts are associated with the ditch.

All of the head gates along the H & H Ditch appear to have recent upgrades and upkeep. The ditch played a large role in the settlement and economic development of the Fort Lewis Mesa. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion under Criterion A in the NRHP as contributing to a potentially eligible historic district. This segment of the H & H ditch is also recommended as eligible for nomination to the NRHP under Criterion A as a separate site.

Figure 14. Headgate of the H & H Ditch (Feature 1).

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Figure 15. Plan map of Feature 1, site 5LP8426.1.

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Figure 16. Headgate for the H & H Ditch (Feature 2).

Figure 17. Recording Station for the H & H Ditch (Feature 3).

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5LP8427 (Red Brick Site) This site is a historic brick and artifact scatter located on a T1 terrace to the east of the La Plata River on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It was recorded with the 2007 Fort Lewis Archaeological Field School. The site is in an open meadow with various grasses, Gamble oak, thistle, fringe sage, and yellow composite. It is also associated with the riparian environment approximately 40 meters to the northwest (Figure 18). Site elevation is 2497 m (7610 ft) asl, with a floodplain soil depth greater than 50 cm. The boundary of the site is the extent of concentrated artifacts and is 76 m north-south by 45 m east-west with a slope of 2 degrees and a slight southern aspect (Figure 19).

No artifacts were collected from 5LP8427. Artifacts recorded include the following: broken glass, crockery and cans, two cartridge casings, sheet metal, cast iron, wire cable, one piece of prehistoric lithic debitage, and a large concentration of bricks. Two types of brick are present; a high-fire gray brick and low-fire adobe brick. The brick is concentrated in a central area (Feature 1) but also spreads thinly across the site. Two other features consist of river rock concentrations that may have been used as foundations. One of the cartridge casings was identified as a .22 Winchester rim fire that was manufactured in the 1890s. A thick piece of solarized glass was also recorded (pre- 1915). These artifacts date from the late Figure 18. View of 5LP8427 looking east. 1800s to early 1900s.

The original use for 5LP8427 is unknown. It is part of a larger scattering of historic artifacts throughout the meadow and near the main bridge crossing the La Plata River to the Old Fort Lewis campus. The site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

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Figure 19. Plan map of 5LP8427.

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5LP8428 5LP8428 is a historic artifact scatter with a concrete foundation. It was recorded with the 2007 Fort Lewis Archaeological Field School. It is located on the edge of a T1 terrace to the east of the La Plata River on the 7.5’ U.S.G.S. Kline Quadrangle. The site is in an open meadow on the edge of the floodplain with cottonwoods, scrub oak, various grasses, and rabbit brush (Figure 20). Elevation is 2316 m (7600 ft) als, with a rocky soil depth of 10 to 20 cm. The boundary of the site is the extent of concentrated artifacts and is 90 m north-south by 60 m east-west with a slope of 1 degree and a slight southern aspect (Figure 21).

The artifact scatter is moderate with one concentration that appears possibly to be a trash dumping station. Observable artifacts include broken glass, decorated porcelain, crockery, a railroad tie nail, seamed cans, a cartridge case, cast iron, and railroad ties. Dated artifacts include a white plastic button whose date is unknown but began manufacture in 1870s, a small broken rectangular California Fig Syrup bottle dated to the 1880s, solarized glass manufactured pre- 1915, a brown glass bottom with the inscription ―Illinois glass co.‖ dated from 1929-1930, and a ceramic marble piece dated to 1926. Eleven diagnostic artifacts were collected at this site.

Concrete slabs make up a small foundation (Feature 1) that measures 25 m x 5 m in size with an unknown function. The railroad ties are an interesting component to this site, as rumors lead that a small rail was built off the main railway line to the Old Fort Lewis to transport goods. This site is near the main bridge across the La Plata River and main route that ran from the railroad to the Old Fort Lewis campus.

Figure 20. View of 5LP8428 looking northwest.

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Figure 21. Plan map of 5LP8428.

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The original use for 5LP8428 is unknown but perhaps it is related to the rail system present during the early days of Fort Lewis. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential as well.

5LP8429 (Broken Glass Site) This site is a historic artifact scatter located north of 5LP8427 and 5LP8428 in the same open meadow on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It was recorded with the 2007 Fort Lewis College Archaeological Field School. Site 5LP8429 is on a T1 terrace of the La Plata River at an elevation of 2320 m (7610 ft) asl. Site vegetation includes Gambel oak, cheatgrass, thistle, fringe sage, yellow composite, and various grasses (Figure 22). Riperian vegetation is present near the La Plata River, approximately 40 meters from the site. It has deep floodplain soil at a depth greater than 50 cm. The site is 56 m north-south by 36 m east-west with a slope of 2 degrees and a slight southern aspect (Figure 23). The boundary is the extent of concentrated artifacts.

Figure 22. View of 5LP8429 looking northeast.

Artifacts include many colors of historic glass, broken ceramics, and one piece of lithic debitage. It appears that some of the thicker pieces of glass have been worked into sharp edges through knapping or scraping. The presence of solarized glass (pre-1915) indicates that at least some of the artifacts are historic and may be contemporaneous with the larger scattering of artifacts throughout the meadow. One piece of worked glass and one bottle top were collected from this site.

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Figure 23. Plan map of 5LP8429.

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The original function of 5LP8429 is unknown. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential as well.

5LP8430 5LP8430 is a small prehistoric and historic site in an open meadow on the edge of the T0 and T1 terraces approximately 50 meters from the La Plata River on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It was recorded with the 2007 Fort Lewis Archaeological Field School. The vegetation includes cottonwoods, willow, various grasses, sagebrush, rabbit brush, and scrub oak. Because of its location near the river, riparian species are the dominate vegetation (Figure 24). The soil is a sandy loam and is approximately 10 cm deep. The site boundaries are the extent of concentrated artifacts. The site measures 70.5 m north-south by 63 m east-west, with a slope ranging from 1 to 10 degrees and a slight northern aspect (Figure 25). It is situated at an elevation of 2326 m (7631 ft) asl.

Prehistoric artifacts include 26 flakes made of quartzite, chert, and obsidian, as well as a biface made of silicified wood and a fragment of groundstone. The prehistoric artifacts are scattered on the slope between the two terraces and may be eroding out of the upper bank, indicating buried deposits. This site has the highest concentration of prehistoric artifacts from the entire survey.

The historic component of the site includes various colors of broken glass, brick, metal, and three cartridge cases with inscriptions. The presence of melted glass may indicate a nearby campfire, although no other artifacts show burning.

The original Figure 24. View of 5LP8430, looking north. function of 5LP8430 is a short-term, prehistoric camp with an unknown historic function other than trash scatter. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

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Figure 25. Plan map of 5LP8430.

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5LP8431 This site is a dense historic artifact scatter located in a narrow meadow on the T1 terrace above the La Plata River (Figure 26). It is located across the access road from site 5LP8430 on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle at an elevation of 2325 m (7630 ft) asl. Site 5LP8431 was recorded with the 2007 Archaeological Field School. The vegetation on and surrounding the site is related to a riparian community and includes cottonwoods, Gambel oak, willow, and cheatgrass in the disturbed open meadow. The dimensions of the site are 55 m north-south by 70 m east-west, and include the extent of surface artifacts (Figure 27). Soil depth is approximately 20 cm, with a 2 degree slightly southern slope.

The artifact density at site 5LP8431 is heavy throughout. Three main concentrations were recorded within the site. Observable artifacts include many colors of broken glass (including several pieces of solarized glass), historic ceramics, square-head nails, tin cans, a cartridge casing, brick, metal, wood, cast iron, buttons, and buckets. A few prehistoric flakes and a projectile point (collected) were also observed at the site. Eleven diagnostic artifacts were collected from this site and include a solarized glass bottle neck, a ceramic inkwell bottom with a maker’s mark dating to 1870-1890, a metal keyhole, and a cartridge casing with inscriptions dating to April of 1882 and manufactured at the from the Frankford Arsenal.

The original function of this site is unknown. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

Figure 26. Site overview of 5LP8431 looking north.

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Figure 27. Plan map of Locus A at site 5LP8431.

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5LP8432 This site is a dense historic artifact scatter located on a T1 terrace of the La Plata River on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It measures 150 m north-south by 54 m east-west and it at an elevation of 2313 m (7590 ft) asl (Figure 28). Various grasses, Mullen, thistle, lambs quarter, and cheatgrass are present on the site with a riparian community near the La Plata River, approximately 20 m to the west (Figure 29). The slope of the site ranges from 0 to 2 degrees with a slight northern aspect. The soil is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than a meter.

There is a heavy concentration of artifacts throughout. Artifacts observed include many pieces of broken glass (multiple colors including solarized purple), historic ceramics, square- head nails, tin cans, cartridge cases, brick, milled lumber, buttons, and various metal parts. A few of the glass bottle bottoms with company inscriptions date from the 1860s to the 1880s. Eleven diagnostic artifacts were collected from the site and include ceramic bottle tops from the civil war era, a cartridge casing dated to 1st of May, 1886 from the Federal Cartridge Co., and a brass military button with an eagle insignia with a date range from the 1850s to 1865 (Table 3).

There are two features associated with this site. Feature 1 is a concentration of two rows of river cobbles that may be related to a temporary habitation or encampment. However, large amounts of lichen may indicate that the concentration is natural. It measures 3.5 m north-south by 6.2 m east-west and is located near the center of the site. Feature 2 is a rectangular concentration of river cobbles and boulders near Feature 1. It is associated with a significant concentration of burned wood and coal, metal strapping, and glass. Feature 2 measures 2.6 m north-south by 2.2 m east-west.

Figure 28. Overview of 5LP8432 from the south.

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Figure 29. Plan map of 5LP8432.

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The original function of this site is unknown; however, the number of artifacts scattered throughout the meadow may indicate a historic encampment. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. It most likely is associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

5LP8433 (Ash Bucket Site) 5LP8433 is a historic artifact scatter located near the floodplain of the La Plata River, on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. The site is in an open meadow on the edge of the floodplain with cottonwoods, juniper, willow, Ponderosa pine, lupine, yarrow, Mullen, penstemon, and thick grasses (Figure 30).The site measures 47 m north-south by 34 m east-west and is at an elevation of 2327 m (7635 ft) asl (Figure 31). The slope on site ranges from 0 to 4 degrees, with a gravel silt loam soil at a depth greater than 50 cm.

No artifacts were collected from this site. The artifacts recorded include a small concentration of whiteware that may have come from one or two vessels, eleven ash buckets, an enamelware pitcher, and other various metal and tin pieces. The weathering of the metal indicates that this site is historic but exactly how old is not currently known.

The original function of this site is unknown. It could simply represent a dumping episode or perhaps is the locus of some activity involving numerous ash buckets. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

Figure 30. View of 5LP8433 looking south.

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Figure 31. Plan map of 5LP8433. 47

5LP8434 (Military Cemetery) 5LP8434 is the location of the original cemetery for the soldiers of Fort Lewis. It is located on a small knoll on a terrace of the La Plata River. The cemetery is in an open meadow on the U.S.G.S. 7.4’ Kline Quadrangle. It is at an elevation of 2329 m (7640 ft) asl, and the soil is .5m to 1.5m deep. Vegetation on the site includes fringe sage, tall grasses, yellow composite, sagebrush, cactus, and cheatgrass, surrounded by Gambel oak and Pinon pine (Figures 32 and 33).

The original fence for the cemetery is now gone, and the boundary for the site was justified by the extent of visible graves and less so on artifacts (Figure 33). It measures 68 m north-south by 38 m east-west. It is just north of the historic and modern dump for the Old Fort Lewis (5LP8435). In 1892, Fort Lewis was decommissioned and the military burials and their family were exhumed from the cemetery. It is unknown, however, if the cemetery was also used by local pioneers or the Indian boarding school.

Today the site consists of thirty-two rock-lined features and thirteen depressions (Figure 34).The depressions are most likely the remains of exhumed burials but the rock-lined graves more problematic. Certainly the terrace subsoil is very rocky and originally excavation would have encountered boulders, cobbles, and gravel. Logically these same sediments were used to fill the grave shafts back in. Presumably when the graves were exhumed they would have dug out the sediments and piled them beside the graves which could account for the rock-lined features. However if this were the case one would expect that the thirteen depressions would have accompanying piles of rocks as well, but they do not. The rock-lined features are symmetrical which would seem improbable if they represent the dirt and rock from the exhumation process. At this time, we have not been able to find any documentation pertaining to non-military persons being buried in the cemetery, although some local residents seem to think that it does contain non-military graves. Artifacts found associated with the cemetery include one marble grave marker with no inscription and obviously out-of-place, a piece of marble, a piece of shaped sandstone that had some marble inserted and was most likely a broken headstone, a cast-iron decorative casket handle (collected), a porcelain wheel (collected), a square nail, wire, milled lumber, and brick.

It was reported that at one time a short fence was around the perimeter of the graveyard but was removed as to not bring attention to the cemetery. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is also recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

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Figure 32. View of rock-lined features (graves?) at 5LP8434 looking north. Figure 33. View of depression features (graves?) at 5LP8434, northeast.

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Figure 34. Plan map of old cemetery, 5LP8434.

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5LP8435 (Dump) 5LP8435 is a historic and modern trash dump for the Old Fort Complex (Figure 35). It has four main concentrations (labeled Features A-D) and all are included within the site boundary (Figure 36). The dump measures 75 m north-south by 318 m east-west. It is an elevation of 2322 m (7620 ft) asl and is located on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. The main concentration, and most modern dump site, sits on a T1 terrace directly above the La Plata River. The other concentrations go from the edge of the floodplain to the top of the T2 terrace. The site has cottonwood, Gambel oak, willow, lupine, thistle, cheatgrass, and various grasses growing throughout. The slope on site ranges from 0 to 25 degrees and the soil depth ranges from 50 to 100 cm or more.

Figure 35. Overview of the main dump area, 5LP8435. View is to the south. Feature A is located on the edge of the floodplain and northeast of the largest section of the dump. It is a small area with a dense concentration of artifacts that seem to date from the 1920s to the 1970s and represents a few dumping episodes. Many pieces of glass, aluminum and tin cans, and plastic are present.

Feature B is located just to the east and down slope from the main dump. It has large pieces of sandstone foundation and artifacts that relate to construction and building materials. The foundation materials are the remains of razed historic buildings from the Old Fort Lewis. Interestingly, a prehistoric black-on-red sherd was found amongst the rubble. The source of this ceramic piece is unknown.

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Figure 36. Plan map of 5LP8435 with Fetuers A through D.

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Feature C is the largest and most recent dump area (Figure 36). There are many artifacts and modern trash piled up in a dense concentration. Artifacts noted include car parts, wire, scrap metal, lumber, furniture, appliances, rubber, glass, cans, and much much more. Large mounds on the site undoubtedly obscure buried artifacts from earlier time periods.

Feature D is above and to the west of the main dump site. It encompasses a small area with many artifacts pertaining to sewer and piping, cast iron, porcelain crockery, solarized glass, a double- oven stove, a shattered porcelain toilet, and cans. The artifacts indicate there may have been multiple dumping episodes here.

This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis up to the present. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis continuing through to the present. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

5LP8436 This site is a light scatter of historic artifacts on a T1 and stops at the base of the T2 terrace on the west side of the La Plata River, to the north of the Dump (5LP8435). 5LP8436 is in an open meadow with cottonwood, Gambel oak, cheatgrass, ponderosa pine, and various grasses (Figure 37). The site measures 34 m north-south by 60 m east-west at an elevation of 2324 m (7625 ft) asl (Figure 38). It is located on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. The slope of the site varies from 0 to 5 degrees with a slight northern aspect. The soil is a gravelly silt loam with a depth of 10 cm.

Figure 37. Wooden Structure (Feature 1) at 5LP8436.

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Figure 38. Plan map of 5LP8436. 54

No artifacts were collected from this site. Artifacts recorded include various metal objects, especially ash buckets and washtubs, as well as several collapsed wooden features, possible work tables, that may be related to the function of this site. This site is close to 5LP8433, where other ash buckets were found, and may have originally related to washing, laundry, soap making or something similar that would have used these items. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

5LP8437 5LP8437 is a light scattering of historic artifacts in relation to three structural features near the main bridge across the La Plata River, on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. The site is on the edge of the floodplain and has various grasses, yarrow, thistle, willow, and narrow leaf cottonwood trees (Figure 39). It is on a T1 terrace to the west of the river and measures 60 m north-south by 35 m east-west (Figure 40). It is at an elevation of 2319 m (7610 ft) asl. The slope of the site is 0 to 4 degrees with a westerly aspect. Soil at the site is a gravelly silt loam and has a depth greater than 1 meter.

There are three features at this site. A shaped rock, double-wall feature measuring 6 m north-south by 10 m east-west was recorded as Feature 1. The function of this feature is unknown, though it may have been part of a structural foundation. A ceramic sewer pipe, similar to pipe found at other sites in the area, is noted near the end of the wall and aimed at the direction of the depression, Feature 3. Feature 2 is a free-standing rectangular piece of sandstone supported by four pieces of rebar at the south end of the wall. The dimensions of Feature 2 are 68 cm long by 30 cm wide. Feature 3 is a large brick- and concrete- Figure 39. Site overview of 5LP8437 looking east. lined depression measuring 5.8 m north-south by 8.6 m east-west. It is surrounded by mature cottonwoods (Figure 40). The original function for this feature is unknown, but its underground structure

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Figure 40. Plan map of 5LP8437.

56 leads to the impression of a type of storage feature for water. On the earliest of the historic maps from 1888, there is a feature in the general area of 5LP8437 listed as a pump house. It is quite possible that this feature is the remains of a pump house. It’s location near the river supports this interpretation.

Artifacts recorded at this site include brick, lumber with nails, an iron train track rail, a rail road tie, burned coal and ash, and various metal pieces-none of which is temporarily diagnostic. A conical wooden silo roof was also recorded near the depression. This site is located near the present and historic crossing of the La Plata River.

This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

5LP8438 This site is a scattering of historic artifacts near the present-day Red Mesa Power Station (Figure 41). The artifacts extend from the fence line near the highway to the bank of the La Plata River and cover an area measuring 70 m north-south by 65 m east-west (Figure 42). The site is situated at an elevation of 2310 m (7580 ft) asl. It is located on the U.S.G.S. Kline 7.5’ Quadrangle. Vegetation along the edge of the floodplain consists of thick grasses, scrub oak, willow, elm, cottonwood, and cheatgrass. It has a slight southeast aspect with a 0 to 1 degree slope. The soil on site is a gravelly silt loam and has a depth of between 10 cm and 15 cm.

Figure 41. View of 5LP8438, looking north toward Red Mesa Power Station. Highway 140 is to the west.

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Figure 42. Plan map of 5LP8438.

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There are many artifacts at this site, even though surface visibility was limited with the tall and thick vegetation. A scattering of coal was recorded, as well as many pieces of broken glass, including solarized glass, whiteware ceramics, painted china, a military cartridge casing, ceramic sewer pipe, scrap metal, a bone toothbrush head (collected), and a metal military button (collected). A dressing bottle bottom was also collected from this site. The button is a brass military issue, made by Scoville Manufacturing Co. and dated from 1850 to 1865. Bone toothbrushes were out of use by 1917. Along with the presence of solarized glass, these artifacts give evidence that the site was occupied from as early as 1861 (or before) to no later than 1917.

The original purpose for 5LP8438 is unknown but is in the area where several buildings once stood that were associated with the original Fort Lewis. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

5LP8439 This site is a light historic artifact scatter near the main fence line of US Highway 140, on the U.S.G.S. Kline 7.5’ Quadrangle. The site is in an open meadow with cheatgrass, tall grasses, and fringe sage with riparian species in the floodplain to the east (Figure 43). It measures 24 m north-south by 30 m east-west and it at an elevation of 2318 m (7605 ft) asl (Figure 44). The slope has a slight eastern aspect between 0 and 2 degrees. The soil is a gravelly silt loam and has a depth greater than 50 cm.

No artifacts were collected from this site. Recorded artifacts include many pieces of broken glass, pieces of porcelain and whiteware, a square head nail, two blank center-fire cartridge casings, a half of a horseshoe, and some scrap metal. Tall grasses may be obscuring other artifacts on the ground. Figure 43. View of 5LP8439, looking north. Highway 140 is to the west. The original function for this site is unknown but it may be associated with activities carried out in some of the Fort Lewis buildings located near the river. These building appear on the earliest Fort Lewis map available at this time (1885). This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the

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Figure 44. Plan map of 5LP8439.

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CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

5LP8440 This site is a historic artifact scatter with a small rock alignment. It is located on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle at an elevation of 2322 m (7620 ft) asl. It is in an open meadow with cheat grass, other tall grasses, scrub oak, and thistle. The slope ranges from 0 to 5 degrees with a southern aspect (Figure 45). It measures 24 m north-south by 28 m east-west (Figure 46). The soil on this site is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than 50 cm. 5LP8440 is on a T1 terrace of the La Plata River, and the river is approximately 150 m meters away.

Artifacts recorded at this site include broken glass, including solarized shards, whiteware ceramics, milled lumber, and a handful of decorative glass ―marbles‖, or the colored glass used in aquariums. Feature 1 is an alignment of river cobbles that appear rectangular in shape; although, the eastern side is either obscured or non-existent. The eleven cobbles range in size from 30 cm to 45 cm in length, with the feature length totaling 2.75 m by 1 m wide.

The original function for this 5LP8440 is unknown. It is possibly associated with buildings that appear on an 1885 map of the original Fort Lewis. This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station, and in a heavily disturbed pasture. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

Figure 45. View of 5LP8440 looking northeast. Feature 1 is not visible but located near the cluster of trees.

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Figure 46. Plan map of 5LP8440. 62

5LP8441 This site is located along the T3 terrace above and to the west of the main Fort Lewis complex. It consists of an orchard and a concrete and cobble structure (Figure 47). The structure is located at the northwestern end of the apple orchard. The orchard is very old, but just how old we do not know. The feature consists of a horseshoe-shaped concrete and cobble structure with two walls on either side (Figure 48). The site is on U.S.G.S. Kline 7.5’ Quadrangle at an elevation of 2335 m (7660 ft) asl. It is situated along the base of the T4 terrace of the La Plata River, and the slope ranges from 5 to 20 degrees with an easterly aspect. Apple trees, scrub oak, and various grasses surround the structure. The soil in the area is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than 50 cm. The total area of the orchard is 13,125 m².

This feature is most likely related to water. It may be part of an old irrigation or a canal system that fed the orchard or it could also be some type of erosion device keeping sediments and water from flooding the land. The feature measures 7.5 m long by 2.4 m wide. Lichen covering the feature suggests that it is greater than 50 years old. Old chicken wire and woven wire fencing that probably surrounded the orchard are the only other artifacts associated with the structure.

This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the occupation of Fort Lewis when it was a high school, but it could be as old as the Indian boarding school. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP as a contributing site within the proposed Old Fort Lewis Historic District.

Figure 47. Concrete and cobble feature at 5LP8441.

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Figure 48. Plan map of rock and concrete feature, 5LP8441.

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5LP8442 This site is a brick scatter located in a cut alfalfa field along the top of the T4 terrace of the La Plata River, on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It is at an elevation of 2336 m (7665 ft) asl. Vegetation on site is alfalfa, surrounded by the natural vegetation of Gambel oak, sagebrush, and cheatgrass (Figure 49). The site has a very slight slope of between 0 and 2 degrees with a slight southeastern aspect but mostly it is open. The site is very large (150m x 50 m) but with a light artifact scatter (Figure 50). The soil is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than 1 meter.

This site may have been a brick manufacturing area or a dump site. It may have originally been in a tighter concentration, but has since been spread out by farming equipment. Other artifacts observed include a few pieces of crockery. No artifacts were collected from this site.

The original function of 5LP8442 is unknown. It is now part of agricultural land for the CSU Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the early 1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

Figure 49. Site overview of 5LP8442 from the east.

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Figure 50. Plan map of 5LP8442. 66

5LP8443 (Harrow Site) This site is a broken plow and historic artifact scatter, located on the Kline 7.5’ U.S.G.S. Quadrangle. The site is in an open meadow near a stand of Gamble oak and surrounding by various grasses (Figure 51). It is at an elevation of 2332 m (7650 ft) asl, and measures 40 m north-south by 24 m east-west (Figure 52). The slope on the site ranges from 2 to 5 degrees with a slight southern aspect. The soil is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than 50 cm.

Artifacts recorded on the site include a broken-down cast iron and wooden plow, with the back wheels and axle still intact. Much of it has weathered in place. Two harrow wheels were found near other scrap metal and milled lumber scattered throughout the site. The plow may have been dumped here after it broke down. No artifacts were collected from this site.

This site is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the mid-1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is recommended as eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

Figure 51. Overview of broken down plow at site 5LP8443.

5LP8444 This site is the head gate for Lory Spring, helping to divert the spring through a pipe (Figure 53). It is located on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. The head gate is made of concrete and metal and measures .94 m long by 1.06 m wide (Figure 54). It appears that it is no

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Figure 52. Plan map of 5LP8443.

68 longer in use because water is flowing freely through the pipe. The site is at an elevation of 2332 m (7650 ft) asl, and has various grasses and scrub oak. There is no slope on the site, but the surrounding slope has a western aspect.

Figure 53. Lory Spring gate at site 5LP8444.

No artifacts are associated with the head gate. It is at the northwest corner of the cow lot, and within the grazing land for the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the mid-1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A.

5LP8445 This site is a historic artifact scatter located in an open pasture on the U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It is at an elevation of 2332 m (7650 ft) asl, and it measures 23 m north-south by 35 m east-west. There are Gamble oak, willow, elm, various grasses, and cheatgrass on site (Figure 55). There is no slope on site, but the surrounding slope has a western aspect. The soil is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than 50 cm. The site is located between two unnamed ditches in the middle of grazing land (Figure 56). The site may flood when the ditches are full.

The artifacts observed at site 5LP8445 include broken glass, wire-cut and square head nails, a gear cog, a dresser drawer hinge, scrap metal, a compressor, and a metal spoon (collected, possibly diagnostic). There are also 10 shaped sandstone blocks that are unaligned and whose function is unknown. They may have been dumped in the area or part of water diversion at one point in time.

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Figure 54. Plan map of headgate at Lory Spring 5LP8444.

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The original function for 5LP8445 is unknown. The site is most likely associated with the early occupation of Fort Lewis at least up until the mid-1900s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. It is also potentially eligible under Criterion D for its archaeological potential.

Figure 55. Site overview of 5LP8445 looking southwest.

5LP8446 This site is at the end of the narrow meadow on the east side of the La Plata River, on U.S.G.S. 7.5’ Kline Quadrangle. It is most likely a target staging area for the shooting range that has not been in operation for quite some time; although, recent shell casings litter the field where the site is located (Figure 57). There are cottonwoods, Gamble oak, sagebrush, tall grasses, and cheatgrass at this site. The slope is towards the La Plata River, which is west approximately 20 m. The target staging area measures 26 m wide by 6 m long and is at an elevation of 2328 m (7640 ft ) asl (Figure 58). The soil is a gravelly silt loam with a depth greater than 50 cm.

The staging area is made up of seven or more wooden target hoist frames (with more wooden planks), each measuring approximately 3 m by 2 m (Figure 58). The hoists are located at the bottom of a trench, leaning against the wall, approximately 3-5 m tall and to the top of a berm on the south side. The frames have metal pulleys attached to them. A small wooden and tin shack (4 m x 7.45 m) is at the east end of the trench. Cartridge casings and slugs are scattered on the slope directly behind and to the north of the staging area. A small scattering of bricks was also observed to the south of the staging area on the slope between the 1st and 2nd terraces of the river. Cans, scrap metal, wire, piping, and nails were also observed at the site but no artifacts were collected.

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Figure 56. Plan map of 5LP8445.

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5LP8446 is now part of grazing land for cattle at the CSU Agricultural Station. The site is most likely associated with the middle period of occupation of Fort Lewis Educational Complex at least up until the early 1950s. The site is recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A.

Figure 57. Overview of target staging area at site 5LP8446. View is to the southwest.

6.0 Conclusion and Management Recommendations

A cultural resource survey of 247 acres surrounding and including the Old Fort Lewis Complex was undertaken by staff and students from the Anthropology Department at Fort Lewis College during the summer of 2007. The FLC archaeological field school spent three days at the site learning survey methods. Several sites were recorded during the field school and students in the class completed site forms, digitized maps, and analyzed artifacts in the lab as part of their field school experience.

In July of 2007, a crew of 4 students and Mona Charles faculty/staff member from the Anthropology Department and principal investigator completed the pedestrian survey of the 247 acres. At the conclusion of the survey 21 newly recorded archaeological resources were identified and documented, 14 isolated finds were documented, and a reevaluation was conducted of the Old Fort Lewis Complex, site number 5LP1968. A record’s search on the

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Figure 58. Plan map of 5LP8446.

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OAHP Compass website showed that two site numbers were assigned to the Old Fort Lewis Complex─5LP1968 and 5LP1969. A single site number had been assigned to the two remaining stone buildings constructed during the military operation at Fort Lewis. The other number was used for the standing architecture other than the two military buildings. In discussion with Mary Sullivan form OAHP, it was decided that the better approach was to keep a single number for the ―archaeological remains‖ of the Old Fort Complex. Separate site numbers then were assigned to all standing architecture regardless of its age. The results of the standing architecture survey are presented in a separate document authored by Jill Seyfarth.

The newly recorded sites (21) are mostly historic artifact scatters. One site is a multi- component historic and prehistoric artifacts scatter. Other site types include the Old Fort Lewis cemetery, the historic and modern trash dump, what is probably the remains of a historic pump house, an adobe brick scatter that may have been a kiln site, a historic orchard, and water diversion site, a shooting range, and the H & H irrigation ditch. A historic records search has shown that many of the historic artifact scatters could be associated with the infrastructure of Fort Lewis when it was a military fort although the remains of these frame structures such as the corral, blacksmith shop, sawmill, etc. are no longer visible from the surface. Continued mapping, geophysical surveys, and eventually excavations could result in better determinations of these sites.

It is certainly recommended that archaeological survey continue beyond the limits of the 247 acres included in the local Old Fort Lewis Historic District designation. We know that the shooting range for the military fort lies beyond the boundary of the district as does a brick kiln site. These are just two examples of known resources that should be documented and included within the Historic District. Fort Lewis College archaeological field school plans to return to the area on a yearly basis to continue the inventory of sites on the military reservation.

A Fort Lewis Historic District would be potentially eligible for the National Register under Criterion A, significance to the broad patterns of our history, in the areas of Military, Education, and Government. This potential NRHP district encompasses a rare example of the Department of War’s post-Civil War movement to establish military posts to protect settlers and to encourage settlement in the western frontier. Approximately 100 of these posts were established. Buildings from the original Fort Lewis combined with the quadrangle’s layout and orientation, established the character of the campus and guided subsequent physical development of the site as a unified entity of buildings, structures, and uses. The evolution of the military facility into one of the 23 federally-managed Indian Schools established across the country and the transformation from an Indian School to a public agricultural high school and ultimately to a junior college as part of the Colorado State Board of Agriculture extension program illustrate significant trends in our history related to Government and Education.

The period of significance extends from the establishment of the Fort at this site in 1880 to the departure of the junior college from the site in 1956. The boundary of the district would include the formal campus as it was organized around the original military quadrangle, and associated activity areas such as the former football field at the south end of the campus, as well as the associated agricultural buildings located to the north of the quadrangle that were established by the Fort and expanded upon by the schools. The boundaries for the proposed 75 district encompass an area within the over 6,000 acre Military Reservation that was established for Fort Lewis.

It is possible that an archaeological survey for historic resources on the Military Reservation and outside of the proposed boundary may uncover other areas associated with the campus and its evolution from military post to junior college, which would necessitate a reconsideration of the recommended boundary. Most of the sites recorded during this survey are believed to be associated with the military and/or educational use of the Old Fort Lewis Complex and these sites are recommended as contributing to a potential historic district under Criterion A. Most of the sites are also recommended as potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D as well for their archaeological potential.

A master preservation plan is underway to protect and enhance this most valuable resource. The Old Fort Lewis property, which contains exceptional historic buildings and several key archaeological sites, is utilized by several federal, state, and community groups. The requests for additional uses and resource extraction activities are on-going and anticipated to increase as La Plata County has and will continue to grow in population and experience increased gas exploration and drilling. The cultural resource assessment, survey and preservation plan will provide Fort Lewis College with essential information for making informed land use decisions while providing teaching and research opportunities.

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APPENDIX I Feature Maps, 5LP1968

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APPENDIX II Site Forms

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