Robert Dello-Russo, and Stephen S. Post James L. Moore, Nancy J. Akins
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A RESEARCH DESIGN FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF 14 SITES AT SPACEPORT AMERICA, SIERRA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO James L. Moore, Nancy J. Akins, Robert Dello-Russo, and Stephen S. Post Office of Archaeological Studies Museum of New Mexico Archaeology Notes 430 2010 MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES A Research Design for the Archaeological Investigation of 14 Sites at Spaceport America, Sierra County, New Mexico James L. Moore, Nancy J. Akins, Robert Dello-Russo, and Stephen S. Post With contributions by Jessica A. Badner Matthew J. Barbour Stephen Hall Pamela McBride Elizabeth A. Oster Donald E. Tatum Karen Wening C. Dean Wilson Submitted by Robert Dello-Russo, Ph.D., and Stephen S. Post Principal Investigators ARCHAEOLOGY NOTES 430 SANTA FE 2010 NEW MEXICO Abstract As requested by the New Mexico Spaceport Section 106 review of the proposed undertaking, Authority, this document presents a detailed with Section 106 consulting parties including plan for the archaeological investigation of 14 the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation sites at Spaceport America in Sierra County, New (ACHP), the USDI Bureau of Land Management Mexico. These sites include LA 111420, LA 111421, (BLM; NM State Office), the New Mexico State LA 111422, LA 111429, LA 111432, LA 111435, LA Historic Preservation Office-Historic Preservation 112370, LA 112371, LA 112374, LA 155963, LA Division (SHPO-HPD), the New Mexico Spaceport 155964, LA 155968, LA 155969, and LA 156877. Authority, and the New Mexico State Land Office The project area is located on lands administered (SLO). This plan includes overviews of the physical by the New Mexico State Land Office and the environment and culture history of the project Bureau of Land Management in the Jornada del area, a theoretical research perspective, a research Muerto, a large, north-south oriented basin in design that will be used to guide this endeavour, south-central New Mexico. The Federal Aviation discussions of field and analytic procedures, and Administration is the lead agency responsible for descriptions of both the included sites and the the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) proposed level of archaeological effort at each of and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) those sites. ABSTR A CT III Contents Abstract ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������i Chapter 1: Introduction and Statement of Purpose Elizabeth A. Oster ��������������������������������������������������������1 Spaceport America Regulatory Background ............................................................................................1 Status of Information about Cultural Resources in the Areas of Potential Effects .............................3 Previous Consultation Documents ............................................................................................................6 Rationale for the Current Research Design ..............................................................................................6 Chapter 2: The Physical Environment James L. Moore �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 Geology ..........................................................................................................................................................9 Soils ..............................................................................................................................................................10 Vegetation ...................................................................................................................................................11 Fauna ............................................................................................................................................................12 Physical Environment of the Rio Grande Rift Province, Mexican Highlands Area .........................12 Chapter 3: Overview of the Culture History of the Jornada Mogollon Region James L. Moore �������������21 Paleoindian Period (10,000-6,000 BC) ......................................................................................................21 Archaic Period (6,000 BC-AD 200) ...........................................................................................................24 Formative Period (AD 200/400-1450) .....................................................................................................29 Protohistoric Period (AD 1450-1600) .......................................................................................................43 Historic Period ............................................................................................................................................45 A Brief Survey of Archaeological Sites in the Study Area ...................................................................48 Chapter 4: Field Methods James L. Moore �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������51 Phasing and Levels of Effort .....................................................................................................................51 General Excavation Procedures ...............................................................................................................53 Specific Excavation Methods ....................................................................................................................56 Special Situations........................................................................................................................................59 Metal Detector Surveys .............................................................................................................................60 Chapter 5: A Plan for Data Recovery and Research-Oriented Investigations at Spaceport America James L. Moore and Robert Dello-Russo ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������63 Theoretical Research Orientation Robert Dello-Russo ............................................................................63 Theme 1: Development of Prehistoric and Historic Chronologies, Cultural Histories, and Historic Contexts for All Time Periods of Occupation/Use in the Region .......................................67 Theme 2: Interaction of Settlement, Land Use, Access to Scarce/Desired Resources, and Subsistence Practices in the Region for All Time Periods and All Cultures .....................................69 Theme 3: Military History, Encompassing Native American Military Activities as Well as Spanish, Mexican, and American Military Actions and Settlements Including Historic Forts and Camps ..................................................................................................................................................75 Theme 4: Dynamics of Trade, Interaction, and Economy throughout All Time Periods, Including a Focus on El Camino Real as a Transportation Corridor, Exploration of the Development of Railroads in the Region, and the Development of Aerospace Exploration in New Mexico ................................................................................................................................................76 Questions Unrelated to the Research Themes .......................................................................................78 Chapter 6: Site Descriptions, Testing Results, and Field Approaches CONTENTS V Nancy J. Akins and Stephen S. Post �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������79 Horizontal Launch Area (HLA) ...............................................................................................................79 Vertical Launch Area (VLA) ...................................................................................................................102 Chapter 7: Analytic Methods and Material Culture: Subsistence, Chronometric, and Environmental Inquiries James L. Moore, Nancy J. Akins, Jessica A. Badner, Matthew J. Barbour, Pamela McBride, Karen Wening, and C. Dean Wilson ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������133 Treatment and Processing of Collected Materials ...............................................................................133 Architectural Materials ............................................................................................................................134 Botanical Materials ...................................................................................................................................136 Ceramic Artifact Analysis .......................................................................................................................140 Chipped Stone Artifacts ..........................................................................................................................145 Chronometric Samples ............................................................................................................................148 Euroamerican Artifacts: ..........................................................................................................................151 Research Issues and Analysis .................................................................................................................151 Fauna ..........................................................................................................................................................155