Preserving Cultural Resources
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PRESERVATION Yellowstone’s cultural resources tell the stories of people, shown here around 1910 near the Old Faithful Inn, and their connections to the park. The protection of these resources affects how the park is managed today. Preserving Cultural Resources Yellowstone National Park’s mission includes pre- have been in the area. Archeological evidence indi- serving and interpreting evidence of past human cates that people began traveling through and using activity through archeology and historic preservation; the area that was to become Yellowstone National features that are integral to how a group of people Park more than 11,000 years ago. Because the in- identifies itself (ethnographic resources); and places tensity of use varies through time as environmental associated with a significant event, activity, person conditions shift, archeological resources also provide or group of people that provide a sense of place a means for interdisciplinary investigations of past and identity (historic buildings, roads, and cultural climate and biotic change. landscapes). All of these materials and places tell the Many thermal areas contain evidence that early story of people in Yellowstone. Collectively, they are people camped there. At Obsidian Cliff, a National referred to as cultural resources. Historic Landmark, volcanic glass was quarried for the manufacture of tools and ceremonial artifacts Archeology that entered a trading network extending from Archeological resources are the primary—and often western Canada to the Midwest. These remnants of the only—source of information about humans in past cultures must be preserved, as they are invalu- Yellowstone for nearly the entire time that people able in our understanding of early people in the Quick Facts Archeological Historic • Museum collection of more than 1 • More than 1,850 known • 25 sites, landmarks, and districts million museum items, including 30 prehistoric and historic Native listed on the National Register of historic vehicles American archeological sites Historic Places; many more eligible • Archives containing millions of and historic European American for listing historic documents archeological sites • More than 900 historic buildings • Research library holds more than Ethnographic • 1 National Historic Trail 20,000 books and periodicals • More than 300 ethnographic available to the public; plus resources (animals, plants, Collections manuscripts and rare books sites, etc.) Housed in the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center available to historians and other researchers Preserving Cultural Resources 29 area. Historic archeological sites in Yellowstone organic artifacts such as charcoal or bone. However, include the remains of early tourist hotels and army organic materials (wood, bone, basketry, textiles) soldier stations. rarely persist in the Yellowstone environment be- cause of the acidic, thermally influenced soils. Stone Findings in Yellowstone artifacts provide most of the chronological informa- Although more than 1,850 archeological sites have tion on Yellowstone’s prehistory. Most of the stone been documented since the archeology program tools that can be associated with a particular time pe- began in 1995, less than 3% of the park has been riod are projectile points. At Malin Creek, campsites inventoried. Most documented sites are in devel- from five distinct periods of indigenous use spanning PRESERVATION oped areas because archeological evidence has been more than 9,000 years are stacked upon each other identified there inadvertently, or as part of National starting at five feet below the surface. These oc- Historic Preservation Act compliance related to con- cupations have revealed how tool manufacture and struction, hazard fuel reduction, or other projects. foodways changed over time. Condition assessments performed on most of The earliest evidence of humans in Yellowstone the documented sites found 1,013 were in good is an 11,000-year-old Clovis-type spear point found condition, 383 were fair, and 190 sites were in poor near the park’s north entrance in Gardiner, Montana, condition. Twenty-five of the sites no longer existed and made of obsidian from Obsidian Cliff. (Obsidian because of natural factors or disturbance as a result from different lava flows can be chemically finger- of construction or other authorized activity, and 238 printed using X-ray fluorescence analysis.) Later in lack condition data. Emergency excavations have time, point types increase in number and type, which been conducted at some sites where archeological may indicate that the number of people in the area remains are especially vulnerable to disturbance or was becoming larger as well as more diverse. Most loss through erosion or illegal collecting. documented sites in the park date to the Archaic pe- Multiple significant sites along the Yellowstone riod (8,000 to 1,800 years ago), suggesting that it was River have been nominated to the National Register the most intense period of use by prehistoric people. of Historic Places. These contain projectile points or Recent archeological surveys have identified a large arrowheads, scrapers and other tools, and concentra- number of sites dating to later periods in prehistory tions of burned and butchered bone, including the (approximately 1400–1800 CE). Distinguishing use of first evidence of fishing found in the park. these sites by different ethnic groups or tribes, how- Radiocarbon dating is used to establish the age of ever, has not yet been possible. Cultural Resource Laws The Antiquities Act (1906) federal highway projects in Yellowstone include archeological Provides for the protection of historic, prehistoric, and surveys. scientific features and artifacts from federal lands. American Indian Religious Freedom Act (1978) The Historic Sites Act (1935) Protects and preserves American Indian access to sites, use Sets a national policy to “preserve for future public use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship historic sites, buildings, and objects.” through ceremonial and traditional rites. The National Historic Preservation Act (1966) The Archeological Resources Protection Act (1979) Requires that federal agencies take into account effects of Provides for the preservation, protection, and custody of their undertakings on historic properties. Authorizes the excavated materials, records, and data. creation of the National Register of Historic Places and gives The Native American Graves Protection and extra protection to National Historic Landmarks and properties Repatriation Act (1990) in the National Register. National parks established for their Assigns ownership or control of Native American human historic value are automatically registered; others, such as remains, funerary objects, and sacred objects of cultural Yellowstone, must nominate landmarks and properties to the patrimony to culturally affiliated Native American groups. register. Executive Order 13007 The Archeological and Historic Preservation Act (1974) Guarantees access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred Provides for the preservation of significant scientific, historic, sites by Indian religious practitioners to ensure that these sites and archeological material and data that might be lost or are not adversely affected. destroyed by federally sponsored projects. For example, 30 Yellowstone Resources and Issues Handbook, 2019 PRESERVATION The Northern Pacific Railroad established Cinnabar (shown here in 1901) in 1883 as the last stop on its branch line to Yellowstone National Park, and caused The earliest intact cultural deposits in the park have its abandonment after the railroad was extended to been found at a site on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. the park boundary in 1902–1903. Yellowstone Lake Some of the earliest intact archeological deposits in changing environmental conditions, in 2016 the park the park have been found at a site on the shore of embarked on a project to assess wildfire impacts on Yellowstone Lake. The site was excavated because it archaeological resources from the 2016 Maple Fire was at risk of erosion, and that excavation revealed and Tatanka Fire Complex. Condition assessments evidence of a 9,350-year-old camp likely occupied by have been completed for over 70 sites, and analysis several families. People used this area while hunting of data is ongoing. Preliminary results indicate sites bear, deer, bighorn, and rabbits, and perhaps making subjected to intense heat and loss of vegetation are tools and clothes. Artifacts dating to 3,000 years ago more susceptible to post-fire erosion, flooding, and have also been discovered on islands in the lake, lead- other landscape processes which expose or threaten ing some archeologists to speculate that indigenous archeological resources. peoples used watercraft to travel there, or crossed over on the frozen lake. Lewis and Snake River Headwaters Survey In 2014, archeology staff completed an intensive Town Site of Cinnabar, Montana inventory of 60 square kilometers of the Lewis and In 1932, Yellowstone National Park increased in Snake river valleys, which served as major transpor- size by 7,609 acres to the north, on the west side of tation corridors for many nomadic people. Newly the Yellowstone River. Most of what are called the identified sites include prehistoric quarries, camp- “boundary lands” was purchased from willing own- sites, and lithic scatters dating to between 10,000 and ners; the rest was taken by eminent domain. But the 1,500 years ago, as well as