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Utah Archaeology 1989

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Utah Archaeology 1989 56 UTAH ARCHAEOLOGY 1989 42MD300, AN EARLY HOLOCENE entirely dependent on typological cross-dating. SITE IN THE SEVIER DESERT Given the broad time span suggested by the artifacts from the site, some attempt to obtain absolute ages Steven R Simms, Department of Sociology, seemed appropriate prior to more intensive Social Work and Anthropology, Utah State investigation. This paper reports on fieldwork University, Logan, Utah 84322-0730 conducted in 1985 by Simms, which was designed to La Mar W. Lindsay, Richfield District Bureau ascertain bracketing ages for the cultural material at of Land Management, 150 East 900 North, the site. All of the material appeared to be eroding Richfield, Utah 84701 from one stratigraphic zone which suggested the possibility of obtaining samples of shell and sediment for radiocarbon dating from deposits INTRODUCTION bracketing the level of origin of the cultural material. Two radiocarbon dates retrieved in 1985 from 42Md300, a site in the Sevier Desert of western SITE DESCRIPTION Utah (Figures 1 and 2), indicate that typologically early cultural material was probably deposited 42Md300 is a large, 625 m north-south by between 7,700 and 9,500 years ago and possibly 400 between 7,710 - 10,430 years ago. Located about m east-west, teardrop-shaped depression 35 km (22 miles) southwest of Delta, the site was created by wind erosion into sediments associated recorded in 1976 by La Mar Lindsay and Kay with various past habitats of the Sevier River Sargent of the Utah Division of State History. It floodplain (Figures 1 and 2). Large sand dunes was nominated to the National Register of Historic have accumulated along the northeast and southeast Places by Bruce Hawkins and Walter Dodd, Jr. in rims of the site, and smaller dunes ring the 1979 and reported in Janetski and Holmer remainder of the depression. The south rim of the (1982Appendix D). The significance of this site is depression is at an elevation of 1,388 m and it based on the presence of typologically early lithic slopes there to a maximum depth of 3.5 m materials (e.g., Figure 3a) including single (Figure 4). The depression itself is barren except specimens of Folsom, Meserve, Plainview, and two for a few mounds of greasewood-stabilized sediment lanceolate specimens resembling Agate Basin points. found primarily along the eastern slopes. They were observed by Lindsay in the personal Vegetation above and surrounding the depression is collection of Milton McQueary of Delta. The most a saltbush (Atiplex confertiflora) and greasewood common points at the site (Figure 3b) are those of (Sarcobatus venniculatus) association extendmg for the Western Stemmed Tradition, a large category several kilometers in all directions. Other appropriatelylumped into one unit by Bryan (1980). depressions and playas occur in the Sevier Desert Stemmed points have been reported from the area and while typologically early lithic material from by Janetski and Holmer (1982) and we have them abounds in private collections, no systematic observed these kinds of points while visiting the site. work has attended to these cases. Dozens of Western Stemmed Points (which include subtypes such as Silver Lake and Lake Mohave At 42Md300, cultural material is most common among others) from 42Md300 and other sites in the along the southern slopes of the depression, but are in the personal collection of Jay Gustaveson as smaller concentrations occur in the northeast comer well as that of Mr. McQueary. Mr. Gustaveson also of the site and on a remnant mound of sediment owns a small, resharpened Clovis point that may be near the center of the depression (Figure 4). A from 42Md300 although its provenience cannot be very diffuse scatter of artifacts occur as lag deposits absolutely established. In addition to the points, the on the ancient lacustrine sediments of the site has yielded crescentic5 (Figure 3b), large depression floor as well. Artifact density is lowest quantities of chipping debris, stones likely along the eastern slopes of the depression where it transported to the site, and fire-cracked stones. is possible that erosion has not yet progressed to the level of artifact-bearing sediments. The significance of 42Md300 has been well established, and validated by inclusion on the Level of Origin of Cultural Material National Register of Historic Places. However, when the site was nominated its chronology was Artifacts at 42Md300 appear to originate in, or immediately below, a dark deposit of silty-clay loam, REPORTS I I \ , I f 1 I \ I \ I \ $ --- High Stand of Lake Bonneville 0 50 lOOKm w Early Holocene Gunnim Marsh Figure 1. Map of the eastern Great Basin showing the location of 42Md300 and related features. 58 UTAH ARCHAEOLOGY 1989 - -- %r --Z"-* . , ..,. -i" " ""*--- -9 7,- - r - - T*--__i .- Figure 2. The site depression looking to the northeast. The Folsom Point was proportedly recovered from the surface in the near foreground. containing an organic fraction, or possibly stained by Another exposure of the dark sediment and artifacts organic material. This deposit is most prominent was found in the northeast corner of the depression and extensive along the southern margins of the (Figure 4), with a dense lag deposit of broken depression (Figure 4). Over the course of eight gastropod shells. The zone of dark sediment is the visits to the site between 1982 and 1985, new highest point along the slopes of the depression artifacts were observed eroding out no higher than where artifacts are visible and we know of no the level of the dark sediment and occurring with typologically late material that has come from the deposits of pea gravels along the southern margins slopes of the depression, although late Archaic and of the depression. The 1985 test excavations Late Prehistoric projectile points have been found revealed that the level of origin of the pebbles was above on the surrounding modern surface. adjacent to and stratigraphically below the dark, organic deposit. Thus, the deposition of cultural material may have post-dated the deposits of pea Depositional History and Early Holocene Situation gravel and been associated with the dark sediments at 42Md300 above. A similar situation was observed near the center of the depression where an exposure of dark, The above evidence suggests that the artifacts organic sediment and artifacts are exposed. occurring with the dark sediments are from a REPORTS 59 Figure 3a. Recent photograph of the Folsom and other heavily patinated obsidian points from the site (scale in cm). Figure 3b. Recent photograph of some Western Stemmed Tradition points and crescents obtained from the site (scale in cm). UTAH ARCHAEOLOGY 1989 \ 4 \ \ "0 42MD300 \ % \ .:.... >. \ .-...,.::::$ .'.. artifacts/organic sediment ....a. EXCAVATION UNlT ONE EXCAVATION UNlT TWO 1387.3 rn Area of Folsorn point find 0 50 100 To 42MD743 -meters 1 450 \ Figure 4. Map of 42Md300 showing locations of test excavation units and exposures of dark sediment and artifacts. Elevations are for ground surface. REPORTS 61 temporally &mete unit, buried by later sediments surface data. There are no cultural features, and fmally eroded into view. Oviatt (1988) reports although stones (5 - 20 cm in diameter) which may on recent as well as past fieldwork on the lacustral not have been naturally deposited can occasionally history of the Sevier Desert. Present evidence be found scattered across the artifact bearing areas. indicates that the area of 42Md300 was under an These may have once been part of cultural features, open body of water (the transition from Gunnison but since the surface has deflated, the form of these to Sevier Lakes) until shortly after 10,000 B.P. features would have been destroyed. Definition of During the early to middle Holocene, Sevier Lake intact cultural features, if present, must await more did not rise above 1,381 m (Oviatt 1988), about 5.5 extensive excavation. The range of debris reported meters lower than the floor of the 42Md300 from the site, which not only includes finshed tools, depression. While the area of 42Md300 was but manufacturing debris of several material types, apparently not under lake waters after about 10,000 suggests that the site represents at least temporary B.P., the sediments show that it contained wetlands field camps or locations (sensu Binford 1980), at various times. Research at site 42Md743, only possibly occupied repeatedly. 900 meters south of 42Md300 suggests that this stretch of the Sevier River floodplain was characterized by complex channels, ponds, and 1985 TEST EXCAVATIONS TO OBTAIN periods of high biomass in the millennia prior to ca. RADIOCARBON SAMPLES 6,000 B.P. (Simms and Isgreen 1984:398-402). Evidence at 42Md743 also shows that dune Fieldwork was conducted on June 3, 1985, and formation commenced in early Holocene times in consisted of two small test excavations along with the area (Simms and Isgreen 1984398). Thus, early instrument surveying to ascertain absolute elevations Holocene habitats probably included sand dunes, of the exposed strata. Exposures that could yield marsh vegetation in ponds and channels along the datable material had been identified on previous Sevier River, and areas of high biomass such as salt trips to the site. One (Excavation Unit One) was in grass meadows subject to intermittent inundation. the northeast corner of the depression (Figure 4), An analogy for the prehistoric habitat may be found the area of dark sediment, shell, and a few artifacts. in the written accounts of the Escalante expedition Artifact collecting has apparently decreased the in 1776 (Bolton 1972) and from mountain man density of cultural material in this area because it is Daniel Potts, who was in the area in 1827 (Bagley closest to the road. Tire tracks have been observed 1964). They clearly state that the vicinity of the at the south end of the site as well.
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