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Home My WebLink About20012878 / R Weld County Planning Services Weld County Planning Commission Board of Weld County Commissioners Use by Special Review Permit, USR 1306 S & H Gravel Mine, Weld County Colorado Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC MITIGATION CONCESSIONS 1. To protect unmarked graves and archaeological, historical and prehistoric sites—require that a Cultural Resource Survey of the entire property owned by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC and all the surrounding properties in Sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36 of T4N-R67W, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of T3N-R67W be performed by the Colorado Historical Society at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. 2. To protect unmarked graves and archaeological, historical and prehistoric sites—require that a Ground Penetration Radar Study of entire property owned by Platte Sand and Gravel be performed by DU Anthropologist Larry Conyers (or another professional of like expertise and experience), and paid for by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. 3. To protect unmarked graves and archaeological, historical and prehistoric sites—require that 80 to 100 acres surrounding the approximate 2/3 of an acre site of the 1911 DAR marker,the 1837 fur trade fort and all the other unnumbered historical sites be negotiated with and deeded to the Platteville Historical Society by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC free of charge in order to legally rebuild Fort St. Vrain, along with a Museum/Visitor Center, parking area, river access, et cetera. 4. To protect unmarked graves and archaeological, historical and prehistoric sites—require that a paid, full-time archaeologist selected by the Colorado Historical Society and the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation be on site during all work sifts and/or all hours of operation at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. 5. To protect unmarked graves and archaeological, historical and prehistoric sites— require that all mining and heavy industrial production use permits for this property be stayed so that the other historical sites, et cetera on these properties can be properly investigated and numbered by the Colorado Historical Society. 6. To protect unmarked graves and archaeological, historical and prehistoric sites—require that all mining and heavy industrial production use permits for this property be stayed so that these properties can be properly investigated for potential designation as a National Historic Indian Site. EXHIBIT 2001-2878 76 it 7. To correct unsafe road and highway conditions and protect the lives of local residents and other travelers—require all east-west county roads between SH 66 on the south and SH 256 (the Peckham oil) on the north and all north-south roads between US 85 on the east and WCR 19 on the west be paved according to state and federal specifications, regulations, et cetera at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. 8. To correct unsafe road and highway conditions and protect the lives of local residents and other travelers—require Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC to purchase and pay for sufficient right-of-way on the north and/or south sides of SH 66 in order to add a continuous center lane starting 1 mile east of the intersection of SH 66 and WCR 21 and ending Yz mile west of the intersection of SH 66 and WCR 13 (this is a minimum distance—the maximum distance would begin at the intersection of US 85 and SH 66, and end at the intersection of I-25 and SH 66),with acceleration and deceleration lanes at every intersection between those points, and acceleration and deceleration lanes at every commercial, industrial and other business entrance/exit between those points, and widen the bridge over the St. Vrain River(or South Platte River and the St. Vrain River). This would require paying the landowners a fair and equitable price for a sufficient portion of their property to make such improvements. This would also require sufficient monies to change and/or improve driveways and other entrances or exits; move irrigation and other wells and ditches; move residential and business fences, landscaping and various buildings; move residential and business buried telephone, cable, electric and other lines and/or upright poles, et cetera; move other residential and business gas lines, water lines, et cetera; move gas and other utility company lines and/or wells, et cetera; and make any and all other necessary changes in conjunction with the highway improvement project. September 30, 2001 Kim Ogle, Planner Weld County Planning Services 1555 North 17th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 RE: Use by Special Review Permit, USR 1306 S & H Gravel Mine,Weld County Colorado Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC, Owner/Operator Dear Mr. Ogle: In May of this year we opposed the issuance of a Use by Special Review Permit to Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC (Tom Sharkey and Krystal Hoffschneider) that would allow them or any prospective leaseholders, buyers, et cetera to create S & H Gravel Mine or any other mine, and thereafter allow any parties or entities to mine 850± acres of ground and operate a gravel plant, an asphalt batch plant, a concrete batch plant, an asphalt and concrete recycling plant, and a pre- cast concrete manufacturing plant on those parts of Sections 26-T4N-R67W, 34-T4N-R67W, 35- T4N-R67W and 2-T3N-R67W southeast or east of and adjacent to the South Platte River; and a railroad load-out yard in that part of Section 26-T4N-R67N northwest of and adjacent to the South Platte River; and any other non-agricultural activities in that part of Section 23-T4N- - R67W northwest of and adjacent to the South Platte River, which are northwest of Platteville and west of Gilcrest in Weld County, Colorado. We now oppose any and all amendments, revisions, changes, et cetera to the original application. We do not consider the production and/or other downsizing amendments to be any more acceptable than the original commercial or industrial operations stated in the original application. Instead, we believe that the production and other downsizing amendments are a diversionary tactic being used by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC to accomplish their original purpose and intent. Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC can and will ask for extensions to the length of this amended application, thereby increasing the amended timeframe to the original timeframe in the original application, and they can and will apply for additional permits to mine other portions of their property, thereby increasing the smaller amount of land to be mined to the original acreage in the original application. Additionally, Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC is trying to circumvent the Platteville/Gilcrest Fire District's objections, and they will apply for permits for all the buildings and other facilities listed in the original application after this permit application has been approved. Nothing has really changed. We, therefore, request that the Weld County Planning Commission and the Weld County Board of Commissioners deny this permit application. Land Use Violations The proposed mining and the non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations and other uses of this property violate the Comprehensive Plans of Platteville, Gilcrest, Milliken and Weld County, which are designed to protect agricultural land and water and preserve them for agricultural use. This property is not zoned for non-agricultural and heavy industrial production 1 operations and other uses. In addition to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Conservation Service Soil Survey Sheets (Numbers 13 and 14 that depict the Johnstown and Milliken Quadrangles of Weld County South), the Official Prime Farmland Map of Weld County (prepared by the USDA Soil Conservation Service and the Colorado State University Experiment Station and other cooperating agencies) shows that a good portion of Section 26-T4N-R67W south and east of the South Platte River, and parts of Section 35-T4N-R67W and Section 2-T3N- R67W are prime farmland. In their application Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC erroneously states that said property is not prime farmland. Using prime farmland for non-agricultural activities, that is, the heavy industrialproduction operations stated in this application, flagrantly violates Weld County's Comprehensive Plan. Furthermore, the proposed non-agricultural and heavy industrial productions operations and other uses violate the Intergovernmental Agreements between these same government entities and it violates Federal laws, State statutes and County codes and ordinances, et cetera. For specific violations please refer to the United Neighborhood Responses and Attachments, along with the responses and referral letters from other individuals, agencies, towns, et cetera who are opposed to this permit application. Adverse Impact On State Highway 66 and Other Highways In their original application Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC proposed a designated haul route, which would put approximately 150 gravel trucks on Highway 66 (SH 66) and the connecting county roads at least twice a day, six days a week based on the production figures stated in the original application. While some people were projecting as many as 24 trips a day,Tom Sharkey, a partner in Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC, admitted at one of our neighborhood meetings that a gravel truck will leave and/or enter the mine site every four minutes. Using the designated haul route, these gravel trucks will enter and exit SH 66 at the intersection of WCR 21 (in an attempt to avoid the port of entry on US 85). We live on SH 66 between WCR 19 and WCR 21, which is also between Interstate 25 (I-25) and US Highway 85 (US 85). At the present time it is very difficult for us to cross SH 66 on foot to retrieve our mail out of our mailbox because of the already excessive amount of traffic on SH 66. Furthermore, we are currently experiencing extreme difficulty pulling into our driveway from SH 66 and out of our driveway onto SH 66 in either direction. On several occasions we have almost been rear-ended or hit broadside by passing vehicles when pulling into our driveway by traffic behind us and we have almost been hit head-on after pulling onto SH 66 by passing vehicles. There are very narrow and very steep shoulders adjacent to and close to our property along SH 66 between I-25 and US 85, and the barrow ditches are used for irrigation runoff. There is nowhere to go to avoid collisions except into these steep, water-filled ditches that pose a high risk of severe or fatal injury. Other people have also had close calls trying to use our driveway. We have to caution everyone who visits us or provides services to us, about this dangerous situation. All of the residents along SH 66 between I-25 and US 85 experience the same or similar problems. Furthermore, the State of Colorado does not own more land and right- of-way to widen these shoulders or to add an additional lane, they do not have the financial where-with-all to purchase more land and right-of-way, and such a project is not included in their current 20-year improvement plan. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) nothing is going to be done to correct the safety problems or to alleviate the heavy traffic on SH 66, which we understand is now at 140% capacity. 2 Furthermore, the newly operational Varra Industries gravel pit is about 3/4 of a mile west of our residence—the impact of this additional traffic from that gravel pit has been phenomenal. In addition to Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's gravel pit application, a second gravel pit to the north of Varra Industries' gravel pit directly across SH 66 has been applied for by Aggregate Industries on the Kurtz Ranch, and a third gravel pit to the east and south of Varra Industries' gravel pit has also been applied for by Owens Brothers on the Nix Farm. The combined traffic from Varra Industries' gravel pit and the three proposed pits will put a conservation total of 1,000 to 1500 heavy, industrial trucks on SH 66, maybe more. Adding more gravel trucks to the already excessive traffic on SH 66 will only worsen the safety problems and increase the death toll. SH 66 is one of the worst highways in Weld County for traffic accidents—several traffic fatalities have occurred at the intersections of SH 66 and WCRs 13 and 19. There are no acceleration, deceleration or left-hand turn lanes at the intersection of SH 66 and WCR 21 and the shoulders are very steep. The intersection of SH 66 and WCR 21 will become another death trap if Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's designated haul route and permit are approved. Alternate haul routes to and from Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties will have the same adverse effects and consequences on SH 60 and US 85. To correct unsafe road and highway conditions and protect the lives of local residents and other travelers we request that the Weld County Planning Commission and Weld County Board of Commissioners require Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC to purchase and pay for sufficient right-of- way on the north and/or south sides of SH 66 in order to add a continuous center lane starting 1/2 mile east of the intersection of SH 66 and WCR 21 and ending ' mile west of the intersection of SH 66 and WCR 13 (this is a minimum distance—the maximum distance would begin at the intersection of US 85 and SH 66, and end at the intersection of I-25 and SH 66), with acceleration and deceleration lanes at every intersection between those points, and acceleration and deceleration lanes at every commercial, industrial and other business entrance/exit between those points, and widen the bridge over the St. Vrain River (or South Platte River and the St. Vrain River). This would require paying the landowners a fair and equitable price for a sufficient portion of their property to make such improvements. This would also require sufficient monies to change and/or improve driveways and other entrances or exits; move irrigation and other wells and ditches; move residential and business fences, landscaping and various buildings; move residential and business buried telephone, cable, electric and other lines and/or upright poles, et cetera; move other residential and business gas lines, water lines, et cetera; move gas and other utility company lines and/or wells, et cetera; and make any and all other necessary changes in conjunction with the highway improvement project. Adverse Impact On Other County Roads The county residents living along other portions of the designated and alternative haul routes and the school buses and school children along the designated and alternative haul routes will be endangered by the increased heavy industrial truck traffic. The current State and County road systems and conditions cannot handle and will not hold up to this additional heavy industrial truck traffic. Both CDOT and Weld County Public Works (WCPW) are concerned about the additional traffic on the designated haul route and alternative haul routes and the safety hazards that they pose to other travelers. There are no acceleration, deceleration or left-hand turn lanes along the designated haul route, there are insufficient turning radii at the intersections along the 3 designated haul route, and there are other problems including the proximity of a county bridge to the intersection of WCRs 23 and 32 '/z, along with the proximity the proposed bridge over the Western Mutual Ditch at the corner of WCRs 23 and 36 and the insufficient turning radius. Both CDOT and WCPW are aware of and concerned about the problems related to the designated haul route and their referral letters have been returned to Weld County Planning Services. WCPW and their Traffic Engineer, in conjunction with CDOT, requested that a traffic study be completed for the designated haul route and alternate routes from Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties. We understand that a Traffic Study has been completed. However, we do not believe that the figures used in Traffic Study included with this amended application are a true or accurate reflection of the actual amount of traffic that will be generated by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's proposed gravel pit and its other commercial or industrial enterprises. This permit application should not be approved because of these traffic and safety issues. To correct unsafe road and highway conditions and protect the lives of local residents and other travelers we request that the Weld County Planning Commission and Weld County Board of Commissioners require all east-west county roads between SH 66 on the south and SH 256 (the Peckham oil) on the north, and all north-south roads between US 85 on the east and WCR 19 on the west be paved according to State and Federal specifications, regulations, et cetera, at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. Right-Of-Way and Access Violations There are right-of-way and access issues at the south end of the properties owned Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC, where they propose to build a bridge over the Western Mutual Ditch. The current owner(s) of the southernmost end of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties and/or their leaseholder(s) employees, et cetera are currently infringing on the adjacent property owners' right-of-way and they are violating the access rights of their neighbors by trespassing on their property—they are using Western Mutual Ditch Company's ditch road as a driveway to 'Crystal Hoffschneider's residence/property, instead of using the oil and gas roads as platted and deeded. After using Weld County plat maps and property deeds to research the right-of-way and access rights for these properties, we believe that a bridge cannot be legally and safely built across the ditch at the "L" intersection of WCRs 23 and 36 in line with WCR 23. Weld County does not have right-of-way west of the corner of WCRs 23 and 36 (between Sections 2 and 11 of T3N- R67W)—this right-of-way was deeded back to the landowners. It also appears that Weld County does not have right-of-way north of the corner of WCRs 23 and 36 (between Sections 1 and 2 of T3N-R67W) proceeding north to the "L" intersection of WCRs 23 and 38. There has never been a north-south county road between Sections 1 and 2 from WCR 36 to WCR 38 or visa versa. We have notified the Western Mutual Ditch Company and WCPW about our concerns regarding this litigious situation. Additionally, on the Weld County Road Access Information Sheet included with the mining application only the Residential/Agricultural, Permanent and Other boxes were checked. We feel that the Commercial and Industrial boxes should also have been checked by the applicant because of the non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations and other uses that are included in the original mining application. We understand that Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC and Western Mutual Ditch Company have signed some type of an agreement. While this agreement may be mutually agreeable to those two parties, we do not believe that it 4 protects the health, safety and welfare of the adjacent landowners and all other Weld County residents. We have the same concerns about any existing or pending agreements between Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC and CDOT or WCPW. Any and all agreements with either agency must protect the health, safety and welfare of the adjacent landowners and all other Weld County residents. This permit should not be approved because of these right-of-way and access issues and safety concerns. General Opposition Issues We are opposed to this amended application for several other reasons including, but not limited to, the depletion of the water levels of the South Platte River; water table and aquifer depletion and its effects on the domestic and agricultural wells on adjacent properties; ground water, aquifer, river and soil contamination; waste containment; noise, dust and exhaust pollution; the unwarranted length of the permit; et cetera. Many of the individual letters of opposition and the neighborhood letters of opposition go into further detail about these and various other issues. However, we are especially concerned about the results of studies performed by Forrest Leaf, a water engineer, which prove that dry mining on Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties will dry up approximately 30 domestic and agricultural wells on the adjacent properties. At one of the neighborhood meetings regarding his multi-use application Tom Sharkey made it very clear to the adjacent property owners that he had no intentions of making reparations for damage to the their wells as a result of his mining operations. We understand that in order to get their State permit Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC was forced to come to an agreement with a couple of the adjacent property owners regarding their wells. However, we do not believe that this agreement sufficiently protects the water rights of all the property owners who could be affected. The other 20-some domestic and agricultural wells are in the same aquifer, and no one can unequivocally guarantee that dry mining will dry up the closest wells before the wells that are farther out, which were also included in the studies performed by Forrest Leaf. Power Shortages We are also very concerned about the effect this mining operation will have on Xcel Energy's Fort St. Vrain power plant across the South Platte River from Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties. The power plant management has been concerned for some time about the water levels of the South Platte River in low water years as a result of insufficient precipitation from rain and snowfall, along with increased industrial impacts on the river upstream. The power plant's management realized some time ago that they need additional water storage pits in order to have enough water to operate in low water years. This concern has been magnified by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's application and reclamation plans for their adjacent properties, which will place further burdens on the river's water supply. The continuous series (or chain) of nine gravel pit ponds created by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's mining operations will lower or deplete the South Platte River's water levels in the immediate vicinity, which will cause severe operational problems for the power plant. The St. Vrain power plant must have sufficient river water to continue operating, and Colorado and Weld County need the power provided by the Fort St. Vrain power plant. None of us want to see the power shortages that are taking place in California and elsewhere. We need the Fort St. Vrain power plant and the power it produces worse than we need another gravel pit that will jeopardize the power plant's future operation and 5 existence. Xcel Energy's right to the South Platte River's water should take precedent in this situation. This permit application should not be approved because of these environmental issues. Environmental Impact Issues Furthermore, the properties in question, a three-mile-plus stretch of fertile river bottom, are the home of bald eagles, golden eagles, other raptors and many other species of wildlife. The current habitat on these properties includes vital wetlands and riparian areas for various species of plants and animals. The proposed mining and the non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations will destroy the wildlife habitat, wetlands and riparian areas, and as a result several species of animals and plant life will be endangered and/or destroyed. The proposed mining and the non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations will chase off the wildlife, especially the bald eagles, which will further threaten and endanger their existence as a species and our national symbol. The referral letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University is not site-specific. A site-specific study needs to be conducted before any permits are approved. This permit application should not be approved because of the threat to protected wildlife, wetlands and riparian areas. We understand that there is some sort of agreement between Platte Sand and Gravel,LLC and the USRWS and/or the Colorado Division of Wildlife regarding a Conservation Easement for the prairie dogs and their relocation. While this agreement may be mutually agreeable to those two or three parties, we find any such agreement offensive. Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC has not provided monies to relocate any of the families whose lives will be adversely affected and endangered by their proposed heavy industrial operations. The health, safety and welfare of humans should be more important than animals! Adverse Impact On Historical Sites Additionally, we conducted our own historical document research regarding these properties. The referral letter to the State of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology from the Colorado Historical Society is not comprehensive in its detail of the historical sites on Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties, and it only identifies 5WL870, a historical road (an old railroad siding and trestle), and 5WL814, the 1837-1846 Fort St. Vrain Fur Trading Post (aka Fort Lookout and Fort George)built by William and George Bent and Ceran St. Vrain of Bent, St. Vrain and Company, and operated by Marcellin St. Vrain. These properties are also the site of an Overland Stage Stop; a vital connection on Uncle Dick Wooten's private courier route between Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River in southern Colorado and Fort Laramie on LaRamee's Fork of the North Platte River in Wyoming and the resulting Pony Express operations; the town of St. Vrain; one of the first Weld County Post Offices; and the self-proclaimed 24 square-mile St. Vrain County, Jefferson Territory (as opposed to St. Vrain County, Nebraska Territory), which was the forerunner of Weld County, Colorado where the first Weld County Court House was built. Besides the Overland Stage Route (aka Old Stage Road) the property was traversed by the Trapper's Trail (aka Cherokee Trail or Taos Trail); the St. Vrain, Golden City and Colorado Wagon Road Company's toll road (aka the Territorial Highway) to Fort Junction (near present- day Del Camino), Golden and the gold mines of Colorado and California; a ferry and bridge crossing on the South Platte River from Fort St. Vrain in the 1860s; and the 1867 Wells Fargo Route (aka Platte River Road). In 1843 on his second expedition through the area Colonel John 6 C. Freemont was accompanied by the famous scouts and guides, Kit Carson and Thomas "Broken Hand"Fitzpatrick who was later named the Indian Agent and sole commissioner for the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and William Gilpin,the future governor of Colorado. This area was the ancestral home and hunting grounds of the Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians. A council of the Arapaho and Cheyenne Indians was called at Fort St. Vrain to ratify the changes made by Congress to the Fort Laramie Treaty. This site is rich with frontier historical events. In 1967, under the direction of Archaeologist Galen Baker, Otero Junior College conducted an archaeological dig at the site of Fort St. Vrain, and artifacts from various levels of human occupation were found and cataloged. An electro-magnetic photo field study was also completed at the Fort St. Vrain and DAR monument site on 06/17/87, which revealed that the fort and town site were much larger than the 2/3 of an acre plot recently deeded by Weld County to the Platteville Historical Society, and that there are unmarked human gravesites located on this property. According to local historical documents one of Marcellin St. Vrain's Indian wives (or his squaw) and her baby were murdered by the Arapaho Indians and buried on this property, which precipitated St. Vrain's revengeful massacre of approximately 50 Arapaho Indians, whose graves are unmarked. The entire family of Arapaho Chief Friday was killed in the massacre and Chief Friday returned to Fort St. Vrain yearly to mourn his dead at this sacred site. According to the 1870 census the Town of St. Vrain grew to a population of 240, and its residents also buried their dead on this property. As addressed latter in this letter all the graves are unmarked and protected by law. We request that the Colorado Historical Society conduct a Cultural Resources Survey of these properties and the surrounding properties before any permits are approved. The sections of ground that need to be included in the Cultural Resources Survey are: Sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36 of T4N-R67W and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of T3N-R67W. Furthermore, we request that DU Anthropologist Larry Conyers (or someone of like expertise) conduct a Ground Penetration Radar Study to determine where the unmarked graves, archaeological resources, et cetera are located on Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties before any permits are approved and before any mining or any other excavation, et cetera occurs. Additionally, all mining and heavy industrial production use permits for this property should be stayed so that these properties can be properly investigated for potential designation as a National Historic Indian Site. The farming, ranching and other agricultural activities of the last 165 years have had no adverse effect on these properties —these properties still resembles what they looked like during the fur trapping era and before. The proposed mining and the non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations will endanger and destroy this historic site, and they will denude the lush river bottom that existed before its purchase by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. The unsightly, man-made gravel pit ponds that will be left behind will forever change the beautiful river valley where Columbian mammoths and bison actually roamed; where prehistoric Indians hunted and buried their dead; where mountain men and Plains and Mountain Indian tribes came to camp and trade their beaver pelts and buffalo hides at the scenic adobe trading post on the river's east bank in the 1830s and 40s; where Arapaho Indians were massacred; where Colonel John C. Fremont and other explorers used the river bottom as campsites and the "jumping-off' point for their expeditions; where gold seekers and immigrants in their Conestoga wagons sought refuge, fresh stock and a river crossing at the reopened trading post in the 1850s; where the residents of the platted town of St. Vrain lived and buried their dead; where ranchers and farmers raised their 7 crops and cattle; and where Weld County built its first seat of government. Many historic events have occurred on this property and it is a valuable part of our heritage and Colorado's history. Initially,it was thought that the entire town site of Fort St. Vrain should be deeded over to the Platteville Historical Society by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC as a mitigation concession. However, after further investigation of Weld County ordinances, it is now felt that 80 to 100 acres or more should be deeded over to the Platteville Historical Society. They cannot legally reconstruct Fort St. Vrain and/or build a Visitor Center/Museum on less than 80 acres. A wildlife refuge would be an appropriate use for the remainder of this 3-mile-plus stretch of ground. This property should not be raped and pillaged by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC or other companies or individuals having the same unacceptable intentions and designs. Adverse Impact On Prehistoric and Archaeological Sites Additionally, a prehistoric Early Ceramic or High Plains Woodland Indian burial site (5WL1813, the Ehrlich Burial site), lithic tools and an Early Plains Woodland projectile point base were found in the northwest part of Section 26-T4N-R67W, which is one of the northernmost sections of the five sections included in said property, and where the remains of a 1900-year-old male and female Indian were extracted and repatriated to Colorado's Indians for burial in a private Indian graveyard. Additional prehistoric Indian gravesites remain in the bluffs and under the railroad tracks at this site. As mentioned, other unmarked graves (both Plains Indians and European immigrants) are located on the same section, Section 26-T4N-R67W, near the site of the historic fur trading post. Furthermore, this property is surrounded by prehistoric and archaeological sites on adjoining properties in Sections 13-T4N-R67W (5WL1808, the Dent, Colorado Columbian Mammoth and Clovis Point site), 23-T4N-R67W, 24-T4N-R67W, 27-T4N-R67W, 34-T4N-R67- W, 3-T3N-R67W,4-T3N-R67W, 9-T3N-R67W and 10-T3N-R67W (5WL1809, 5WL1810, 5WL1811, 5WL812, 5WL813). In 1932 the first remains of Columbian mammoths within the United States were found at Dent, Colorado, which is downstream from Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties. Eleven 11,000-year-old mammoths and at least three Clovis points have been excavated from the Dent site. Other mammoth skeletons still remain in the terraces of the bluffs and under the railroad tracks at the Dent site, and additional prehistoric Indian gravesites remain in the bluffs and under the railroad tracks at the other sites mentioned. According to UNC Professor Robert Brunswig, Jr., an Anthropologist and local expert on the Dent and the five other archaeological sites, the likelihood of the existence of other unmarked Indian gravesites and artifacts and other prehistoric and archaeological resources on Section 26-T4N-R67W and the other four sections, Sections 23-T4N-R67W, 34-T4N-R67W, 35-T4N-R67W and 2-T3N-R67W of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's properties are extremely high. Additionally, Diane France, the Director of CSU's Laboratory For Human Identification, excavated an Indian ossuary (burial) site south of the confluence of the St. Vrain and South Platte Rivers adjacent to Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's property in recent years. The referral letter from the Colorado State Historical Society does not identify the prehistoric or archaeological sites of 5WL1808, 5WL1809, 5WL1810, 5WL1811, 5WL812, 5WL813 and other sites mentioned to the south of these registered sites. Other known prehistoric and archaeological sites have already been destroyed by oil and gas operations according to Professor Brunswig. This entire area is a prehistoric, historical and archaeological treasure that should not be endangered or destroyed by mining operations and excavation. The proposed railroad haul-out yard on this property will endanger and/or destroy the existing prehistoric Indian gravesites and artifacts at the Ehrlich site. 8 Furthermore, the railroad and its right-of-way are privately owned by Xcel Energy (Fort St. Vrain power plant), and Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC does not have permission or the right to use that railroad to haul out their sand, gravel, et cetera. Additionally, the mining excavation of the remainder of this property (using bulldozers, draglines, scrapers, dredges, et cetera) will destroy any Columbian mammoth remains and other unmarked Indian gravesites and artifacts and other prehistoric, historical and archaeological resources on this property. This application completely overlooks the existing and registered unmarked prehistoric Indian graves and artifacts and other unmarked human gravesites along with the existence of the known prehistoric, historical and archaeological sites, and the unmarked graves and sacred sites. This application completely overlooks the Federal laws, State statutes and County ordinances, et cetera passed to protect and preserve such resources from excavation, destruction, desecration, et cetera. Again, a Cultural Resources Survey of the area and a ground penetration radar study should be performed on this property before any permits are approved, and all permits should be stayed so that this property can be investigated for designation as a National Historic Indian Site. We are very concerned that this application does not address Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's compliance with the following Federal laws, regulations and standards: • American Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 USC 431-433) • American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (42 USC 1996 and 1996a) • Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (16 USC 469-469c) • Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, as amended (16 USC 470aa-mm) • Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 (16 USC 668-668d) • Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 USC 1531-1543) • Historic Sites, Buildings, Objects, and Antiquities Act of 1935 (16 USC 461-467) • Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 USC 703-711) • Museum Properties Management Act of 1955 (16 USC 18) • National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 USC 4321) • National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 USC 470-470t, 110) • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25USC3001-3013) • 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (19 USC 2601) • Historic Preservation Requirements of the Urban Development Action Grant Program (36 CFR 801) • National Historic Landmarks Program (36 CFR 65) • National Register of Historic Places (36 CFR 60) and Determinations of Eligibility for Inclusion in the National Register(36 CFR 63) • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: Final Rule (43 CFR 10) • Preservation of American Antiquities (43 CFR 3) • Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic Preservation Programs (36 CFR 61) • Protection of Archaeological Resources (43 CFR 7) • Protection of Historic Properties (36 CFR 800) • Guidelines for Federal Agency Responsibilities, Under Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements: Guidelines (40 CFR 1500) 9 • The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation [as amended and annotated] • The Secretary of the Interior's Proposed Historic Preservation Professional Qualification Standards • The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation (36 CFR 67) • The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties (36 CFR 68) • Executive Order No. 11593 Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment (1971) • Executive Order No. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites (1996), et cetera. Before any permits are approved Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC should be required to address their compliance with these and any other applicable Federal laws, et cetera. State Statute Violations We are also very concerned that this application does not address Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's compliance with Colorado's Revised Statutes: • Concerning The Preservation of Historical, Prehistorical, and Archaeological Resources of Colorado (CRS 24-80-401....) • Unmarked Human Graves (CRS 24-80-1301....) • Desecration of Venerated Objects (CRS 18-9-113....) Before any permit applications are approved, Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC should be required to address their compliance with these and any other applicable State statutes, et cetera. Additionally, the Weld County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is in the process of getting the Fort St. Vrain DAR monument placed on the National Register of Historical Places. Weld County very recently deeded the Fort St. Vrain site where the DAR marker is located to the Platteville Historical Society. As a member of the Platteville Historical Society I, Nancy L. Fisher, and many other individual members of the Platteville Historical Society are opposed to this permit application. Furthermore, as residents of Weld County, both of us request under CRS 24-80-407 that the State Historical Society and the Office of the State Archaeologist prevent the construction of any roads and all other construction activities on the properties owned by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC and their agents, leaseholders, et cetera along with any other individuals, corporations, et cetera that might in any way involve prehistoric, historical and archaeological resources of the State of Colorado. Under Chapter 192 Part 13 UNMARKED HUMAN GRAVES of the Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-80-1305 Violation and Penalty. (1) states, "Any person who knowingly disturbs an unmarked human burial in violation of this part 13 commits a class 1 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1-106, CRS." In the preceding paragraphs we have put Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC, the Weld County Planning Commission and the Weld County Board of Commissioners on notice of the existence of unmarked graves and sacred sites on the properties in question. The moment that Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC begins any excavation on this to property we, the surrounding neighbors who have knowledge that unmarked human burials are being unlawfully disturbed on said property, are bound by CRS 24-80-1305 (2) to notify the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area where the unmarked human burial is located. Our failure to notify the local law enforcement agency makes us guilty of committing a class 2 misdemeanor that is punishable under section 18-1-106, CRS (also see CRS 18-9-113 Desecration of Venerated Objects. (1) (b)EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 24-80-1305, CRS,WITH RESPECT TO THE DISTURBANCE OF AN UNMARKED HUMAN BURIAL, a person commits a class 1 misdemeanor if he knowingly desecrates any place of worship or burial of human remains). Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC's intent is clear in their application—they intend to disturb unmarked human graves. If this application is approved, the Weld County Planning Commission and the Weld County Board of Commissioners will be allowing Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC to violate State statutes, which also makes Weld County liable for any violations. We understand from a member of the Weld County Sheriff's Posse that the Weld County Sheriff's Department is ready to prosecute any and all violators. We, the surrounding neighbors, will notify all law enforcement agencies of such a violation of the State statutes. This permit application should not be approved. The proposed mining (and the non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations) will create a continuous series (or chain) of nine gravel pit ponds in this three-mile-plus stretch along and adjacent to the South Platte River. These extensive gravel pit ponds will create a serious hazard to the river channel, wetlands and riparian areas. The protection of the river channel, wetlands and riparian areas are not defined in the application. Additionally, the reclamation plan does not identify the tremendous potential for the erosion and destruction of the adjacent bluffs and terraces and pre-historical and archaeological sites on the west side of the river channel upstream, downstream, and adjacent to this property, and the former east bank of river where the historical fort site, town site and other unmarked human graves are situated, when these made- made ponds deteriorate or self-destruct. Historically, this property has been flooded several times, and the Federal Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) of Weld County, Colorado Panel 750 of 1075 proves that the majority of this property is in Flood Zone A, the 100-year flood plain of the South Platte River. The applicant's reclamation plan also does not address this well-known fact and the inevitable and consequential flood damage and/or destruction of these gravel pit ponds, which will further endanger and/or destroy these extremely valuable and irreplaceable prehistoric, historical and archaeological sites. The reclamation plan does not include a proposal to safeguard and preserve any and all unmarked human graves and the prehistoric, historical and archaeological sites on said property or those on the upstream, downstream and adjacent properties in close proximity to this property. In fact, the reclamation plan makes it very clear that Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC will not armor the river banks to prevent the flooding and destruction of their gravel pit ponds and the flooding and destruction of the prehistoric, historical and archaeological sites (and the wetlands and riparian areas). Therefore, a permit for mining and non-agricultural and heavy industrial production operations and other uses should not be approved on this property. We understand that Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC has hired their own archaeologist. However, we still have concerns about the proposed use of this site. To protect unmarked graves and prehistoric, historical and archaeological sites we again request that the Weld County Planning Commission and Weld County Board of Commissioners require a Cultural Resource Survey of 11 the entire property owned by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC and all the surrounding properties in Sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36 of T4N-R67W, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of T3N-R67W be performed by the Colorado Historical Society at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. We again request that a Ground Penetration Radar Study of entire property owned by Platte Sand and Gravel be performed by DU Anthropologist Larry Conyers (or another professional of like expertise and experience) at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. We also request that 80 to 100 acres surrounding the approximate 2/3 of an acre site of the 1911 DAR marker and 1837 fur trade fort be negotiated with and deeded to the Platteville Historical Society by Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC free of charge in order to legally rebuild Fort St. Vrain, along with a Museum/Visitor Center, parking area, river access, et cetera. We again request that all mining and heavy industrial production use permits for this property be stayed so that these properties can be properly investigated for potential designation as a National Historic Indian Site. We also request that a paid, full-time archaeologist selected by the Colorado Historical Society and the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation be on site during all work sifts and/or all hours of operation at the expense of Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC. Please enter this letter of opposition and all other letters of opposition regarding this permit application into the public record. Thank you. Sincerely, • ir*:(54()(24- Grant and Nancy Fisher 9224 Hwy 66 Platteville, CO 80651-9112 970-785-0645 Courtesy copies to: Bill Owens, Governor Bruce Barker, County Attorney Wayne Allard, US Senator Lee Morrison, Assistant County Attorney Ben Nighthorse Campbell, US Senator Cathy Clamp, Planning Com. Member Robert Schaffer, US Representative Jack Epple, Planning Commission Member Marilyn Musgrave, State Senator John Folsom, Planning Corn. Member David Owen, State Senator Bryant Gimlin, Planning Com. Member William Webster, State Representative Arlan Marrs, Planning Commission Member Tambor Williams, State Representative Mike Miller, Planning Commission Member Mike Geile, County Commissioner Stephen Mokray, Planning Com. Member William Jerke, County Commissioner Christie Nicklas, Planning Com. Member David Long, County Commissioner Fred Walker, Planning Corn. Member Rob Masden, County Commissioner State Historical Soc./State Archaeologist Glenn Vaad, County Commissioner Xcel Energy (Fort St. Vrain Power Plant) 12 http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/mammuthus.htnil Mammoths • comerat lilr. vS � •., ,1ti�� •1 .. mP:.% � ‘� t k i , t M 4 .t 1 s• ` . te ' -Mti' . i AC Three species of mammoths (genus Mammuthus) lived on the mainland of the United States at the end of the last Ice Age. These were the Columbian mammoth (M. columbi), Jefferson's mammoth (M. jeffersonii), and the woolly mammoth (M primigenius). Of these, Jefferson's mammoth and the woolly mammoth have been identified from the midwestern U.S. Mammoths, mastodons and modern elephants, are members of the order Proboscidea. The mammoths are closely related to elephants, especially to the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus). As adults mammoths stood between about 3 and 3.7 meters (10-12 feet) at the shoulder and weighed betweeen 5500 and 7300 kilograms (6-8 tons). Their teeth were comprised of numerous enamel plates. As they were used, these plates were ground into a washboard-like surface. This surface was very effective for grinding up difficult to eat plants like grass. Mammoths are frequently found as fossils in the midwestern U.S. Most often isolated teeth are found. Mammoth fossils are most common in areas that were covered by savannas, grasslands, or tundra during the last Ice Age. This map shows some of the important mammoth finds in the region. Approximately 1.8 million years ago the first mammoths entered North America. These mammoths came from Eurasia; they crossed the Bering Strait at a time when sea level was lower than today. The mammoths that came from Asia belonged to a species called M. meridionalis. The descendants of this species of mammoth included both the Columbian and Jefferson's mammoths. The woolly mammoths evolved in Eurasia and came over the Bering Strait much later(less than 500,000 years ago). Approximately 10,000 years ago all species of mammoths went extinct in North America. Find out more about this extinction. Although only bone and teeth of mammoths are preserved in the Midwestern U.S., the Illinois State Museum also has a sample of mammoth hair from Siberia. I of 2 5/24/01 8:23 AM IV2HH6AN'/HH/NNtKH/59Y//AAW//�1W �Kt3R5'Nr'H/H6k3YH9HGWi%/YHAYH? d4//i'SHN/+Ye§XbR MYH / d'i/ //RYM Y'/%YfAYAM9H/Nd//R%:/H+/O//�H/d//F/6N'. . .4 i y' 1. �W�rr T•S• ST.l1 j S l{t` 1- ►.. t j1•el4 r,�<<•hF, tank 1.+c jyg J'iJ 1.-3 ! r'1 ft. 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'III / / M , q 1s IlIS (GNjQI�L [OR� 49s ��-1` ) / ------- --,,1 ✓ sI 5111 8f� 1 ); �s � T 5s 27+- l� ti A Z6. -- Fo'KT S7,VRP\iri1 , � � I r 25 �.? _t Well Ni 5 r 1/ 7/ ( 4J6z" �r '� .7E S / / / 4760 6 +, �`�. t—"— \ eo \ I / 'tea\e a I i 4 '1/435 j \ well '4769 36"( .--=' == .&340 000 '-..— c:TR4' _ Bent's Old Fort Kfia A Guide to the Fort ; , t wee, woof wmrroianto n. dares Lower level rooms zc 1 Council Room a e e vr41n 1� 2 Tram Room ua � 3a . 8 ankle Room t r• .. x 4 Cook's Poem 6 Kilter k r1 < 's"RJ £ Pa -� 1 o INOMMMthtw Caroomer'a i"• '',- -, °' --,--4--',-,$7,-;_.' `r 4- 7,- 3 7 Warehouses { Laborers*Quarters '�„ 9 •ur.Ma IMnsO,sws .A� 'Xf ,:s,„::,-".:5-,./.,-,,,,i,,,,..4.).?4,-, Di qv,;-i-',',,,tAr,r;,-- ,--,1;2-:::lt,:,..,Vite; 3 J. 2:i Amptl , A t: Jl�3 _A A '1`I ' i 4so-t -i 2 i 4 c .N 4}v • • • A �� "�, i"L,,,,91'3-33-ca-1,3.,2, } S 1MOMapaollMlb AfYalnM 7f44. '�` o"`• .` " A� ".y me view OreraY Portion RlwrMnn tlM7 wnhtlno • •., r , ' �-s•', • aaMerM anOUMM etas MOM lots.LL darrww.Abed .. 0IM7erarwaetwrtretMaa vabsaaet sal be i;: �flryy vim." , = _ x OW rider , A FPS.y. _ • • • • , riteltaird .: ..� _III Figure 2. Three fur-trade forts along the South Platte River south of Greeley,Colorado.A,Fort St. Vrain; /1, Fort Vasquez; C, Fort Lupton.The architectural design of Fort Jackson(not shown) is unknown. Drawings courtesy of the artist, Roy Grinnell. CIF7 UUtf;[) Pty./Is,Of- C 5n f)11 r ♦ .. r *q s row 4 Jtr,e4': .4 �i)a�iyy W °;. yg�°��{'gggq{^ {♦�"" ,M+eM - i 'FvyL yp 4, 1 �: 4{ 1,4 i.xkyy . a..q L » J •'4r t\�rF;�t la .S'„�a 4 1 � , ;-:/ ' L ' 54 iy,w �. � c, r 0.4 I'di 4rr" 1.s S x w v• J.^""� 1St" k ra s v. , w - #1 .4 4, 1 s 'Dei'. '+ i°7 I4� r ' a 4 J!i1F r 4 H� P•^tit.'"� �W.V 'f F 4:%4610 '�4 ' r t fa V vS a �^ " '' r , r .r ,+ we w ...e „./se,,,,,,• e q IF r ..._. t .4:1';'''‘,-;1. Jvvia :fi ,e y, `ic t» -x,� j.- { r " 4 '"1➢F 83-. �'L d 5>0*, .>a.n t l (J' Pr• 4'. d'• A ��WOC rF u • WPt q "s a r 1 k "'ea ` "'e t1k,:�,_ r w"R ° Y e... w^a„> '; i _.. 4 j ,14�. 1- ( wAt* 'hFAM k: "F+,.. %ai'.:770.4,4 ,,, 4 t'Ak' ` i -, 'A 1 v "srywM �' r. S..., 41tAkt a L,I� w 41 *set. :,:r a.i1i . :s r' .s rr a"•..,1 ,*'4,1 ;44,4;,..., 0.S1'•, qw." + by 57 + yr d is w 's 1 u !^c. ' ,47,1,''.k } tN;i{r6#4y'' • • SAINT VRAIN COUNTY RECORDS OCTOBER 6, 1859 to JANUARY 7, 1867 ��6/datcX Ave. 1 q,l zis' o/ F/. .J / Yrcr,k n✓69`4/9'�✓ 'p �O Wr7 N7 l_o/or¢do mac.' . /We Coour/ ' 'F1' p • Ki d (vow da�ared� p o tY.I\t)as /3 i. \,,VA//5°-,94.4- /cc,. `N N A Sa r/O 6y . / 4 e IT . \ T SEA �c.- .7 , w I E �V � 7;1,/o. 4 Wor/h, 47=a7, 6,/t/es7L "--, Scc/c f' zoo' 0 � D e k• -.• -e� h o w P � Q- J doV//JNaS/ Co'nn N� Muni_ rye/d CL: ac a Sri_ .ZG. 7;9 A; 4767 h! WaVa/ 6',7/ (/orado / y i — _- - • r /,, - v 3sb 1 i1a � /g e4- .Sec. 3.5, CI ci l✓c/c' co, a/o r¢do. (r Igo . $ ,"';`,•".,414.'t,'• la qk "` Vii a � ; I .I.04 �^Spi b, 1; x4F ,174 {* �y ham\ eA� _ y k •1 a d,: "'?£. r7 -,0`,„.,"-•: 'r S] .�'k �rj. c t _ ,.t) .04g• .A.:',,,:'4..",•.,,,-;' ,0,.,i•' r A�.t +r�y'3t 's--*4.,4;.-,°' oi, ya""; rf s 1 r� or n ? gtik 4.k a "S " ziM i. 3 4 ,''',"7:„.14,b '•} it ,a-•+ a4y ;p na'',11,',;•-,. q, n 4:, 4 °9F ivH � X. ) 'Yf—S4.{ • N a ' uu 551 • M' F¢A,,i. .,,,,,,,e, i EXHIBIT 1 14 Or_MAMA-IV f1 Volume 10 . Number 4 TRUMPET a, ;I x WYOMING NEBRASKA W A p\otte River s sap 5 Z Yampa River ___N_,,/� Den[Site A Greeley UTAH Colorado River A cos AA Denver Earliest A COLORADO A •Pueblo Clovis discovery A R o G.,_, Rer r 9 ooral KANSAS still yielding clues �/ A , •Trinidad 60 years after n OKLAHOMA ARIZONA NEW MEXI original excavation. CO TEXAS• en a o th Site And renewed investigation promises new answers. AColumbian mammoth matriarch and her herd that in- they had once used changed. The South Platte River, often eluded younger adults, adolescents, and a few babies heavy with sediments flowing out of the Front Range, cut its followed a well-known track toward the river.Their route broad floodplain deeper into the land, and, little by little, slope eastward out of Colorado's Front Range foothills into the rolling wash pared down the surrounding landscape. Smaller animals plains one autumn day about 11,000 years ago took them down grazed the land,and were hunted by hundreds of generations of a gradual incline in sandstone bluffs that lined the South Platte peoples. River.The animals may have been seeking to drink and bathe in Mien, no more than 200 years ago, there was an extraordi- the river,or they may have simply been going to ford the river nary event. Something, perhaps a heavy spring thunderstorm and graze on the opposite side. Whatever their design, they after a sudden thaw,dislodged the sediments in that mammoth- were approaching an unexpected destiny. graveyard draw.A mass of earth bearing a jumble of big bones Descending the draw they were confronted by deadly preda- slid to the bottom of the draw and came to a halt where it lay tors,perhaps creatures that they had never before encountered. undisturbed for another century or more. Armed humans had them trapped in a narrow draw, and in a This part of the story,which is still being pieced together by short time the spear-wielding hunters had slaughtered several Robert H. Brunswig Jr., archaeologist at the University of members of the herd.Their short-haired elephant bodies all but Northern Colorado, and a multidisciplinary team of scientists, filled the floor of the draw. is conjectural. What is known is that a Union Pacific railroad We can do little more than speculate about details of that day. line,built between 1906 and 1909 along the northwest side of the Presumably the hunting party took its fill of meat and perhaps South Platte valley,chanced to pass beside and partly over the hides,then left the remainder to scavengers. Subsequent rains bone-bearing sediments. and snow melt soon buried the bones in fine sediments. Quite Some of the big bones caught the attention of local people as possibly another group of mammoths was ambushed and early as the 1920s, but did not receive widespread notice until butchered in the same draw.Materials eroding off slopes above the spring of 1932 when water running out of the gully further not only covered the bones,but they gradually filled the floor of exposed them.A railroad worker saw them and told the opera- the draw. tor of the nearby depot at Dent,a tiny spot southeast of the town In time,America's great elephants disappeared and the draw of Milliken and a few miles southwest of Greeley. October . 1995 WIA MAMMOTH 15 TRUMPET The son of the depot operator happened to be a student at Regis College in Denver, and he told his geology professor, �- Father Conrad Bilgery,about the big bones.The first scientific .' A investigation of what soon came to be known as the Dent �) Mammoth site was conducted in November 1932 by Father Bilgery and his students. �� O N. �� (\ Among the bones, they discovered a large, basally fluted l s' \, sr projectile projectile point of a type that eventually came to represent a I culture known as Clovis, because of the Blackwater Draw dis- 11 ) \I ' 1 s 7i/f/c covery near Clovis, N.M.,four years later. If the cultural signifi- cance Sl of the red chert projectile found at Dent had been I ) l�� V�a� recognized, all such slender fluted points and the culture that �/ Ifs created them would be known now as Dent rather than Clovis. ) ) �� Dr.Brunswig began a renewed investigation of the Dent site / I \' ` $031 �� in 1987. His analysis of the Dent Mammoth site is gradually \ \ 1 building to a scientific climax that promises to bring to light 1 I l Q ®1 considerable new information on mammoth-hunting cultures I I:- and techniques for studying them. New work by Brunswig and his colleagues produced a symposium at the 1995 Society of I �� , II.American Archaeologists meeting in Minneapolis and a book � \ a� At W on their research is expected in 1996. / \\l I ' r4,Reinvestigation of this venerable site has immersed Bruns- 1 wig in much more than archaeology,for the project has involved /1/ (( Three projectile points from the history of science,oral history,and even historical archaeology, Ji,) / Dent site. The longest, upper left, in addition to new techniques in geoarchaeology,paleontology, // /O was found on Nov. 5, 1932, in and computer imaging. Besides obtaining new information t / association with mammoth bones. from materials excavated at Dent 60 years ago and producing / Made of a weak red chert with white state-of-the-art reconstruction of the site's 11,000 year-old geog- inclusions, it is 11.45 cm in length. raptly, Brunswig is confident that the site still contains undis- It was lost or stolen in the 1930s, turbed paleontological, if not more archaeological, materials. but a good-quality cast remains.The The key to new archaeological finds at Dent,however,lies in sit point above, 9.4 cm in length,was the railroad bed which covers its eastern margin.Fortunately,it 01.4, recovered June 13, 1933, in soil with a is not the Union Pacific's main line between Denver and Chey- enne.The line long served the region's agricultural community, �� It is made from a yellowish brown ��Q heavy scattering of mammoth bone. principally hauling sugar beets to mills and moving other com- �`�\` f agate. The point at the left, 6.38 cm modities, but now it gets very little use. Ownership of the line y® in length, was reworked from the has passed from Union Pacific to the Public Service Company of $4 upper blade section broken off a Colorado, operator of the nearby Fort St. Vrain power-genera- it �� / c Clovis point. Made of dark gray tion station. An experiment in nuclear power that failed, the /// (s chert, it was picked up near a plant is being converted to conventional fuel. If the utility com- �� mammoth tooth in 1932 by a pany had opted to convert to a coal-fired plant,the railroad could r I li railroad man and given in 1954 have been used to bring coal from Wyoming,but Brunswig said /) to H. Marie Wormington of the the company decided to use the area's abundant natural gas 1 1 Denver Museum of instead. metIA' Natural History. If Public Service allows a temporary removal of the railroad, Brunswig and his team will be able to uncover all the remaining bone-bed deposits and analyze them with techniques and skills Prominent prehistorians who were on hand for the brief 1973 unheard of in 1932 and 1933.The presence of the railroad has project included H. M.Wormington,Joe Ben Wheat, C.Vance heretofore defined the eastern or down-slope limits to all inves- Haynes and Frank Frazier. tigations at Dent, including stratigraphic testing clone by a Haynes, a highly respected geoarchaeologist who provided University of Colorado team in 1973. Brunswig a lot of original information on the site,continues his The 1973 project determined that there was no part of the site involvement with the project. Brunswig said Frazier has pro- left undisturbed by previous excavations except what lay under vided him with all his records and samples. 'That's how the the railroad. However,the CU project succeeded in developing whole project started out," Brunswig recalled during a recent an undisturbed site profile alongside the railroad tracks. It also telephone interview. For such a well-known site, there was turned up more bone including the skull of a juvenile main- really little to go on. "There were no site records at all," he moth. Some of the bones were removed for analysis but the added. "I mean there were no maps, no field notes, nothing in skull was wrapped in plastic and reburied where it was found. the way of formal field documentation existed of the 1932-33 16 WIMAMMOTH Volume 10 • Number 4 TAUMT Brunswig said it focuses on people scraping in the dirt and it focuses mostly on the bone. Besides gleaning what he could from earlier studies of the Back to the site,Brunswig and his team have done coring in and around the site, including in the upper part of the draw.And they've put in a test trench. Old D • "Very quickly we decided that there was only one particular small area up there that had any depth at all in it," he said, speaking of the place in the upper draw where he believes the bones and Clovis tools lay until they washed down something less than 200 years ago. That date comes from wood found during the 1973 analysis sealed within the bone bed and radio- His experience studying the Dent Mammoth site makes carbon dated in 1975.Tests found that the wood was no older Robert H. Brunswig Jr. an advocate for reinvestigating old than 200 years, probably dating to the latter half of the eigh- archaeological sites. "We can very productively go back and teenth century.However,such a recent redeposition of the bone study older sites as new methods—new scientific tech- bed remains hypothetical. Dr. Haynes initially interpreted the niques—come on line." There's much to be gained even if Dent stratigraphy as indicating a minimally reworked, largely records are incomplete, missing or never kept, says Bruns- intact deposit. Brunswig says new analysis of stratigraphy is wig.But he cautions that one of the biggest problems is that bringing that preliminary hypothesis into question, and he memories fade and participants and eyewitnesses to original plans to make additional test trenches for further analysis. excavations can forget details that could aid new research. Analysis in recent years has also included Haynes'study of a "Reinvestigating sites, I think, is one important thing we late-Pleistocene terrace, which helps to determine when the need to be doing—not just going out and constantly dis- South Platte River abandoned its earlier channel near the base covering new ones." of the Dent draw. The modern river channel now is about 10 "There are a lot of sites right now that are being meters lower in elevation and almost a mile away.Geomorpho- reinvestigated," he notes. In recent decades, archaeologists logical analysis is providing the background for continuing have left portions of sites intact for future archaeologists to investigation of the mammoths themselves and the people who study.And in some cases, Brunswig says with a chuckle, "we presumably killed them. are the future archaeologists. It really is a maturing of the Most of the mammoth hones are stored at the Denver Mu- discipline." scum of Natural History, but the skeleton of an adult female from Dent was sent to Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum in 1936. field work."All that there was to go on was a brief paper by J.D. Jeffery Saunders of the Illinois State Museum began the first Figgins of the Colorado Museum of Natural History and an effort to catalog Dent Mammoth remains in 1978 as part of his unpublished paper by Father Bilgery, which Brunswig de- research on mammoth remains from Clovis sites. After study- scribed as a rambling description of Dent and Pleistocene geology of the South Original Kill Platte. "Early studies were very poorly 9 done and very poorly documented."So he Gully? turned to people who might remember ➢ N useful facts. 462 "I was able to contact a few people who to C remember things going on there," Brunswig said of early events at Dent. -The land owner was a school child at the �-- time and he remembers going out to the -- G.• site with his teacher and his classmates." e" Brunswig also was able to interview a man, OO now in his 90s, who recalled that people v found mammoth bone at Dent in the _ 1920s. Old photographs are being used, ; too,but none shows a wide-enough view to 1 be of any use for orienting site features with the surrounding topography. 'The only photographic evidence was a film that was done in 1933.That 16mm film showed Ancient South Platte \ Late Redeposition about five minutes of the site excavations, River Course \ .oealftyr Le and actually there are no perspective shots that could put the site into context." October • 1995 MAMMOTH 17 == TRUMPET • .,,:' W.. a' M' 4,n. a9 �� — , • s,- ¢ i ti.'a!k' fir-• "`;4;„` ° ‘,#: "p ♦ t4Pp$g g;��yy..f'� ?y03; d 4 Mi Y3 ~ U '» r 9 'm: ,1 �"i'+ a` '"'mr ' &er iza " ' x�'t '2. a '»` " '. 1Y p4 nom x _ s' w 1w S R' t,, 04.x '-_ a, +pax -':'BAR x' 2.,,yy,.. .0 4324+, 3 a 'Bt}i ,$i ,�i' The Dent site as it appears today. Excavations in 1932 and 1933 were in lower right-hand corner of the photo; the suspected kill area is upper-left of center. ing Dent material in Denver, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Dr. at once.Though he has reported seasonal fluctuations in dentin Saunders determined that 13 individual mammoths were exca- in tusks and cheek teeth, he believes the patterns indicate that vated at Dent in the 1930s, and bones found in 1973 probably the mammoths died in autumn. brings the total to 15 mammoths. "His recent research suggests that there may have been at Saunders established an age distribution pattern for the least two kill events—fairly close together," Brunswig told the original 13 animals—eight juveniles and live adults. 13ased on Mammoth Trumpet. "And so this may have been a tradi- studies of African elephants, four of the Dent adults were esti- tional—habitual—movement of mammoths through that little mated at between 22 and 28 years old and one was estimated at corridor across the South Platte.But we're not certain about that 43 years old.Ages of the young included a 2-year-old,two 3-year- yet." olds, a 6-year-old, a 9-year-old, two 10-year-olds and a 14-year- Linda Scott Cummings of Paleo Research Labs in Golden, old.These data conform closely with known ages of matriarchal Colo., has been analyzing microscopic plant materials found in family groups of elephants in Africa where herds are mostly teeth of the Dent mammoths. Known as opal phytoliths, these mature females with sexually immature young of both sexes. materials form from silica carried by water into living plants. Male African elephants usually leave the family herd between After phytoliths form they are nearly indestructible, and in 12 and 15 years of age. some cases distinctive shapes can identify the host plant. Brunswig describes the condition of bone from the Dent site Phytoliths are left in soil after plants decay,and they're found in as "excellent to good." The condition indicates fairly rapid teeth of fossil herbivores.Dr.Cummings has analyzed probable burial in the original location as well as in the more-recent elements in the mammoths' diet and compared those plants redeposition. with modern vegetation on Colorado's High Plains.'These data Daniel C. Fisher, paleontologist at the University of Michi- are giving us very interesting information on both diet of the gan,is another specialist who became involved with Dent Main- mammoths and data on paleoenvironment," Brunswig said. moth research several years ago. Dr. Fisher has been studying All the background studies and reanalysis of Dent data are tusks and teeth from the Dent site,analyzing the growth rings, building toward a climax of further excavations at Dent to which he uses to extrapolate the season of the year the animals analyze any and all unexcavated portions of the redeposited died. His data are helping evaluate whether the animals all died bone bed and, perhaps, the upper draw where the kill presum- 18 MAMMOTH Volume 10 • Number 4 TRUMPET ably occurred.Brunswig says plans call for very fine wet sieving of sediments from the bone matrix. 'We already have one Dent Chronology microflake from sediments that were pulled out of the bone 1909 Railroad built through Dent. bed,"he said,referring to samples taken by Frank Frazier in the 1973 investigation. "That particular microflake matches one of mid-1920s Local residents find, collect long bones. the points." spring 1932 Railroad man reports seeing bones Brunswig is using a computerized video-capture system to eroding from site. analyze the photographic images made of the 1933 excavation. November 1932 Bilgery leads initial excavation. The five minutes of movie film were converted to video tape. winter 1932-33 Bilgery notifies Colorado Museum of The computer program facilitates the placement of a grid over Natural History. each image, including the place where, relative to the bones, that one Clovis point was discovered.The images can be rotated June, 1933 Museum team excavates more bones. to produce a view from directly above. Brief movie made of work. Another procedure Brunswig plans to experiment with be- 1935 Adult mammoth skeleton sent to fore beginning renewed excavation is ground-penetrating ra- Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. dar. "I think it will work pretty well," he said. 'The basal 1940s Juvenile mammoth display constructed sublayer,the bedrock layer, is fine sandstone.So that ought to at Denver museum. show up."Above the bedrock, studies have indicated a varying 1954 H. Marie Wormington and others visit thickness of South Platte river gravels,which he believes will be evident in radar images. "And then the bone bed ought to be Dent; local resident subsequently clear—it is fine sediments." Big pieces of bone, theoretically, donates third Clovis point to Denver should show up,he says. museum. "I feel that we can go back in and excavate the remains of the 1963 George Agogino successfully radiocar- redeposited bone bed below the railroad track and come up with bon-dates bone. some pretty good modeling of the taphonomic processes of how 1973 University of Colorado team tests Dent the site was formed and redeposited," Brunswig said. Perhaps, stratigraphy. he adds,they will uncover new information."Maybe some more 1987 Brunswig and University of Northern tools below the surface." MJ Colorado team begin long-term —Don Alan Hall geoarchaeological study. Knudson various legal scholars understand it, and she differentiates between stewardship and trust. Stewardship assumes that ar- chaeological sites are someone's property, but does not continued from page 5 deal explicitly with the rights and responsibilities of ownership. in the late Pleistocene. Such analysis can provide important The concept of trust goes further: it requires action—a information to studies of global climatic and ecological change. "trustee" of the public's interest. She asks, rhetorically: "Who The general public and, specifically, the political leaders can are going to be the stewards of this public interest?" relate to this issue. Knudson notes that the concept of stewardship in reference "While I believe archaeological resources have more scien- to site protection and conservation has been around archaeol- tific,humanistic,and spiritual value than generally is perceived, ogy for a long time. The public-trust concept, she told the their apparent inertness and inability to do work means that the Mammoth Trumpet, is a more explicit way of thinking that average citizen sees them as curiosities but not a significant needs to be internalized by professional and avocational archae- factor in tradeoffs that do have economic benefit,"she writes in ologists and the general public. Unfortunately for archaeologi- the book. cal resources,the public trust doctrine has no specific statement And:"First Americans resources are relatively rare,often not in law in the United States and Canada. Current legal national surface evident, and often do not include such spectacular archaeological protection is limited principally to public and features or artifacts that they acquire an immediate public fan Indian lands, as in the U.S. National Historic Preservation Act, club. They can be conserved only within a Public Trust con- the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the Aban- cept." cloned Shipwreck Act. What exactly is meant by"Public Trust?"Knudson's chapter "However,the U.S.Supreme Court's recent ruling in Babbitt 'The Public Trust and Archaeological Stewardship" is an easy- v. Sweet Home Chapter of Communities for a Great Oregon to-understand explanation."Beginning with a leap of faith,as do upheld a federal regulation that prohibits habitat modification all ethical positions, I assert that archaeological resources are that injures endangered or threatened species, even on private part of a worldwide public trust, and that they should be used, land.This is an expression of the public trust concept,which is conserved and/or destroyed only following consideration of also basic to water and waste-cleanup laws." that stewardship responsibility," she begins. She goes on to Though the doctrine of public trust is a legal one, Knudson describe the legal concept of Public Trust Doctrine and how continued on page 20 PLAINS WOODLAND SECONDARY BURIALS AT THE EHRLICH SITE(5WL1813) • by • ROBERT 14. I3RUNSWIG,JR.,AND JIM WANNER Department of Anthropology • University of Northern Colorado Greeley,Colorado During 1991, a University of Northern Colorado archaeological survey discovered two well-preserved prehistoric secondary burials in a South Platte River terrace bank near Milliken, Colorado.The burials, deemed at risk from erosion and possible vandalism, were excavated under Colorado state permit.Chronological analysis suggested that the burials, a male and a female,date to the early high Plains «toodland tradition. Osteological studies have docu- mented important skeletal population traits for the two individuals and yielded new data on health and diet. Detailed reconstruction of the burial configura- tions and context showed them to exhibit mortuary and archaeological traits previously undocumented in western I Iigh Plains burials of any cultural affili- ation or time period. INTRODUCTION Prehistoric human burials for all known cultural groups and periods are poorly represented in northeastern Colorado's current archaeological database. However, knowledge of physical variations, chronology, dietary, and activity- related traits of prehistoric populations is critical to understanding and accu- rately interpreting the archaeological record. In mid June of 1991, a survey of the University of Northern Colorado (UNC)South Platte Archaeological Project discovered two burials whose study has added important new details about the physical and cultural traits of north- eastern Colorado's prehistoric inhabitants.The burials were found eroding from a Middle Holocene terrace adjacent to the South Platte River, southeast of Milliken, Colorado. This article details preliminary osteometric descriptions • and laboratory analyses of the burials and provides data on their cultural,chro- nological,and geo-archaeological contexts. • FIELD RECOVERY PROCEDURES Upon the initial discovery of exposed human bone in the eroded terrace • scarp,appropriate state and county authorities were contacted,as required un- der Section 24-80-1302 of the current Colorado State Preservation of Histori- cal,Prehistorical and Archaeological Resources Act(1988).Excavation permits were granted through the State Archaeologist's office.The burial site was tran • - • sit surveyed and a I-in grid system was established to maintain horizontal and vertical control of the excavation. Except for the one visible burial,excavation grid depths of penetration were confined to only 5 cm below the current ground surface to avoid unwarranted exposure of possible more deeply buried remains 5 • . and to avoid increased erosion damage to theterrace scarp.However,minimal '• clearing of loose surficial soil revealed the presence of another burial, 1 m north 5WL1813 r N of the first.Both burials were excavated over a period of three days.During the N - (EHRLICH SITE) BLUFF TOP excavation,all finds were recorded in three dimensions with the use of a survey transit,detailed excavation forms,and extensive photodocumentation with both BLUFF TOP still and videotape cameras.The videotape films proved particularly useful for later reconstruction of the burial configurations,positioning of skeletal elements, BUFFOUTCR P `C------------- _/ and geomorphic contexts. �, f! .\\‘‘ • \ During the June excavations,and a return day of downslope testing in the fall of 1991,numerous bone fragments,including a human tooth,were recov- ered in disturbed colluvial sediments,both to the sides of and below the buri- ii--• . • als.Excavation data suggest that other burials may have previously existed within AREA` EHrRLICN BURIALS the terrace margin but were disturbed by railroad bed construction activity AREA 3 t AREA z (earth-borrowing)in the early twentieth century or had since eroded from the i', terrace scarp. Fragments of human bone retrieved from higher locations and i , , -- along the terrace scarp line near the Ehrlich burial pits indicate a possibility SCALE-METERS that other burials may still be present.The site is being periodically monitored W for further bone exposures. 0 10 20 3040 50 SOUTH PLATTE RIVER DESCRIPTIVE DATA AND PRELIMINARY RESEARCH RESULTS inn"MIME Mn ,n, .or TI w�Ei r Preliminary research results are presented in descriptive and analytical subsections according to their contexts,osteological descriptions,chronology/ Figure 1.Map of the Ehrlich Locality. archaeology,and regional burial site comparisons. symphysis was not preserved,but all long bone epiphyses were closed,indicat- Geological and Archaeological Contexts ing adult status.The presence of well-preserved sternal ends of several ribs al- As noted earlier, Burial 1 was discovered eroding out of a terrace scarp lowed the application of Iscan, Loth, and Wright's (1984) standards for age depression left by earth borrowing for railroad construction in the early 1900s. changes in ossification.Sternal end ossifications of the ribs are all Phase 3 pat- Presently,the burial locality and adjacent site are situated within 100 m of an terns,indicating an age range of 24.1-27.7 years.Genoves's(1967)formula for extinct river channel of the South Platte River and about 460 m west of the estimating stature of Mesoamerican females from maximum femur length pro- present river course(Figure 1). vided an estimate of 147.0'3.82 cm(4• 10n). The terrace from which the burials were recovered is the Kuner Terrace As shown in Figure 2, the major axis of Burial 1 was north-south. Since (T,),thought to have been formed between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago(and pos- interment, the burial had slumped slightly downslope due to site erosion and sibly as long ago as 7,000 B.P.)when the South Platte River began downcutting mechanical disturbance. to the east(Holliday 1987:72).The eroded terrace surface adjacent to the buri- The limb bones of the body's right side were found to be less disturbed als is associated with three distinct,but related,archaeological localities,includ- than those of the left side.The articulated pelvis,with the lower limbs attached ing wide scatters of lithic tools,debitage,and burnt rock.A probable Early Plains and tightly flexed,was found situated over two clusters of ribs and the upper Woodland projectile point base,thought to date circa 1900-1500 B.P.,was col- limbs.Five ribs(nos.4-8)from the left side were in approximate anatomic re- lected 50 nt south-southwest of the burials in a diffuse occupation area. I lationships to one another and placed below the left knee.Two tooth fragments were recovered lying on the ribs and a lithic scraper was located a few centime- DESCRIPTION OF THE BURIALS ters to the east.Two rib fragments were also found within the left knee joint, Burial I was a secondary interment of an adult female containing pelvic and the left ilium had been placed between the flexed femur and tibia. and limb bones, partial remains of the hands and feet, two clusters of ribs, a The right upper limb bones were articulated at the elbow and at the ra- fragmentary molar,and a fragmentary incisor.The bones were in fragile con- dio-ulnar joint.The shaft of the right humerus was situated directly below,and dition but generally not badly damaged. Skeletal elements of Burial 1 are in- lying parallel to, the shaft of the right femur. The right humerus was found ventoried in Table I.Sex was determined from examination of the sciatic notch, flexed about 45 degrees at the elbow joint. The radius crossed the ulna, in the presence of a deep preauricular sulcus, and general bone size. The pubic pronation, although the distal ends of the radius and ulna were juxtaposed but 6 7 • i I Table 1.Inventory of Burial 1 Skeletal Elements. seated in the pelvic acetabulae. and the femoral condyles of the right femur CRANIAL articulated with the tibia.The left tibia had been slightly displaced downslope Teeth One molar fragment and an incisor fragment and the left femur twisted a bit.but these also appear to have been articulated at POST-CRANIAL the time of interment.The fibular maller,ius of the right le;rested in the fibu- Vertebrae Fragments of sacral vertebrae and spinous processes lar notch of the tibia in anatomic position,and both malleoli were articulated Sternurrr. Absent with the right talus,which,in turn.was articulated with the calcaneus.The left Ribs Fragments of 6-7 from right side,4-8 from left(fried) fibula was in anatomic position distally and slightly displaced proximally.The Clavicles: Absent left talus and calcaneus were immediately adjacent to the distal tibia and fibula Scapulae: • Absent and appear to have been articulated at the time of interment. Humeri. Complete left and right Of the two burials.only Burial I was recovered with grave goods.These Radii. Complete left and right,although the right is broken included an oval.quartzite scraper.which had been freshly flaked at the time of Ulnae: Complete left and right,although the left was broken interment,a deer bone awl and one made from a smaller mammal,and a bird Carpals: Left lunate.trapezium,trapezoid,and hamate bone spatulate tool with an angled bevel on one end[Figure 3). Right hamate,capitate,lunate.and navicular Metacarpals: Left nos.2-5,and right nos.4-5 Burial 2 was an adult male. His excavated skeletal elements are listed in Phalanges(Manus): Proximal and median phalanges nos.2-5 Table 2.Sex was determined by the large size and robusticity of the lona bones Proximal phalanges nos.3-5,median phalanges nos. 3-4 and the large dimensions of the reconstructed skull(see Figure 4).Although we lnnominates Left and right fragments were unable to precisely identify a sternal rib fragment,its ossification pattern Sacrum: Fragment was consistent with Iscan,Loth,and I-right's'hr s(1984)Phase 2 pattern,suggest- Femora: Complete left(slight damage),right complete (slight damage) ing an age range of 20.8-23.1 years.The humerus head was found detached at Tibiae: Left complete,right fragment the epiphyseal plate,indicating incomplete union,and the damaged proximal Fibulae: Left fragment,right fragment ends of the tibia also revealed epiphyses in the process of union.These features Calcanei: Complete left and complete right reinforced the rib ossification age estimate. Tali. Complete left and complete right Stature for Burial 2 was estimated from Genoves's(1967)formulae using Metatarsals Absent maximum femur and tibia lengths.Height estimate from the femur length was Phalanges(Pes): Absent not in anatomic position.Several right carpals(see Table 1)were located adja- - • s cent to the distal radial and ulna.Several metacarpals and phalanges,from the -3 y r - right hand,were also found in the area near the distal ends of the right radius _ •--.-=',- 3- and ulna. i, - .`r _ ,v :} ; ' e Burial l's left limb also appears to have been articulated at the time of j{ -s 2 ,max ,� - " burial.The left humerus was oriented along a north-south axis with its distal K .. , , end in immediate juxtaposition to the olecranon process of the left ulna.The i "e ` ` elbow joint was flexed to about 80 degrees and the radius and ulna were located j ' -c-.C.-A•-::- t gr-=•-,, : ;:-= ,, '-. - • " - :a beneath the left femur and left innominate.The left arm's radius and ulna were + } 400•- = ,-_- in correct anatomical position,uncrossed,in supination,and several left carpals i tq Y. were articulated with the distal ulna and radius.Metacarpals and phalanges for ,: "'s"; "- .-.. . - • digits II-11%were recovered near the distal radius and ulna. ....' '-t �- - The most prominent feature of Burial I was the articulation of the lower - i�' e ....'---11-1.. �•a°� . ' .;'-':,6,:- • limbs.The intact pelvis with attached lower limbs,tightly flexed at the hip andI.° "� - •..--.....:::-.14-32...•.. !ogee joints was placed on the upper limbs and rib clusters.The right innomi- - ' '^ xi' ' nate and a sacral fragment were positioned facing upward.The left innomi-_ • • . " - = ` " ' ,.r�`'cs,a- nate;due to site disturbance,had been displaced downsiope,with the ilium.in:a . ≥ -;". .. . `i7:115 Y'-7-7`: ''''.O7-7-1......-:;,-.-.-... horizontal position and the latera'surface facing up.Afraginent of the left pu-': - r�. s - - r bis and acetabular border was found in anatomic position,symmetrically oppo- s` ,,•i ` • t • P'-•--_----7:- site the right pubis.The sacral fragments were also in anatomic position,sug- ,:i0.-::.-5.41:^•:-- ' r nesting that the pelvis was intact at the time of burial.The femoral heads were Figure 2.Overview ei the Burial 1 excavation. 8 9 _ r - I i I Table 2.Inventory of Burial 2 Skeletal Elements. Table 2,continued CRANIAL Fcor: .Right-Only a siigr,:;y cantageo navicuiar Frontal: Fragment of the occipital giabeliar region Left-Elements included a complete talus,navicular,cuneiforms I. Parietal. Two fragments of the left parietal II,and !II.the cuboid.complete first metatarsal and second meta Occipital: Fragment of the left occipital region arsais.a third me=.a:arsai with damage to the proximal end and Temporal: Fragments of the left and right temporals slight damage to the distal and.a fourth metatarsal with damage to Sphenoid: Absent the distal end.a fifth metatarsal with damage to the distal end,and Malar.: Fragment of the left malar two proximal phalanges Maxilla: Absent Erhmoid: Absent 156.'5 =3.42 cm and 161.00±2.81 cm from the tibia length.The average of Jomer.' Absent the two estimates was 158.9 cm(5'2.5"). Nasal: Absent f19ardr'ble: Absent Burial 2,although slightly disturbed,is striking in its physical configura- POST CRANIAL don(Figure 4). Vertebrae: Fragments of two thoracic vertebrae with the:end and neck of one It can be described as a secondary articulated burial but its position is dif- rib attached ferent from the horizontal positioning of Burial 1, which resembled a flexed Sternum: Absent reclining figure whose overall arrangement suggests a seated figure facing north. Ribs: A fragment of the head and neck of an indeterminant central rib Burial 2's lower and upper limb bones were articulated at the time of interment and other miscellaneous rib fragments and appear to have been placed in the burial pit to replicate anatomical rela- Clavicle: Absent tionships found in intact bodies. Scapulae: Right-Fragments of the axillary border, glenoid fossa, coronoid Burial 2's lower limbs were flexed at the imees and placed in anatomical process, acromion process, and the superior vertebral border at position with the heads of the femurs and ankles spread apart and the knees the root of the spine placed together,providing a pedestal for the skull.A fragment of the right pu- Left-Fragments of acromicn and lateral border Humeri: Right-Full half of the distal end Left-Complete with the diaphysis, but with a detached head with r` slight damage to the greater and lesser tuberosities Radii: Right-Complete but without distal epiphysis Left-Included the distal third, but lacking the epiphysis Ulnae: Right-Complete , ., Left-Partial with the distal end and medial olecranon damaged ,: Carpals: Absent " :.,. Metacarpals: Absent Phalanges(Manus): Absent �~r► Innominate: Right-Absent 4 i Left-Pubic fragment with the left superior and inferior rami Femur: Right-Complete with a post-mortem fracture which separated the �.- �� Figure 3.Burial 1 grave condyle from the shaft r offerings. Left-The femoral head was missing, but the neck and greater d1. trochanter were present with damage to the medial condyle 4 - Patella: Right-Absent 1-. - . • Left-Present but with damage to the infero-medial border ..:.,:7 Tibia' Right-Present but with extensive damage to the proximal and ate` distal ends -r;.Left-Fully complete with some damage to the proximal end SCALE-CENTIMETERS • . . Fibula: Right-Partially present,consisting of the central half of the shaft . _ Left-Complete except for a missing proximal epiphysis .. continued ..`a `. . 5 1Q . ...1 . . 10 11 crochlear notch of the olecranon ;ripping the trochlea of the humerus.The -a :atiz- .7c s, 6. left radius was placed with its head in the ulna's radial notch and the ulnar notch ' - 'i� ,��e?� lt as found adiac_.,t to the head of the left ulna. A fragment of the preserved right radius was also in anatomical position.The flexed right limb,like the left, s -_'_ had been placed parallel to the long axis of the femoral shaft,although both 2iw, r-_,13:. >c-, lower and upper right limbs appear to have been displaced slightly downslope :;, RT ume .'kl by post-mortem site disturbance. �� aueu A badly decayed group of two or three thoracic vertebrae with an articu- ;� -+x:' ` eamkz. �,. "~ lated rib fragment was located between the scapulae. r-i„-t�' -- _ "-- - - A cluster of metacarpals of the right hand(metacarpals II-V),encircling r' - -- _ the fifth metacarpal and hamate of the left hand. were laid atop the humeral tuberosities and against the distal shaft of the femur(Figure 5). 6 t' A group of right hand phalanges were found clustered on the left tibial _ _j " - condyles and in front of the articulating left femoral condyles.The remaining y i ?: ' ,j phalanges were arrayed,apparently at random,around the left knee joint.The ,. . •e x--. - proximal phalange of the middle finger was laid in the patellar groove of the 4; — left femur,and the skull had been placed facing north on top of the knees. T' i_.. The skull was heavily damaged.Fra,gm-nents of the left occipital,parietal, t r % temporal,and malar,along with a frontal fragment and a fragment of the right _ - temporal,have provided enough information for a tentative reconstruction of t the skull,shown in Figure 6. During excavation, a frontal bone fragment was recovered a meter .f ' ',€. .;r , downslope and occipital fragments were found 30 cm downslope.No teeth or - ;� -rte Figure 4.Overview of the evidence of a mandible were present,although the right wing of the extremely - 'a- Burial 2 excavation. delicate hyoid bone has been preserved! his was found between and a few centimeters above the femoral heads. The femoral condyles were resting, in anatomical position, on the tibial condyles. _ The fibulae were in correct anatomical position and the malleolus of the left ' ``� -.sil: fibula was discovered lying in the tibia's fibular notch.The malleoli gripped the left talus in a fully articulated position.The tarsus (minus the calcaneus), t` , rl:7- l:71 ,,` �s metatarsus, and two proximal phalanges of the left foot were also in articula- ` :�, - The bones of the arms and the shoulder blades were found lying against _-t ' , ;,. ' ,�" - the lower limbs in general anatomical position.The lateral portion of the left 'as-4 scapula, including the glenoid region, axillary border, and acromion process !3 - was adjacent to the head of the humerus,although the humerus had been me- y n.. dially rotated out of the glenoid fossa,providing a plarform fora bundle of men- - - carpals(described below).The vertebral border of the left scapula was preserved _ d xF' �, -s ' as an undisturbed sliver of bone.Only the acromion of the right scapula is pre- - " - - served.Its context suggests that the full scapula had originally been in articula- ' tion with the right humeral head.The long bones of the left upper limb were ': �` flexed to lie parallel to one another, and although the n-ochlea of the left hu- ,{� "" c � - -'$ uterus and the olecranon of the left ulna had-been eaten by rodents,their.con- - - r ' text suggests that they were articulated at the time of burial.Positioning of the - it > f right upper limb confirms this latter observation since it was flexed with the Figure 5.Right hand metacarpal grouping on humeral and femoral ends. 12 13 • Figure 6.Reconstruction of the Burial 2 skull.(Dark areas are reconstructions.) Table 3.Osteological measurements of the Ehrlich burials. Frontal View ~ Burial =i Bunai#2 _- . • , Element Measurement (mm L R L R Cranium Mastoid Height - - 26 29 j`=' Mastoid Width - - 15 15 Humerus Max Breadth of Upper Epiphysis - - 48 - % Max Dia at Midshaft 19 18 19 22 • ` Min Dia at Midshaft 13 13 16 16 Max Dia of Shaft 23 C Vti-' .. ; 7; Max Dia of Head - - 45 - :',11;*; j;. `' Biepicondylar Breadth - - - 49 - Width of Distal Articular Surface - - - 43 Least Cir of Shaft - - 57 60 Cir at Midshaft 58 57 59 64 Radius Side View Max Length - 217 - - - Max Dia Head - 20 23 - Circumference at Midshatt 32 34 34 - Distal M-L Dia - 29 - - - Min Dia of Shaft 9 9 10 - = Min Dia at Midshaft 9 9 10 - ' � Max Dia at Midshaft 11 12 15 - * 3t ` �jr Ulna / *y i-1 . • s -�. �, _.,�^� , Max Length 236260 � ��+% Physiological Length 217 - - 242 Max Breadth of Olecranon Pr 21 20 - 27 - • - f _ Min Breadth of Olecranon Pr 18 17 - 19 Y` - „' Olecranon Pr-Radial Notch Length 29 - 32 34 Olecranon Pr-Coronoid Pr Length 22 - 21 25 r-• Least Cir of Shaft 42 37 33 35 Cir at Midshaft - - 43 . 43 Femur MEASUREMENT DATA Maximum Length 384 - 410` - As complete as possible osteological measurements from both specimens Oblique Length (Bicondylar) 383 - - - were taken during the study(Table 3). Trochanteric Length 366 Max Head Dia 40 39 - - OTHER PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES Vert Dia of Neck 24 25 Subtrochanteric A-P Dia 21 21 21 21 Other analyses of the two burials included X-ray imaging of the long bone Subtrochanteric M-L Dia 28 29 32 31 ends for Harris(stress)lines and carbon isotope content-analysis of bone mate- A-P Dia at Midshaft 23 22 25 25 rial.The Harris line research is incomplete but appears to suggest evidence for M-L Dia at Midshaft 22 23 23 24 a late adolescent/early adult series of stress periods for the Burial 1 female.Stress Cir at Midshaft 73 72 75 76 lines were not detected in X-rays of the male.Activity-related muscle-marking A-P Diameter of Medial Condyle - - 58 - and bone morphology studies are continuing and will be reported in a subse- Femoral Condyle Angle(degrees) - - 80 - quenr research report- Tibia - Carbon isotope data obtained from the Ehrlich burials for dietary analy- sis included`'C values of-17.1 for Burial 1 and-17.4 for Burial 2.Current re- continued 14 15 • . i I Table 3,continued CHRONOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA Burial#1 Burial..=2 Icitial dating and :Ii_.lral affiliation of the burials as Plains Woodland :ement Measurement(mm L R L R were broadly inferred from the type of burial (secondary)and archaeological Cranium materials recovered from the adjacent terrace sire.The archaeological sire as- Max Breadth of Distal Epiphysis 39 41 41 - soc:ated with the burials consists of three erosion-dissected,east-west oriented .2,-?Dia at Nutrient Foramen 28 27 33 34 terrace ridges separated by erosion swales.Each of the ridge fingers was found M-L Dia at Nutrient Foramen 17 18 17 19 to contain substantial amounts of burnt rock.broken grinding stones,and waste Position of Nutrient Foramen 120 120 113 114 Flakes and cores, various stone tools such as scrapers and spokeshaves, and a Cir at Midshaft 66 66 76 78 single corner-notched projectile point base.Although fragmentary, the pres- Fibula ence of that point base type suggests a possible Plains Woodland cultural ainii- Max Dia at Midshaft 12 13 15 14 adon for the site and its burials.Secondary burials in eastern Colorado,as dis- Cir at Midshaft 38 36 44 42 cussed below, are currently documented only for Early Ceramic, or Plains Innominate Woodland,cultural and temporal contexts.The combination of archaeological Max Width - 147 - - and burial type data formed the basis for initially identii'ing the Ehrlich site as Min Ilium Width 52 53 - - Plains Woodland.However,that hypothesis required further testing through Acetabulum to Posterior Sup Spine - 99 - the physical dating of the burials. Acetabulum to Posterior Inf Spine - 84 - - Subsequent to excavation,a charcoal sample from Burial 2 and a small Acetabulum to Anterior Sup Spine 81 collection of bone fragments from Burial 1 were submitted for a radiocarbon Acetabulum to Anterior Inf Spine - 49 - - age estimate using the.\IS (Accelerator Mass Spectroscopy)technique.The Max Dia of Acetabulum - 45 - - Max Length of Auricular Surface - 54 - - resulting Burial 1 bone age estimate(fractionation corrected)was 7I0±60 B.P. Auricular Surface to Mid-Sciatic Notch - 39 - (Beta-47465)and the Burial 2 charcoal returned as age estimate of 2095±60 Auricular Surface to Acetabular Border - 72 - - B.P.(Beta-47466).Neither date corresponded closely to the initial chronologi- Auricular Surface to Ant Sup Spine - 101 • - cal/cultural assessment,although the age of the Burial 1 bone deviated signifi- Auricular Surface to Ant Inf Spine - 81 - - candy from initial expectations.It was then assumed that the age estimate from Auricular Surface to Post Sup Spine - 54 - - the charcoal from Burial 2 was most likely in error since the inclusion of older inferior Iliac Breadth - 120 - - charcoal in a burial pit could easily have taken place.To test this hypothesis, Superior Iliac Breadth - 149 - - bone fragments from Burial 2 were submitted for radiocarbon dating.Labora- Middle Width of Pubis - 11 tory processing of the Burial 2 bone sample found it to contain an extremely Anterior Border Breadth (Ant Border Ch) 39 -- high level of datable bone collagen.In fact,the collagen level was high enough Anterior Border Subtense 8 - to date the sample with the less expensive radiocarbon gas technique.Multiple Anterior Border Fraction - 20 - Osteological Indices counting runs on the sample increased the statistical accuracy of its final date to Platymeric 71.4 72.4 65.6 67.7 the same sigma level as the earlier ALMS dates.The resulting Burial 2 bone age Platycemic 60.7 66.6 51.5 55.9 estimate of 1740±60 B.P.(Beta-50673)(with carbon isotope fractionation cor- Robusticity of Femur 12.3 12.3' 11.7' 12.0' rection)is within two standard deviations of the earlier charcoal date and helps Note:Far a description of the measurement techniques and indices used,see France 1988. corroborate that date.Since the two burials were found in the same stratigraphic Asterisk denotes an estimate.All measurements in millimeters. and geologic context,exhibited identical morphological weathering traits,and yielded essentially identical'3C values,these data suggest their contemporaneity. Accordingly,it is proposed that the Burial 2 bone and charcoal age estimates of search on regional'`C/'=C carbon isotope ratios in human bone indicates that 2095 and 1740 B.P. accurately represent the approximate age range for both values of'3C of-15.0 or higher(the lower the negative number the higher the burials.The anomalous late age for Burial 1 may be an artifact of two or more value)can be interpreted as representing a possible component of C4 plant culti- interrelated variables,including the extremely small amount of bone material get plants in the.diet(see Wanner and Brunswig 1992).However,neither burials' - sampled and its unusually low concentration of datable organic -llagen.Both carbon isoinpe value was high enough to suggest the inclusion of C'culdgeirs _.. •_factors could have magnified the effect of eveff iiu' .contamination such as maize in their diets. The very close similarity of the individuals'"C by younger organic material.Another possible source of error is variation of values, though, does help support the probability of their chronological `aC content in the dated materials due to past fluctuations in the earth's t`C contemporaneity and parallel dietary histories. reservoir.To account for that possible source of error,all three dates were cali- 16 17 • • - ' t I .i ) Table 4.Radiocarbon dates for the Ehrlich burials.(Both bone dates are corrected for fractionation) Butler.Chomko,ancl Hoffman r i')R6)have refired the basic description. of Color-ado Plains'Woodland burial practices deveioped by earlier investiga- Catibrated Date Ranges(B-P.) tors(Breternitz and Wood 1965:Scott and Birkedal 1982:Scott 1979).In do- avenience Lab Yr.B.P. One Sigma i.io Sigma in,so.they noted that: LRIAL 1-Bone Beta-47465 710 X60 673-645.533-577 725-552 Although bundle burials are known.Colorado Plains Woodland period 2'.;IAL 2-Charcoal Bata-47466 2095=60 2136-1983 2302-2259. burials are predominately primary flexed interments in prepared pits and al- 2157-1893 though body and head orientations are variable,skulls tend to face generally to B;;RIAL 2-Bone Beta-50673 1860=60 1867-1710 1925-1905. 1838-1685, the eastern half of the compass—north through east to south.With few excep- 1670-1620 dons,minimal gave goods are found with adults of either sex. Grave goods found with males are tools associated with hunting activities whereas female bration-corrected using the most recent version(3.0.2)of the CALIB computer grave accompaniments include ornaments and tools associated with gathering program(see Sruiver and Reimer 1993). Results of the calibration,shown in and food processing. Infants and subadult graves contain a high incidence of Table 4,show no significant evidence of dating errors due to past `C reservoir shell, bone and stone, beads and pendants. With the exception of the burial variations for the samples. from Sioux County,Nebraska(Gill and Lewis 19;7)where an adult male was In conclusion, multiple lines of evidence from available chronological, found with a complete cord-marked vessel,ceramics are notably absent in Colo- stratigraphic,archaeological,and post-mortem bone modification data suggest rado Plains Woodland burial assemblages (Butler, Chomko, and Hoffman that the Ehrlich burials are most likely Early Plains Woodland in date and cul- 1986:23). rural affiliation. The Ehrlich burials are unique in that both,while secondary interments, do not fit current definitions of bundle burials.As noted above,bundle burials COMPARISON WITH REGIONAL SECONDARY BURIALS have,to date,been characterized as disarticulated groupings of human bones. Butler,Chomko,and Hoffman(1986)recently reviewed 38 documented The earlier description of the Ehrlich burials shows they had extensive seg- burials affiliated with the Colorado Plains Woodland tradition.Of the 38 burl- ments of articulated limb elements.which we infer as having been attached by als. 27 were primary flexed interments and 7 were identified as secondary,or dried flesh and ligaments at the time of interment.Even so, the burials were bundle,burials.Examples of primary flexed burials include the Hazeltine Heights not primary full-body inhumations but were interred in a partially intact.sec- and Gahagan-Lipe sites,which contained multiple primary burials of six and ondary condition.It is proposed that the Ehrlich burials constitute a newly docu- seven individuals, respectively(Buckles et al. 1963; Scott and Birkedal 1972). merited mortuary practice we have termed"secondary articulated"interments. Those burials included complete skeletons lying on their sides in fully flexed The Ehrlich burials,in addition to adding a third burial type to known and partially flexed positions. Grave offerings included imported Unit) and mortuary practices of the Colorado Plains Woodland tradition,have also in- Olivella sp.sea shells,projectile points,atiatl weights,and bone beads. creased our knowledge base for that tradition's mortuary cultural practices.The Secondary,or bundle,burials consist of partial or nearly complete disar- female represented in Burial 1 had grave offerings(the scraper,awls,and bone ticulated skeletal remains,in a"detleshed"condition,bundled together in a small spatulate)unlike other documented Colorado female burials from the Plains burial pit.Secondary burials have been documented from Nebraska(Hill and Woodland period.One of the few parallels to the Ehrlich Burial 1 grave goods Kivett 1940:205,208,214,and 219;Kivett 1952,1953;Wedel and Kivett 1956). is a lithic scraper and worked animal bone discovered with the much older In Colorado,secondary bundle burials have been reported from Aurora(1570 Gordon Creek burial,also a female(Anderson 1966;Breternitz,Swedlund,and ±90 B.P.)(Guthrie 1982),Kerbs-Klein in Weld County(undated)(Scott 1979), Anderson 1971). 51 Although no grave goods were found with the Ehrlich male (Burial 2), 51.\1.48 in Weld County(Lutz 1974), Red Creek, El Paso County (Butler, gh Chomko, and Hoffman 1986), and Bisterfeldt Potato Cellar(Breternitz and t, the treatment of the metacarpals and phalanges suggests a culturally based mor- Wood 1965; Mattes 1965).The Kerbs-Klein site, near Greeley, is the most 1 tuary practice.The placement of the metacarpals against the humeral tuberosities extensive example of secondary bundle burials in northeastern Colorado.That and femoral shaft,the terminal phalanges wedged between the femoral and tibial site had six individuals, radiocarbon-dated ro the early Plains Woodland Pe- condyles,and the scattering of phalanges encircling the left knee are unique riod(circa A.D. 17 0)(Scott 1979).Kerbs-Klein grave goods consisted of a bone occurrences among Colorado Plains Woodland burials.The closest analogy to awl tip,lithic flakes,a fragmentary mano, and a single bone bead.As a rule, this arrangement was the Hazeltine Height adolescent burial,which had one secondary bundle burials reported in the literature have come from heavily dis- or more strings of bone beads encircling the knees(Buckles et al. 1963).The turbed contexts,are often poorly preserved,and are occasionally incompletely curious placement of a proximal phalange of digit III in Burial 2's patellar groove reported (see Bass and Kusche 1963; Breternitz and Wood 1975;Scott and may also reflect cultural behavior. Birkedal 1972). 18 19 • CCNCLUSIONS France. raree.Diane L. The rwo skeletons salvaged at the Ehrlich site are among the best-pre- 1988 A Human Burial from Delores County.Colorado.Bureau of Land Slanage- :nent Cultural Reice:e.Series No.24.BL\I Colorado State Office.Denver. served secondary burials known from the High Plains region.A radiocarbon Genoves.Santiago age range of?095-174)B.P. for Burial 2 strongly suggests that it dates to the 1967 Proportionalic;• .)r-=e Long. Bones and the Relation to Stature Among earl=:Colorado Plains Woodland tradition.An anomalous age of 710 B.P.for 4lesoamericans.American journal ot"Phr_,srcalAnthropology 26:67-78. Burial #1 is discounted due to factors of a small daring sample size, possible Guthrie.Mark R. contamination by younger organic material,and the inconsistency of the 198.. The Aurora Burial: Sr:e 5.IH_4-t. Report to the Cif•,•of Aurora History Center. ' de- Ms.on file at the Colorado State Archaeologists Office,Denver. rived age with the close stratigraphic affiliation and essentially identical phvsi- Hill,A.T.,and Al.Kivett cal condition of Burial 2. 1940 Woodland-Like Manifestations in Nebraska.Yebraska History 21(3):143-243. Analysis of the context and structure of both burials suggests that,in ad- Holliday,V.T. didon to primary flexed and bundle burials,a third mortuary style,secondary 1987 Geoarchaeolog<-and Late Quaternary Geomorphology of the Middle South articulated interment, was practiced early in the Colorado Plains Woodland Platte River, ortheastern Colorado.Geoarrhaeology?(4):317-329. !radition.The careful arrangement of articulated limb elements to represent Iscan,M.Age S. tiR Loco, fromnd R.K. ibsi Wright P 1984 Age Estimation the Ribs by Phase Analysis:White Slalesjotrrnal otFo- an intact body does not appear to have been reported in the literature.The rensic Medicine?9:1094-110 . Ehrlich burials are the only known examples of this form of secondary articu- Kivett,Marvin F. fated interment In addition,the lithic scraper,bone awl,and other modified 195? WoodLrnd Sires in Veinuska.Nebraska State Historical Society Publications in bone implements associated with the adult femaleAnthropology No. 1.Lincoln. p (Burial I)are unique among 1953 The Woodruff Ossuary.a Prehistoric Burial Sire in Pbillios Cuunry, Kansas. Bu- reported grave accompaniments for Plains Woodland-affiliated females.The reau of American Et.'�zo1op-Bulletin No.154.pp. 103-142. unusual treatment of the metacarpals and phalanges in the male burial(Burial Lutz,B. 2)is also unprecedented in the archaeological record of this region. i 1974 Preliminary Report on Site 5WL48.Southwestern Lore 40(3&4):42-45. Mattes,M.J. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1965 Archaeology of the Bisterfeldt Potato Cellar Site.Southwestern Lore 31(3):56- 61. The authors would like to thank the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Scott,D.D. the Eddy Oil Company of Denver,and the university of Northern Colorado 1979 A New Note on Colorado Plains Woodland Mortuary Practices.Southwest- Research Corporation,which provided funding for the Ehrlich burials research. era Lore 45(3):13-_4. Scott,D.D.,and T.G.Birkedal I 1972 The Archaeology and Physical Anthropology of the Gahagan-Lipe Site,with Comments on Colorado Woodland Mortuary Practices.Southwestern estern Lore l 38(3):1-18. REFERENCES CITED i Stuiver,M.,and P.Reimer 1993 Extended '4C Database and Revised CALIB Radiocarbon Calibration Pro- Anderson,Duane C. gram.Radiocarbon 35:215-230. 1966 The Gordon Creek Burial.Southwestern Lore 32(1): 1-9. Wanner,James,and Robert H.Brunswig,Jr. Bass,W.M.,and P.Kutsche 1991 Plains Woodland Mortuary Practices and Secondary Bundle Burials:The 1963 A Human Skeleton from Pueblo County,Colorado.Southwestern Lan 29(2): Ehrlich Site of Northeastern Colorado's High Plains.Paper presented at the 40-43. 49th Plains Conference,held at Lawrence,Kansas,on November 13-16,1991. Breternitz,D.A.,and J.J.Wood 1992 A Late Archaic Skeleton from the Northeastern Colorado High Plains.Plains 1965 Comments on the Bisterfeldt Potato Cellar Site and Flexed Burials in the Anthropologist 37(141):367-383. �Wede!,W.R.,and M.Kive t estem Plains.Southwestern Lore 31(3):6�-66.�� Breternitz,D.A.,A.C.Swedlund,and D.C.Anderson i1956 Additional Data on the Woodruff Ossuary,Kansas.American Antiquity 21:414- 1971 An Early Burial from Gordon Creek,Colorado.American Antiquity 36:170- 416. 182. Buckles,W.G.,et al. 1963 The Excavation of the Hazeltine Heights Site.Southwestern Lore 29(1):1-36. Butler.W.B.,S.A.Chomko,and J.J.Hofman 1986 The Red Creek Burial,El Paso County,Colorado.Southwestern Lore 52(2):6- 27. Finnegan,M. 1978 Human Remains from Bradford House III.Plain:Anthropologist 23(81):221- 234. 1 20 P1 • CURRENT RESEARCH IN THE PLEISTOCENE Vol. 10, 1993 . CURRENT RESEARCH IN THE PLEISTOCENE Vol. 10, 1993 Taphonomy Research on die Dent Mammoth Site Robert H. Brunswig,ft and Daniel C. Fisher • The Dent mammoth site of northeastern Colorado was first reported in April 1932 and was partially excavated in November 1932 and July 1933. During excavation,the remains of 13 mammoths(Mamma/tits cola rnbi)were recovered along with two complete large projectile points, later named Clovis points (Bilgery 1935:47-57; Figgins 1933). Over the past six decades, substantive documentation of the geoarchaeological context and associated transforma- tional processes of the site has been lacking.In October 1973,in an attempt to remedy that problem,previously unexcavated areas were tested and a relatively undisturbed stratigraphic profile was discovered and recorded during a two-day University of Colorado field project(Haynes 1974;Spikard 1973).However,no further research was done at Dent until 1987,when one of the authors (RUB) initiated a renewed long-term site-reinvestigation project. Data accumulated '.. from the current University of Northern Colorado investigations now promise new insights into the context and processes involved in the formation of Dent. The Dent Project research design utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach in the formulation of a hypothetical model of prehistoric human-mammoth interaction within a reconstructed paleoenvironmental framework. The site, although disturbed by long-term erosion and early 20th-century railroad construction, still retains significant clues to its late-Pleistocene context. Early in the Dent project,a tentative explanatory model was developed,based on data from previous research and UNC soil coring of the site in 1987 a nd 1988.That • model hypothesized that Dent represented an ambush kill of a small herd of mammoths within a well-selected topographic trap feature.In order to test that model,efforts have been made to accumulate archival and field-and laboratory- • based evidence on Dent. This database, augmented by continued field and laboratory research,seeks to explain the geoarchaeological context of the Dent mammoth site (Brunswig 1992). The current explanatory model suggests that the mammoth remains of the Dent site constitute remnants of a one or more matriarchal family herds Robert H.Brunswig,fr.,Anthropology Department,University of Northern Cohn:ido,Greeley,CO 80639. Daniel C.Fisher,Museum of Paleontology,University of Michig;m,Ann Arbur,MI 48109. 62 63 i 64 l3rwNswlu/Fast Ma TatIhonoatJ, CRP 10, 1993 HANSEN 65 ambushed ca. 11,000 yr 8.1'. by Clovis hunters. The site chronology is well Haynes, C.V. 1974 Archaeological Geology or Some Selected Paleo-Indian Sites. The Museum established by a series of bone-protein radiocarbon determinations (Agogino Journal 15:133-139. 1968; Stafford et al. 1987). The presence of a matriarchal mammoth herd at Saunders,J. L. 1980 A Model for Man-Mammoth Relationships in Late Pleistocene North Dent has been inferred front the profile of dental remains(Saunders 1980:91-93, America. Canadian Journal of Anthropology 1:87-98. Table 2), although the possibility' that this age profile could reflect multiple Spikard, L. 1973 Progress Report of a Dent Site Investigation. Department of Anthropology, episodes has also been recognized (Conybeare and Haynes 1984). University of Colorado,Boulder,CO. Stafford,T. W. et al. 1987 study of Bone Dating Accuracy at the University of Arizona NSF Analyses of UNC soil core and CU stratified profile samples are being used Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Analysis.Radiocarldn 29:219-44. to reconstruct site geomorphology and paleotopography,and the sedimentary matrix of the mammoth bone bed. Sed i men tological data suggest a paleo- topographic environment at Dent that made possible the ambush of a mam- moth herd in a narrow draw descending from a break in low sandstone bluffs fronting the eastern bank of the late-Pleistocene South Platte River. The The Hallsville Mastodons: geomorphic data further indicate that the ambush draw may have led to a river- crossing ford below the site. Evidence for Possible Human Association There is also evidence, in the form of probable butchering marks on the mammoth bone and heavy use-wear patterns on the Dent projectile points,that Michael G. Hansen the animals were at least minimally butchered.A study of the growth laminae In August 1965,excavation of a ditch to drain a former kettle lake revealed the of Dent molars and a tusk(by DCF)provides tentative evidence that the animals all died in the autumn, although whether this was from a single event or partial remains of an American mastodont (Mammuf arericanlm) in marl on the farm of Orval Pontious, west-northwest of multiple events has not yet been determined (see Fisher 1988 for details of Hallsville, Ross County, Ohio analytical method). This season-of-death research is continuing, and further (39° 26'50"N, 82°50' 15"W).The kettle drains into Dresbach Creek,a west- season-of-death data, as well as information on mammoth diet and paleo- flowing tributary of Kinnikinnick Creek, and is situated within a Wiseonsinan environment, are being sought by extracting and identifying phytoliths from kame complex at the proximal edge of the Lattaville terminal moraine (Quinn Dent mammoth ntola rs. Our research model suggests that, soon after the kill and Goldthwait 1985). and butchering event,the mammoth remains, blocking the narrow draw,were Olaf H. Prufer, an archaeologist from Kent State University,visited the site rapidly buried by silts. 'Hwy remained buried until historic times, when the soon after the discovery of the mastodont and indicated (oral communication bone bed was redeposited clown-slope and lower in the draw. The time of 1974) that the dragline bucket went through the main portion of the skeleton redeposition may be suggested by a radiocarbon date on wood, dated to and apparently destroyed much of it.Dennis Pontious(oral comm. 1974),son 170±50 yr B.P. ($11U-120), recovered from the bone-bed profile excavated by of the landowner, reported that a number of skeletal elements were removed CU investigators in 1973 (Haas and Haynes 1975:358). by local individuals as curios.Prufer excavated the mandibles and one complete and one partial tusk of the mastodont.The complete tusk was 216 cm in length, measured along the outside curve, and was 13 cm in diameter at the base. References Cited Subsequent reconnaissance excavations in 1965 by a student crew from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History failed to produce additional skeletal Agogino, G. A. 1908 The Fxperintent:11 Removal of Preservative from Radiocarbon Samples. remains.At the time of the visit of the Cleveland Museum crew, Mr. Pontious Plains Anthropologist I3(10):I 45-117. declined to donate the plaster-jacketed tusks and the mandibles of the mast- Bilgc,y.C. 1935 Evidences of Pleistocene Alan ill she Denver Basin.Ms.on file at the Colorado odont. The tusks were subsequently destroyed by outdoor exposure. The Office of Archaeology and Ii Him is Preservation,Deliver,CO. present whereabouts of the mandibles is unknown. Bronemig, R.t1.,Jr. 1992 Groat chaeology at the Dent Mammoth Site ill the Not Colo- Spruce (Picra) wood obtained by the Cleveland Museum crew from marl at ndn 141gh Plains.Ms.un file at the Anthropology Uep:vto,ent.University of Not thens Colorado. the tusk site was submitted to J.Gordon Ogden of Ohio Wesleyan University for Camxbeere. A.. and G. I Jaynes 1981 Observations on Elephant Mortality:and Bones In Water radiocarbon dating.This sample(OWU-220)yielded a date of 13,18(1±52010.1'. Boles.Quaternary Research 22:18921111. (Ogden and Hay 1967). A second sample of spruce wood (OWU-260A-C), Figgius,J.D. 1933 A Further Conti ibn0ot 1O the Antiquity of Alan in America. Proceedings of the submitted by Prufer, yielded dates of 12,835±275 B.P., 12,685±244 B.P.,and (olnrado Ahcteum of Nation(Ilista,y 12(2):4-10. 13,695±520 B.1'.,respectively (Ogden and Hay 1969).A pollen profile from a Fisher, D. C. 1988 SC0SO t of Death of We Hiscock Masmdonts. Bulletin of die Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences 33:115-125. • Haas, H., and C. V. Haynes 1975 Soothe'ii Aiethodist University Rad iocubon Date List IL Michael C. Hansen.Ohio Geological Survey,4383 Fountain Square Drive,Columbus.Ott 13224. Radiocarbon 17(3):354-353. 1362. Kersey-Kuner Terrace Investigations at the Dent and Bernhardt Sites, Colorado C. Vance Haynes Jr., Michael McFaul, Robert H. Brunswig, and Kenneth D. Hopkins 4 Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson,Arizona 85721 The Dent site provided the first association of fluted points with mammoth bones in the New World.However,the stratigraphic integrity of the site has remained in doubt since the original excavations in 1932 and 1933. Core sampling at the Dent Clovis site indicates that the site, on Kersey terrace gravel, extends under railroad tracks adjacent.to the original area of ex- cavation.Four hundred meters south the Kuner strait terrace has been exposed by a roadcut at the Bernhardt site.An Archaic hearth dated 4030 '_ 60 B.I'.is near the top of a 1-in-thick eolian sand overlying 1 m of fine-grained alluvium dated 5740±60 B.P.,which in turn over- lies sand and gravel of the Muter strath terrace with an AMS radiocarbon age of 10,105 .' 90 B.P.'the South Platte River appears to have been quasistable at the Kuner level during the Younger Dryas when Paleoindians front Clovis to Cody hunted megafauna on the Kersey terrace. © 1998 Julio Wiley&Suns,Inc INTRODUCTION • Since Bryan and Ray(1940)defined the Kersey and Kuner terraces near Greeley, Colorado (Figure 1) in dating the Folsom Paleoindian occupation of the Colorado Piedmont, other Paleoindian sites have been found on the Kersey terrace, and radiocarbon dating has helped refine terrace ages (Ilaynes, 1992). Many archaeo- logical investigations have been conducted at these Paleoindian sites, but the pre- cise stratigraphic relations of all but two of then)to the South Platte River terrace stratigraphy, and this to Rocky Mountain glaciation and global climate change, remain elusive. However, new data presented by McFaul et al. (1994) combined with the results presented here, significantly improve our understanding of the South Platte regimen during the Pleistocene—Holocene transition and the relation- ship of Paleoindian life settings to alluvial history. • The Kersey terrace, which correlates with the Broadway terrace of hunt(1954) (Scott, 1960, 1963; Holliday, 1987; Madole, 1991), can reasonably he attributed to a long period of aggradation resulting from increased sand and gravel production in the Rocky Mountains during the last major glaciation(Pinedale)which ended after 15,000 B.P. and before 12,000 B.P. (Madole, 1986, 1991). Paleoindian occupation of the Kersey terrace in the Kersey area is stratigraphically confined to 1 m or less of sediments that overlie stream gravels with bar and swale topography (Ilolhday, 1987; Zier et al., 1993). The basal unit of this veneer is a discontinuous dark gray organic-rich sandy clay loam occupying the swales and pinching out against the Geoarchaeology:An International Journal,Vol. 13,No.2,201-218(1998) ©1998 John Wiley&Sons,Inc. CCU 0883-6353/98/020201-18 HAYNES, MCFAUL, BRUNSWIG, AND HOPKINS o Archaeological Site o ( Llndenmeler Site • City v(J a - - +ei v • -..✓ J1 m x Fort Collins • Fox, Frazier, Front O� Jurgen, Klein, % and Powars Sites re Poudre River Greeley Et • o�• Th"Peon 'flue Kersey Range River ThornPson Dent and Bernhardt Sites (See Fig. 2) brae 0 'a Cree t✓iain m 0 s S 0 10 20 km R p®Mi 91)5'97 Figure 1.Map of the Dent-Kersey area. 202 VOL. 13, NO. 2 • KERSEY-KUNER TERRACE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO bars. At the Frazier Agate Basin site 2 km northwest of Kersey (Ma1de, 1984) and the Jurgens Cody site about 1.5 km east of Frazier(Wheat, 1979)cultural materials are on this gray deposit. Malde interprets the organic enrichment as the result of the high water table preceding entrenchment of the South Platte River. McFaul et al. (1991) classified the organic-rich paleosol as an Aquoll of regional extent. They also included the Aquoll in a catena with an Ustoll on the slightly higher ridge areas. Artifacts at the Frazier site are buried by up to 20 cm of clayey sand,interpreted as eolian, that shows the effects of moderate pedogenesis. Dark gray organic streaks in the sand provided two humate radiocarbon ages of 9550 ± 130 B.P. (SMU-32)and 9650 ± 130 B.P. (SMU-31)considered to be the minimum age for the occupation (Haynes and Haas, 1974). Agate Basin artifacts elsewhere are dated between 10,500 and 10,000 B.P. (Frison and Stanford, 1982). At the Powars site 2 kin southwest of Kersey, Folsom artifacts between 10,000 and 11,000 years old occur in Quaternary dunes overlying the Kersey terrace.Clovis artifacts, 11,000-11,500 years old, have been found in the same dune complex at the Fox site 1 km farther west. Other Clovis artifacts have been recovered in a plowed field at the Klein site on the Kersey terrace 1.2 km north of Powars and 1.5 km south of Frazier, but the stratigraphic position is not clear (Zier et al., 1993). The fact that the artifacts show no signs of fluvial transport suggest that the Clovis presence postdates deposition of the gravel. Holliday (1987) notes that Frank Frazier found Clovis artifacts in gravel at a gravel pit east of Kersey. However, without scientific documentation of the strati- graphic position and a description of the artifacts and their condition, this note raises more questions than it answers. What follows is our report of stratigraphic investigations at the Dena site on the Kersey terrace and at a new exposure of Kmiec terrace strata at the Bernhardt site 400 in south. Core sampling at both locations supplemented the stratigraphic data and indicated an extension of the Dent bone bed under the railroad tracks. THE DENT CLOVIS SITE The Clovis site at Dent was a key factor in the Bryan and Ray (1940)placement of the Folsom occupation of the Lindenmeier site (Figure 1) at the end of Kersey terrace aggradation.The Dent site, exposed by flooding of a tributary gully in 1932, • occurs on a sandy gravel strath probably of the Kersey terrace (Figures 2 and 3) that is used as a track bed for the Union Pacific Railroad (Wormington, 1957).The stratigraphic integrity of the mammoth bone bed and artifacts at Dent was ques- tioned by the original excavator, Father Bilgery (Brunswig, 1992). In an unpub- lished paper,he argued,without convincing evidence, that the bones,artifacts,and their gravel matrix were redeposited front upslope with the gravel being derived from the adjacent Pleistocene strath immediately above the site(Bilgery, n.d.). Ile was not convinced the two Clovis points were unequivocally of the same age as the mammoth bones. On the other hand, Figgins (1933), who directed excavations GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 203 HAYNES, MCFAUL, BRUNSWIG, AND HOPKINS IpI [� Floodplain & Hardin terrace alluvium "I Olt Kuner terrace alluvium N @EI Kersey terrace alluvium ® Slocum (7) alluvium 0 0.5 I km Ittit KTh Fox Mills alluvium 0 3000 ft • \ I f t t I,t�ly�il�lP`i71 Qh tea I ItA ! Dent P�JOc • 6 ernhar I al+ „p y:. sca B' r Figure 2. Geologic map of the Dent.and Bernhardt sites area showing the locations of the geologic cross sections of Figures 3 and 6. the following year,had no doubt about the association of the projectile points with the bones. Ills team found a second Clovis point among the bones. In 1973 Joe Ben Wheat, Frank Frazier, Marie Wormington,the senior author,and Linda Spikard front the University of Colorado conducted excavations at the Dent site that provided a new examination of the stratigraphy(Haynes, 1974). The west wall of a backhoe trench placed parallel to the west side of the Union Pacific railroad tracks exposed backdirt from the 1932-1933 excavations,but the east wall revealed an undisturbed remnant of the bone bed. The stratigraphy (Figure 4 and Table 1)shows 20 cm of pink,sandy,medium to coarse arkosic gravel with current- bedded medium to coarse sand lenses (unit 1) on a bench cut into bedrock sand- stone of the Cretaceous Fox Hills Formation. Mammoth bones, including the base of a skull (Figure 5), resting directly on this gravel were buried in a firm, light 204 VOL. 13, NO. 2 I I t G) m 0 D X O D L a O y E A a A' 7 o L D Y a z T-4ta m =.. m 1460m (Slocum?) r _ m z _ S -I _ Core N p - holes n, n 1450- 3 2 4 -$ r — , ' x o - 9 T - 3 (Kersey) C c 37 = — — 6 z - ri 1440- n m - T- 0 T- 1 (Hardin) Si - K bedrock — — 7b — 2 1430- m Co — —I I I I I F I I I I I I > 100m 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 > 5 z Figure 3.Geologic cross section at the Dent site showing the flood plain(T-0 and unit 7b),Hardin terrace(T-1 and unit 7a),Kersey terrace(T-3 and N units 1,2,and 3)buried by railroad fill(unit 8),and the Slocum terrace(T-4),a Pleistocene gravel strath on sandstone bedrock of the Fox Hills Formation. Z The Kuner terrace(T-2)is probably absent here. 0 r 0 z N D a cn 0 N I o D -< m N S 9) 0 n m C C r CD II C Z 8 to — 1 17 z a � - x �� C 3 � - z 2b / \ — 2 v _ — _ \ 2b _ _mammoth bone — ,_ --- 2a fragments _ ,---- — \ mammoth skull 1 o _ a K bedrock — — — 3m I I I I I I I 6m 5 4 3 2 1 0 0O Figure 4.Stratigraphic section of the east wall of the 1973 backhoe trench at the Dent Clovis site showing the distribution of mammoth bones and r bone fragments in units 2a and 2b.The basal sand and gravel(unit 1)is probably a strath of the Kersey terrace and rests on sandstone of the Cretaceous Za Fox Hills Formation.Unit 8 is modem railroad fill. Z O re KERSEY-KUNER TERRACE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO yellowish-brown matrix of silty line sand (unit 2a) with dispersed fragments of bedrock sandstone,bone, and flecks of carbon.The highest fragment of mammoth bone observed in the exposure was 80 cm above the top of the gravel. Unit 2b, lithologically similar to but above 2a, also contained fragments of mammoth bone, but is separated by a very irregular, indistinct contact with as much as 1 m of topographic relief(Figure 4). A pale brown, soft, silty fine sand, unit.3, overlies 2a and 2b with a sharp to diffuse irregular contact also having up to a meter of relief. A paleosol, 20 cm thick, with weak, medium, angular blocky structure and calcar- 4 eons root casts has developed across the top portions of units 2a,2b, and 3(Figure 4). This weak buried Bk soil horizon is not as well developed on unit 2a. Units 2a, 2b, and 3 have a nearly level common upper surface and are covered by 1.2 in of poorly sorted sand,unit 8, mixed with fragments of sandstone, charcoal,and coke. Unit 8 is undoubtedly fill dirt created by the construction of the railroad bed. Engineering profiles, for 1910 and 1919 provided to Frazier by the Union Pacific _• Railroad, show that grading over the site entailed ca. 0.5 in of cutting and ca. 1.2 in of filling. A gully, cut perpendicular to the roadbed, required ca. 2 m of fill and a 24-in-diameter culvert (No. 42.66). Bilgery believed the gully bisected the bone • bed; however, he did not present evidence to support this interpretation. Bilgery also stated that parts of the surface on which the roadbed had been placed contained small bones (fragments?) that,had been exposed by a bulldozer during grading (Bilgery, n.d.). This suggests that the top of the bone had been truncated during grading. Unit 1 is clearly an in situ fluvial deposit with interbedded gravel and clean, relatively well-sorted sand with current bedding. These characteristics preclude colluvial redeposition from the adjacent older gravel strath (Slocum alluvium [?1 of Scott [1960, 1963]) above the site as proposed by Bilgery (n.d.). Instead, we believe unit 1 consists of South Platte River alluvium forming the Kersey terrace, which is a strath terrace at Dent. The sedimentary origin of units 2 and 3 has not been conclusively demonstrated. Possibilities include overbank deposition from the South Platte River, colluvial (slopewash) deposition from the bedrock sandstone, and alluvial fan deposition front the catclunent of the adjacent gully. The weak current bedding observed in the basal third of unit 3 (Table 1) suggests overbank deposition interbedded with colluvial sand washed from the adjacent sandstone bluff. Unit 2 is probably not derived front the South Palette because of its mixed character and lack of bedding (Table 1). It could be derived by slopewash, but this does not account for the undulatory contact between subunit 2a and 2b (Figure 4). This contact and the mixed character are better explained by alluvial fan deposition from the gully catchment. Fans are typically composed of mud- flow deposits that are eroded between brief episodes of deposition. This deposi- tional mode also accounts for the dispersal of bedrock fragments and the lack of • articulation in the mammoth bone assemblage observed in unit 2 in 1973(Haynes, 1974). Photographs of the 1933 excavations, while showing a tight concentration GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 207 HAYNES, MCFAUL, BRUNSWIG, AND HOPKINS Table I.Sedimentary descriptions of the Dent site profile,1973. Thickness' Unit Description (cm) 1 Sand and Pink,arkosic,uncemented medium to coarse sand and pebble to cobble 22 gravel gravel with weak fluvial bedding.Sharp erosional basal contact with sandy shale bedrock(Fox Hills Fm) 2 Sand Light yellowish brown silly fine sand(2a)intermixed with brownish 150 gray clayey fine sand(2b)with gradational to imperceptible bounda- ries.Fragments of soft bedrock and flecks of charcoal and coke are widely dispersed.Mammoth bones are concentrated in the basal 1/4 of unit,2a and along the sharp contact with unit 1,but one fragment ob- served in the middle of the upper'FL 3 Sand Pale yellowish brown soft fine silty sand(3a)with weak current bed- 120 ding in basal 'ti.Upper 20--30 cm contains weak medium irregular blocky ped structure and calcereous coating on small rootlet molds. Sharp to diffuse basal contact with a thin(2 cm)lense of dissemi- nated carbon flecks 8 Sand Mixed brown and gray silty find sand with dispersed fragments of bed- 140+ rock sandstone,coke,charcoal,and pebbles.Diffuse lower bounday turning downward to the south toward gully.Upper surface is the ground surface immediately adjacent to the railroad bed.This unit is the artificial fill of the railroad embankment a Maximum observed thickness. of bones, do not reveal articulation. Unfortunately, it appears the bone bed was not mapped. The first presumably accurate radiocarbon age for the Dent mammoth bone is 11,200 ± 500 B.P. (Trautman and Willis, 1966: sample I-622). Stafford et al. (1991) obtained an average age of 10,810 -t 40 B.P. on six isolated organic fractions from collagen.Taylor, Stuiver, and Haynes (1996)suggest that the oldest fraction age of 10,980 -* 90 is probably closest to the true age. Two radiocarbon ages determined on charcoal and coke from the fine-sand ma- trix (probably unit 2 undifferentiated) of the mammoth bones are 170 ± 50 13.1'. (SMU-120) for the former and 32,260 ± 2100 B.P. (SMU-121) for the latter (Haas and Haynes, 1975). The Cretaceous bedrock of the region contains commercial coal deposits and is one possible source for the coke; railroad spillage is another. This, plus the recent age of the charcoal, supports the hypothesis of redeposition (Brunswig and Fisher, 1993). The 1973 trench was not extended southward into the gully because of railroad company restrictions and time constraints. Trench extension should be an impor- tant objective of future work in order to determine the stratigraphic relationship of the bone bed to the gully fill. Cassels (1983) cites a personal communication with Frank Frazier in stating that along with mammoth bones there were boulders with randomly oriented carbonate coatings, suggesting that they had been rede- posited from the Slocum (?) gravel up slope. Were they redeposited first to the 208 VOL. 13, NO. 2 KERSEY-KUNER TERRACE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO k .. C ` W S n..fe. rye `"r 4 ; - .yq _+.J'. i b'' .A. yr/ 1 ,. r f 4 �"LY yt y •• • y v • 4\ 4 ' . R • a ,p h *L, 1.-4. r j t. *' ° & �' t.. G Magi M .d.4 Srn tr � . z. a��.42 a^.`r, Y . . .n+c; 'y� Figure 5. Photograph oC the occipital condyles oC a young manuuoth skull in situ iu the east wall of the 197a trench. [t rests upon mul. L(light- t'I gravel at the left auk above trowel). gully catchment and Lhen a second time to the Kersey terrace along with Lhe bones? Unfortunately, we cannot answer this question. Ilowever, we are certain that; Lhe mammoth bones were not derived from the s alluvium because of their rel- atively good preservation and absence of strong calcium carbonate encrustation. Because of the strong possibility that Lhe mammoth bones were redeposited from a primary position in the gully catchment,archaeological investigations of that area have been initiated and will be continued (Brunswig, 1992). Our coring at the Dent site in 1992 shows that,the Kersey strath extends eastward and under the railroad tracks at least 30 m front the 1973 backhoe trench, sug- gesting that more of the mamnmtlr-bone bed remains under 1.he tracks and perhaps on the south side of the tributary gully as Bilgery suggested in 193`2. Apparently the Kuner terrace does not occur at the Den site (Figure 1). If a remnant exists, it is under the railroad fill, unit.8, east of core hole 4 as shown in the hypothetical cross section of Figure 8. Four hundred meters to the south at the Bernhardt site, discussed next, the Kuner terrace is an arcuate remnant inset GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 209 HAYNES, MCFAUL, BRUNSWIG, AND HOPKINS against either the Kersey terrace or the bedrock bluff. The contact is covered by the railroad fill, unit 8 (Figure 2). THE BERNHARDT SITE In the summer of 1992 we core sampled the strata at the Dent site under Lhe railroad fill and in a nearby remnant of the Kuner terrace. The landowner, Mr. Bernhardt, in bulldozing a road across the Kuner terrace to his pivot irrigation system, exposed the stratigraphy of the Kuner terrace. At what we now call the Bernhardt.site, we found two archaeological hearths in middle Ilolocene alluvium- colluvium overlying Kuner terrace alluvium. The stratigraphy, shown in Figures 6 and 7 and described in Table 2, is exposed in a roadcut that parallels the railroad tracks, less than 20 in to the west. Figure 8 is a hypothetical cross section showing • all of the 14C ages. Nearly a meter of interbedded channel sands and gravels of unit 4 is exposed at the Bernhardt site. Coring below the base of the cut revealed another 60 cm of sand and gravel overlying sandstone bedrock.Approximately 10 m to the southeast, the terrace scarp exposed 0.5-1 m of the same sand and gravel resting on a bedrock bench. The alluvial sand and gravels (subunits 4c and 4e2) are similar to those of unit 1 at the Dent site 400 m NNE where the Kersey strath is about 4 in higher in elevation. The position and origin of unit 4 suggest it, is clearly a younger strath than that of the Kersey terrace. A small lump of charcoal found in unit 4e2 gravel 10 cm below the contact with overlying sand and clay strata (unit 5a) provided AMS radiocarbon ages of 9740 ± 70 B.P. on the charcoal and 10,105 ± 90 B.P. on the humic acids (Table 2). These results suggest that the active channel of the South Platte abandoned the Kuner strath soon after 10,000 13.1'. The strath alluvium, unit 4, is overlain by unit 5, consisting of sands, 5a, and clay bands, 5b and 5c (Table 2). Poor sorting suggests unit 5a is slopewash colluvium. The horizontal bedding of units 5b and 5c and their uniform thicknesses suggests they are overbank alluvium. A weak paleosol occurs at the top of 5c. One of three charcoal flecks from the base of unit 5a provided a radiocarbon age of 5740 ± 60 B.P. (Table 2). The ?4000 year hiatus between the top of unit 4 and the base of unit 5 leaves ample time for pedogenesis to have affected unit 5, yet there is no paleosol. This suggests that it may be stripped,possibly by the flood that deposited the overbank alluvium of unit 5. However, with downcutting by the Platte River from the Kuner level having begun soon after 10,000 B.P., it is remarkable that overbank deposits would form at this level some 4000 years later. Another interpretation is that Bie isolated charcoal lump from unit 4e2 with the 10,000 B.P. age is redeposited from older alluvium and therefore does not date unit. 4. This appears unlikely because channel alluvium of middle Holocene age occupies lower levels elsewhere in the region(McI aul et al. 1994). The texture of unit. 6 suggests that the sand is derived from the Fox Hills sand- stone by a combination of eolian activity and slopewash. The two prehistoric hearths on the sharp contact between 6a and 6b define an ancient surface that 210 VOL. 13, NO. 2 0 m 0 D 0 O I m m B B' 0 0 T- 4 75 z 1460m— o E -Ia m 4- 33 Z c) z n -O m 0 1450- o cc m r c oc \ C, e W T - 2 m N. --- — a ti z 1440- - — -r � — � T 1 m m r m K bedrock -- 7b 7a �^ m — 2 1430- m co I I I I I I I I I O 80 m 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 -I 0 z Figure 6.Geologic cross section at the Bernhardt site showing Hardin terrace(T-1 and unit 7a), Kuner terrace(T-2 and units 4,5, and 6), and the 0 Slocum(?)terrace(T-4).Unit 8 is the modern railroad fill.The Kersey terrace(T-3)is apparently absent here. Z 0 O r 0 70 m D O 0 N e m -‹Z cv co co o N N N < < Q T < < n m D CO C ca m m O O co m co +l +I +I +I O Z Tr in N O V O o r <G Q In \ / O1 CM 0.1 O1C0C0m T CV Z CO U C) O U O co to v o 2 SW INE 2 2m- . 6c cnn 1 6a2 _ _ — __ — _ 6a _ _ — _ — — _ _ 6ai_ _ 7_11.---- 0 - —- 6a � - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ — ,,:, _r _ a:a 1— �s�YC ---S,:-,nr- O < 2m - O r I i I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I 14m 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 z O Figure 7.Stratigraphic profile of the Kuner terrace at the Bernhardt site showing fluvial sands and gravel(unit 4)of the Kuner strath,alluvial sandy N loans of unit 5,eolian(?)sands of unit 6,and the location of radiocarbon samples 1,3.4,5,and 6 C92(aligned with black squares). KERSEY-KUNER TERRACE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO • Table II.Sedimentary descriptions of the Bernhardt site profile. Thickness" Unit Description (cm) 4a Sand and Pale Pink,soft,to firm friable,interbedded arkosic medium sand and 40+ gravel fine to medium pebble gravel with irregular rust stains.Sharp basal contact with bedrock sandstone(Fox Hills F m) 4b Silt Yellowish brown,firm,friable micaceous moist silt band collected at 2 0.8 S as sample 11692 4c Gravel Pink,soft arkosic sandy fine pebble gravel with northward-dipping 12 foreset bedding in northern part of the exposure 4d Sand Pale pink,well sorted,loose fine to medium arkosic sand 13 4e, Silt(?) Light brown,soft clayey silt or fine sand 4 4e" Gravel Pale pink,soft to loose,sandy fine to medium arkosic pebble gravel 10 interbedded with 4e1.Single charcoal lump collected at 1.3 N as sample 5C92 has a"C age of 9740±70 B.P.(AA-11086)and 10,105 90 B.P.(AA-11084A)on humic acids 4f Sand and Tan,soft to loose interbedded fine sand and fine arkosic gravel 20 gravel 5a Sand Yellowish brown(upper)to gray(lower)firm friable to hard,clayey, 75 poorly sorted,fine to medium sand with dispersed pebbles and mottled with vertical rust stains.Three charcoal flecks(1C92)col- lected from lower half at 0.3 S.One has a"C age of 5740 .t 60 B.P.(AA-15548).Sharp basal contact Sb Sand and Gray clay bands separated by firm friable rust,stained fine sand. 18 clay Sharp basal contact.Basal clay band at 12.4 S collected as Sample 6C92 5c Mud Gray rust-stained sandy clay,strong medium blocky with dispersed 50 white crystal aggregates(gypsum?),dispersed snail shells,and thin (<4 cm)lenses of medium sand.Sharp basal contact.Top 10 cm between 10.1 and 10.2 collected as Sample 10C92 Ga, Sand Grayish brown,firm calcereous silty fme sand with dispersed peb- bles.Sharp(erosional?)basal contact.Imperceptibly fades into Gaz northward 6a" Sand Light yellowish brown,firm friable,massive well sorted fine to me- 100 dium sand with widely dispersed pebbles.Sharp irregular(ero- sional?)basal contact with 5c,gradational over 5 cm with Ga,. Be- comes finer and softer southward.Weak coarse prismatic to blocky ped structure fib Sand Light yellowish brown,firm,porous calcereous fine to medium,mas- 70 sive sand with dispersed pebbles.Becomes finer southward.Basal contact gradational over 5 can but sharp at two hearths on contact (charcoal samples 3&4C92)at 10.0 S and 10.1 S.3C92 has a"C age of 4030± 60 B.P-(AA-12531) Gc Soil Brown sandy loam of weak A horizon developed on 6b containing 10 20 cm calcerous(Stage 1)B horizon with moderate medium blocky ped structure °Thickness is maximum observed. GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 213 I i N = a x. 2 m Co K 170 ± 50 BP (SMU-120) charcoal; 32,260 ± 2100 BP (SMU-121) coke n c r NI W 11,200 ± 500 BP 0-622) bone; 10,980 ± 90 BP (AA-2941)XAD hydrolysate SE c T-4 —4030 ± 60 BP (AA-12531) charcoal cn — 5740 ± 60 BP (AA-15548) charcoal 1460m —9740 ± 70 BP (AA-11086) charcoal — 10,105 ± 90 BP(AA-11084A) humates o _ Core holes = 1450— T - 3 O 3 2 4 -o I I cn- 2 8 1440— ,Th.rm.-- �_smm: T_ 1 — —.:g, ilk-. T- 0 — — 7a \<1.,,,,,t,— K bedrock 7b 1430— _ I I I I I I I I I I I 100m 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0O Figure 8.Hypothetical geologic cross section showing the Bernhardt stratigraphy projected to the Dent site cross section.The Bernhardt strata and r the Kuner strath may not exist at the Dent site.The location of radiocarbon samples is shown by black squares with lines indicating the ages. w Z O N KERSEY-KUNER TERRACE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO existed briefly at 4030 ± 60 B.P. (Table 2). A projectile point of the McKean cmn- plex (Wormington, 1957) came from this surface. Deposition of unit 6 probably took place after the abandonment of the Kuner terrace and before the establish- ment of the late IIolocene Hardin terrace (T-1) and the modern floodplain (T-0) during which alluvial units 7a and 7b were formed (Fig. 6). Unit 7a is probably the Hardin terrace of Bryan and Ray (1940). McFaul et al. (1994) suggest that the age of Hardin alluvium is greater than 120 B.P. Two charcoal fragments in fluvial sand from ca. 62 cm below the top of the modern floodplain (T-0) and 1 in above the South Platte River produced radiocarbon ages of 255 ± 55 B.P. (AA-15549) and 43,800 ± 2000 B.P (AA-15550). The latter most likely is redeposited lignite. CORRELATIONS WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLACIATION Madole (1986, 1991) suggested that termination of Pinedale glaciation in the Front Range occurred by at least 12,000 B.P. and possibly as early as 15,000 B.1'. In the southern part of the Park Range lie found that Pinedale deglaciation was complete before about 14,000 B.P.In the Fraser Valley of the Colorado Front Range, Nelson et al. (1979) found that Pinedale glaciation began prior to 30,000 B.P. and ended after 13,700 B.P.It appears, therefore, that the correlation of Kersey terrace aggradation with Pinedale glaciation has a firm basis. Benedict (1973, 1981, 1985) has shown the post-Pinedale Satanta Peak glacial expansion to have occurred between 12,000 and 10,000 B.P. He suggests that it correlates with the Temple Lake advance of the Wind River Range (Curry 1974) which, according to Zielinski and Davis (1987), is pre-11,400 B.Y. If the Satanta Peak and Temple Lake advances occurred between 11,000 and 10,000 B.P., the effect in the South Platte is likely to have been quasistability at the Kuner level as deglacial degradation from the Pinedale-age Kersey terrace was interrupted.There- fore, correlation of these events with the Younger Dryas climatic reversal is rea- sonable. It appears that both the Corral Creek and Long Draw moraines of the Cache la Poudre valley are Pinedale (Richmond, 1986). If this is valid, then there are no terminal moraines reported in the Cache la Poudre valley that reflect Younger Dryas cooling and the Kuner terrace does not correlate with the Long Draw moraine as proposed by Bryan and Ray(1940). Perhaps,instead,it correlates with the protalus rampart of Bryan and Ray (1940), a feature described by Richmond (1986:89) as a rock glacier. Hunt (1954) correlated the Broadway terrace of the South Platte River in the Denver area to the Kersey terrace, and Bryan and Ray(1940)correlated the Kersey terrace to the Pleasant Valley terrace of the Cache la Poudre.Holliday(1987)finds support for this in that the Pleasant Valley and Kersey terraces merge into a single Kersey terrace downstream of the South Platte—Cache la Poudre confluence. Per- haps Pleasant Valley and Kersey terraces reflect Pinedale-age outwash from both Corral Creek and Long Draw advances. The data presented here suggest that the South Platte abandoned the Dent strath • (Kersey terrace) by at least 11,000 B.I'. and established a new quasistate of grade GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 215 HAYNES, MCFAUL, BRUNSWIG, AND HOPKINS at the Bernhardt (Kuner) level before 10,000 B.P. It was during this interval that Paleoindians from Clovis to Cody hunted megafauna on the Kersey terrace tread. The prevalence of mammoth and bison bones and the lack of moose bones in the kill sites suggests that parts of the surface were at least seasonally dry.The Kersey surface had probably become an abandoned (ca. 100-year) floodplain upon which there was active dune formation, at least during the early part of degradation to the Kuner level. Quasistability at the Kuner level appears to correlate with the Younger Dryas event when deglaciation was interrupted by a return to glacial con- ditions between 10,800 and 9,600 B.P. (Berger, 1990). • CONCLUSIONS Clovis people appear to have hunted Pleistocene niegafauna iii the South Platte River valley at the time when the river was abandoning the Kersey terrace during deglaciation of the Rocky Mountains. Downcutting of the South Platte River ap- pears to have been interrupted at the Kuner-strath level probably as glacial con- ditions returned in the mountains essentially contemporaneously with Younger Dryas cooling. Folsom, Agate Basin, and Cody Paleoindians subsisted during this time by hunting bison on the Kersey terrace during a period of high water tables that helped promote the development of an Aquoll—Ustol paleo-catena. The high water table indicated by the Aquoll of the swales on the Kersey terrace probably is related to Younger Dryas cooling rather than to the high water table preceding entrenchment as suggested by Maloe (1984). We dedicate this paper to the memory of Joe Ben Wheat This research is in part supported by National Science Foundation Grant DBS 9119834 to the senior author,University of Arizona Regents Professor- ship funds,and the NSF-UA Regional Accelerator for radiocarbon dating.Drafts of this manuscript were improved by suggestions from James B. Benedict, Richard F.Madole, and Bonnie Pitblado.We thank the editors and Vance Holliday for their reviews of the manuscript and suggestions for improvement. We bear responsibility for any errors and omissions.The expert word processing was by Ellen Stamp, Department of Anthropology,University of Arizona. REFERENCES Benedict.,J.B. (1973). Chronology of Cirque Glaciation, Colorado Front Range, Quaternary Research, 3,584-599. Benedict,J.R. (1981). The Fourth of July Valley. Research Report No. 2. Ward, Colorado: Center for Mountain Archaeology. Benedict, .1.8. (1985). Arapaho Pass: Glacial Geology and Archaeology al the Crest of the Colorado Front Range. Research Report No.3.Ward,Colorado:Center for Mountian Archaeology. Berger,W.II. (1990). The Younger Dryas Cold Spell:A Quest for Causes.Palaeogeograph;y,Paloeocli- nhatology,Palaeoecology 89,219-237. Bilgmy, C. (rid.). Evidences of Pleistocene Man in the Denver Basin, Preliminary Report, Part II,The Findings at Dent.Unpublished typescript(1935)on tile.Denver:Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. Brunswig, R.IL,Jr., (1992). Geoarchaeology at the Dent Mammoth Site in the Northeastern Colorado nigh Plains.Manuscript on file.Greeley:Department of Anthropology, University of Northern Col- orado. Brunswig,R.H,Jr.,and Fisher,D.G.(1993).Research on the Dent Mammoth Site.Current Research in the Pleistocene 10,63-65. 216 VOL. 13, NO. 2 KERSEY-KUNER TERRACE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLORADO Bryan, K., and Ray,L.L. (1940). Geologic Antiquity of the LJndeumeier Site in Colorado.Smithsonian • Miscellaneous Collections 99(2),76 pp. Cassells, S. (1983). The Archaeology of Colorado, pp. 47-48. Boulder, Colorado:Johnson Publishing Company. Currey,D.R. (1974). Probable Pre-Neoglacial Age of the Type Temple Lake Moraine,Wyoming.Arctic and Alpine Research 6,293-300. Figgins, J.D. (1933). A Further Contribution to the Antiquity of Man in America. Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History 12(2),4-10. Frison, G.C., and Stanford, D.J. (1982). Summary and Conclusions. In G.C. Frison and U.J. Stanford, Eds., The Agates.Basin Site:A Record of the Paleoindion Occupation of the Northwestern High Plains,pp.361-370.New York:Academic l'ress. Maas, II.,and Haynes,C.V.,Jr.(1975).Southern Methodist,University Radiocarbon Date List II.Radio- carbon 17,354-363. Haynes,C.V.,Jr.(1974).Archaeological Geology of Some Selected Paleoindian Sites.In C.C.Black,Ed., History and Prehistory of the Lubbock Lake Site,pp.133-139.The Museum Journal XV.West.Texas Museum Association,Lubbock. Haynes,C.V.,Jr.(1992). Contributions of Radiocarbon Dating to the Geochronology of the Peopling of the New World.In R.E.Taylor, A. Long, and R.S. Kra, Eds.,Radiocarbon After Four Decades:An Interdisciplinary Perspective,pp.355-374.New York:Springer-Verag. Haynes,C.V.,and Haas,II.(1974).Southern Methodist University Radiocarbon Date List I.Radiocarbon 16,368-380. Ilolliday,V.T.(1987).Geoarchaeology and Late Quaternary Geomorphology of the Middle South Platte River,Northeastern Colorado.Geoarchacology 2,317-329. Hunt,C.B.(1954).Pleistocene and Recent Deposits in the Denver Area.USGC Bulletin 996-C.Washing- ton,D.C.:U.S.Geological Survey. Madole, R.F. (1986). Lake Devlin and Pinedale Glacial History, Front Range, Colorado. Quaternary Research 25,43-54.Boulder,Colorado. Madole,F.R. (1991). Quaternary Geology of the Northern Great Plains. In Qua ternary Nongtaciat Ge- ology:Conterminous U.S.,pp.456-462.The Geology of North America,Vol.K-2.Geological Society of America. Malde,H.E.(1984).Geology of the Frazier Site,Kersey,Colorado,In A.B.Anderson,Ed.,1984 AMQUA Field Guide,Paleo-Irulian Sites from the Colorado Piedmont to the Sand Bills,Northeastern Col- orado. McFaul, NI.,Doering, W.R.,and Zier,C.J.(1991).Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene Soil-Sediment Rela- tionships on the Kersey Terrace, Northeastern Colorado. Current Research in the Pleistocene 8, 117-119. McFaul,M.,Trough, K.L.,Smith,G.D., Doering,W.,and Zier,C.J. (1994). Geoarchaeologic Analysis of South Platte River Terraces: Kersey,Colorado.Geoarehaeolagy 9,345-374. Nelson,A.R.,Millington, A.C., Andrews,J.T.,and Nichols,II. (1979). Radiocarbon-Dated Upper Pleis- tocene Glacial Sequence, Fraser Valley,Colorado Front Range,Geology 7,410-414. Richmond, G.M. (1986). Stratigraphy and Correlation of Glacial Deposits of the Rocky Mountains,the Colorado Plateau and the Ranges of the Great Basin.In V.Sibrava,l).Q.Bowen,and G.M.Richmond, Eds.,Quaternary Glaciations in the Nm1hernHemisphmc,pp.99-127.New York:Pergauon Press. Scott, G.R. (1960).Subdivision of the Quaternary Alluvium East of the Front Range Near Denver,Col- _ orado.Geological Society of America Bulletin 71, 1541-1543. Scut,G.R. (1963).Quaternary Geology and Geomorphic I listory of the Kassler Quadrangle,Colorado. Professional Paper 421-A. Washington,D.C.:U.S.Geological Survey. Stafford, T.W., Hare, P.E., Currie, L., .lull,A.J.T., and Donahue, D.J. (1991). Accelerator Radiocarbon Dating at the Molecular Level.Joanna of Archaeological Sciences 18,35-72. Taylor,R.E., Haynes,C.V.,Jr.,and Stuiver,M. (1996).Calibration of the Late Pleistocene Radiocarbon Time Scale:Clovis and Folsom Age Estimates.Antiquity 70,515-525. Trautman, M.A.,and Willis,E.II. (1966). Isotopes, Inc.Radiocarbon Measurements V.Radiocarbon 8, 161-203. Wheat,J.B.(1979).The Jurgen Site.Plains Anthropologist Memoir 15. GEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL 217 HAYNES, MCFAUL, BRUNSWIG, AND HOPKINS Wormington, II.M. (1957).Ancient Man in North America. Popular Series No. 4. Denver: Denver Mu- seum of Natural IlisWty. Zielinski, G.A., and Davis, P.T. (1987). Late Pleistocene Age of the Type Temple Lake Moraine, Wind River Range,Wyoming,U.S.A. Geographic.Physique et Quaterrnoire 41,397-401. Zier, C.J.,Jepson, U.A., McPaul, M., and Doering, W. (1993). Archaeology and Geomorphology of(he Clovis-Age Klein Site Near Kersey,Colorado.Plains Anthropeloyis!38,203-210. Received August 12, 1996 Accepted for publication May 2, 1997 218 VOL. 13, NO. 2 RUG-21-2001 16:14 FR0DI:CU-HIbtURILHL SJI. .t, CCU tbb c, .. Colorado Cultural Resource Survey MAPP D Site or Property Reevaluation Form Attachments (check as many as apply) Official determination (OAHP USE ONLY) X photographs Determined Eligible site sketch map Determined Not Eligible X U.S.O.S. map photocopy Need Data other — Nominated other Listed Contributing to N.R. District Not Contributing to N.R. Dist. This form should be used to update information on a previously recorded site/property. Photographs are required for all structures. A photocopy of the USGS quad map showing site location is required for all archaeological sites with updated locational information. A revised site sketch map is necessary if the site boundaries or components have greatly changed. If the original form is incomplete or otherwise inadequate, please submit a new set of site forms. 1. State Number SWL870 2. Site/Property Name Fort Saint Vrain Siding 3. Purpose of this current site visit (check as many as apply) site is within a current project area resurvey X update of previous site form(s) surface collection testing to determine eligibility excavation other Describe: Made a site visit after a Ms. Sally Clarke from the Scottsdale Ranches called Ft. Vasquez stating that they had found a unknown marker at the Fort St. Vrain Site. The siding site, SWL870 was also examined at this time. 4. Previous recordings - namc(s), organization(s), date(s) Not specified on previous recording. 5. Changes or additions to the previous sitelproperty description(s) Site should include the bridge across the South Platte. Remnants of the bridge are still visible as well as the railroad berm and various cement footings for the grade. HUG-21-20U1 3b:le: !R:.L. J ci _ . _.= i- j -_r3 Site/Property Reevaluation Form (continued) 6. Changes in site condition since the previous site/property recording None 7. Changes to previous site location or size information Legal is T4N R67W E SW NW;E W SW NE;W E NW SE; and .NW NE SW SE UTM are: A. 13;512280mE 4459510mN B. 13;5.12290mE 4459510mN C. 13;S12360mE 4458430mN D. 1.3512320rnE 4458430mN 8. Changes in site/property ownership since previous site recording The area around the site is occupied by the Scottsdale Ranches. 9. Other changes, additions, or observations Some disturbance west of 5WL814. Lots of recent trash deposited downslope of the fort site. 10. National Register eligibility assessment: eligible not eligible X need data explain The site may contain intact buried deposits that could yield information on. early settlement for this part of weld county. Since this was at one time the county sent of Weld County, it is of local importance. 11. Management Recommendations The site should be tested to identify intact buried deposits related to the depot and any other outbuildings. Possible overlap may exist with the Fort St. Vrain site. 12. Photograph Nos. 13. Artifact and field documentation storage location Note: 14. Report tide None 15. Recorder(s) Todd McMahon Date(s) 8/29/1996 16. Recorder Affiliation Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, CHS RUG-21-2001 16:14 FR0M:C0-HIST0RICRL-SOLIEY 30i deb al .... - -''- .... .... .. 4,270 97006 ti at 2 Jo �3 MAPPED 1 1) Sii rnnitbdr - picture 2) SITE NAME -1154-"I-60� ,� ®/gyp ..- Site Threatened ' ADDRESS cc. kee Y-iC- w skiIVL 5Vd T 4A,/ R ‘70./ S -%7-a, 3) OWNER - .�____._ /3/i',lt/9-i4fl*i& wEnrwsj 4) CONDITION excellent__ good fair ruins U,,,/ UL -11%/3 ,:- buildings occupied .____unoccupied 5) PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION bL:11dir.g has 1 2 3 stories frame stone log brick other indicate 6) SIGNIFICANCE Be specific making certain to give date (s) . List your sources. If neceu5aEyDc:onrLi.nce on the back_ y 4/\o'�7 U/ta/ ,. Ii/O.o et, (X o� J -t, �c' �02 C+^O/- °}"��' -^� a-n (mot Q -r.n.K'iv d-bw-z.-r.�-<-2• f r�l✓�� Motea i /9/d Ll 17/7 r'.'.el t 9e ., 6? �4, /��7. (� a3-/€1-1)-- 4, 2%Ram vte ✓��'�` . eOGo a o�D pa 'zLa- -e pet.o7 041-7-07 c6u�u-..p�p 4.--tte a...G'.—4;e/it Cikeggyet_ t � A- Jo SL o �lML Y r $ C�n S / �a9 CJnG YLtit/ v r,111 0 _ ; / .t v n 4 4 r". - /J U n N 7) - -- _ Mama Address tae, Date September 29, 2001 Board of County Commissioners 915 10th Steet • _ ` Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Commissioners: We, the undersigned surrounding property owners and community residents, formally and respectfully request a postponement of the public hearing regarding Docket #2001-69. This hearing is presently scheduled for October 10, 2001. The Docket#2001-69 case is in regard to the USR#1306 permit application by Platte Sand & Gravel, LLC. This permit is being heard for the second time before the Weld County Planning Commission only 8 days prior on October 2, 2001. Generally, a hearing date before the Couny Commissioners is set after a case is considered by the Planning Commission. As a result, usually, there is a 3-4 week period between the two hearings. Such a time spacing is appropriate for a number of very legitimate and relevant reasons. Those reasons are the basis for our request for postponement. First, as a neighborhood, we are committed to attending these public hearings in order to voice our united concerns regarding this proposed operation. As residents, we would experience the greatest impact on our health, safety and welfare. It is unfair to expect us to arrange our work schedules for the necescary time off in two, consecutive weeks. It is difficult particularly for those of us who farm and who are in the middle of harvest which cannot wait. This is a hardship which can be addressed by delaying the County Commissioner hearing. Second, it is essential to the public review process that there be adequate time for the processing and reviewing of information detailed in public hearings. The short span of eight days does not give the county staff nor the public appropriate time to consider the information presented at the Planning Commission hearing and to prepare a response for the County Commisioner hearing. This is a stress which can be addressed by delaying the hearing. Third, in this case, it is not only the applicant who has invested time and money to obtain professional consultation and legal advice. As a neighborhood we, too, have invested our own time and financial support for professional and legal expertise. We have been doing this for the last 10 months and our investment is significant. An eight day span does not give adequate time for us to utilize our professional counsel between hearings. This puts us at a disadvantage; and it does not allow for a level field between the applicant and the public. Time will be required to review the pertinent sections of the Weld County Code and to prepare an intelligent, informed response. This is a time constraint which can be addressed by delaying the hearing. Thank you for your careful consideration to our request for this postponement of the hearing for Docket#2001-69. Any response may be directed to our neighborhood group's designated spokesperson, Bruce Rippe, 11419 Weld County Road 36, Platteville, CO 80651. Sincerely, Attached Signature Page EXHI@IT j Board of County Commissioners Letter RE: Postponement Request for Docket #2001-69 September 29, 2001 SIGNATURE PRINTED NAME ADDRESS ��- .�� i1 6C -dot. /099 c 3� �l�� CC C' J Uril� :00 vC C � AA t EtczuOCe10997C23C, i vti v tL� ,.c_ ,U /Vof''K 2 n 5-v1/29,4- /6 5-f3 4,evf -LI /_ehei -Z=° ,626Uraii)du Jean 6ra tide 0 b,,,, , / /W / WC 2 3c Pfaff( ti:IIP, C'c) yya 0 6 c s_ Corce- CLinief_C / 34wc-R -3 n(c Lllc Gly�c k 1 i t�cf� p ac--- / /410,t),„fanon 5./ tg45 cocE t�(a7 eoi/le 6), �' — `� e,es� tYWes: /Ic �C2e�.7�' ,Cherf / �'99S � ��eca. o��o�ajdord* r f4 in /�urdf`k, f/ 02S0 C,-Kg- P1q �,//% ? / 7//.' Cu c 'C or ('tMrrtvi�C.� Board of County Commissioners Letter RE: Postponement Request for Docket #2001-69 September 29, 2001 T /Zit /PRINTED NAME ADDRESS � /� _ /8/l,//Q /v1r a l7' s //, V7 oCl�- G yo`Q `!C / s+ IV ` 4u H i 1247 U)GG 3& P/c /1- v lie CD _14A; 7C-C W ;74-de/ L, OO4--W llaAl /// oo wcK 38 Ph #cv, Nei 64 . r_ tit-1 /via.-Ye, fez b 1\ ///e)C (am, '3 ?- IPt e41/47410 1 //SW ke 1 %owe / //o994)rc,d°D. 1 %/Au741`1F dd. a-Aft - DU /� cf�c/ene Deli,bPi b /ee/d� le.Go'l3 //i/eo,//e a . /aL i I l ≤l-A c_t J Q d,B-r+? o-.. ` 1 1 k.//� `.- C Q z 3 I` (4-4,...7 4Q , cc, n CX�I�A.v�1:- lruct W. Ri6,, v (mg LJCR 3C., a(. !'tuJAt) CO ckk 1 6 .itti ici CLERK TO THE BOARD PHONE (970)356-4000, Ext. 4225 FAX: (970) 352-0242 CP. O. BOX 758 GREELEY, COLORADO 80632 COLORADO October 1, 2001 Bruce Rippe 11419 Weld County Road 36 Platteville, Colorado 80651 RE: Pre-advertisement of USR#1306 - Platte Sand and Gravel, LLC Dear Mr. Rippe: In response to your letter submitted October 1, 2001, requesting to delay the hearing for Platte Sand and Gravel, I offer the following. The applicant requested a Pre-advertisement of this case, which was approved by the Board at its September 12, 2001, meeting. The Board considered whether all surrounding property owners, as well as all those who had attended the first hearing before the Board, would receive legal notice of the hearing. At that time the Board granted the pre-advertisement and scheduled the hearing before the Board for October 10, 2001. Staff proceeded to set up the hearing, including sending the legal notice to the newspapers. Staff is in the process of mailing legal notice to surrounding property owners. Upon receipt of your request, the Board instructed staff to delay the hearing, if the delay was within legal and practical limits; however, your request was received too late to retrieve the notice from the paper, and a portion of the notices had already been mailed to surrounding property owners. Since legal notice has been published and a portion of the notices mailed, it would be inappropriate to change the date of the hearing at this time. It is unfortunate that some individuals may find it difficult to attend this hearing or find themselves in a position of having to choose which meeting to attend. Please assure them that written comments will be given as much weight by the Board of County Commissioners as verbal comments, should they wish to submit them prior to the hearing date. On October 2, 2001, the Planning Commission will determine whether to recommend the project favorably or unfavorably to the Board of County Commissioners, and on October 10, 2001, the Board of County Commissioners will determine whether to approve or deny the case. Comments may be sent by E-mail to chardinciaco.weld.co.us, by mail to the Clerk to the Board, P.O. Box 758, Greeley, Colorado 80631, or by dropping them off at the Clerk to the Board's office on the Third Floor of the Centennial Center, 915 10th Street, in Greeley. EXHIBIT 6oz Platte Sand and Gravel , LLC (USR#1306) Bruce Rippe Page 2 Because of your request, the Board of County Commissioners will consider a review of the pre- advertisement procedure, to see whether changes should be made to assure this type of situation does not occur again. If I may answer any further questions, please call our office at (970) 356-4000, Ext. 4217. Very truly yours, tru Atli CI Esther E. Gesick Deputy Clerk to the Board IOC `A COLORADO WIRE CLOTH, INC. HERREN Tack-Lag HERREN Tack-On P.O.Box 160 Telephone 970-785-2268 Platteville,Colorado 80651 HERREN Hold Down Rails FAX 970-785-6522 Wire Screen Cloth WATS 1-800-332-6280 E-Z Chute Liners September 28, 2001 Office of the Board of County Commissioners 915 101h Street P.O. Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632 Subject: Proposed S&H Gravel Mme operated by Platte Sand and Gravel Dear Weld County Commissioners, I support the approval of the proposed S&H Gravel Mine operated by Platte Sand and Gravel. We realize that thousands of people have moved from the metropolitan areas to rural areas. Tese people want to maintain a rural life style by protecting their property. We fully understand .Is and our plans are to protect their life styles. When these thousands of people move from metropolitan areas to rural areas they create a demand for local services such as schools, libraries, hospitals, and etc. The people that were residing in these areas prior to this influx of population incur a lot of the expenses of maintaining and enlarging these services. It is impossible to keep construction costs down without adequate gravel supplies. An adequate supply of aggregate is a must to control construction costs. There are many of us that are for private property, business and responsible land use that are not as outspoken as the opposition. I hope you weigh the private property rights of the applicant and the necessity for aggregate in our daily lives against the few opposing this operation. Sincere , . / /L Harold L. Herren President EXHIBIT I SI It ,2bt O top_ e, f[-+' nQS September 28, 2001 Mr. Rob Masden Weld County Commissioner District 3 P.O. Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632 RE: USR#1306,Platte Sand and Gravel,LLC Dear Mr. Masden: We are writing in regard to the Platte Sand & Gravel, LLC application for a sand and gravel mining operation northwest of Platteville. Our property on County Road 36 is approximately one mile east of the proposed operation and will be impacted if they use CR 36 as a haul route. It would be preferable that the property remains in agriculture; however, we recognize this is a valuable gravel resource which will be exploited, if not now, then in the future. We also understand, if this proposal meets or is in compliance with all county, state, and federal requirements, approval will probably follow. If approval is granted by both the Planning Commission and the County Commissioners, we ask that requirements be imposed to lessen the impact on surrounding land owners and the environment. This means,to name a few: • all haul roads must be specifically identified, paved and constructed to specifications sufficient to support the proposed truck traffic • limitation of mining and processing activities to daylight hours only • reclamation of mined areas be closely monitored to insure compliance with county and NCRS requirements • preservation of historical sites,both known and to be identified • protection of wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas for wildlife • insure there will be no detrimental effect on existing domestic and irrigation wells (this may require an extended term liability bond). The developers additionally propose to use the site for cement and asphalt batch plants and recycling of concrete and asphalt. We strongly do object to this use as it is not compatible with the area. Particularly, we oppose their plan of concrete and asphalt - 1 - EXHIBIT recycling as these operations are industrial in nature which would not only visually pollute but would very probably be environmentally damaging to this agricultural area and the Platte River. It should be noted that intensive use for industrial purposes on agriculturally-zoned land is akin to "spot zoning" which we understand is illegal. Thank you for your attention to the above points. Sincerely, -cl--ast-mo(&lark. Y7 Richard L. Lengel Barbara A. Lengel 12117 Weld County Road 36 Platteville, Colorado 80651 P.S. Any extraordinary costs resulting from this proposal must be paid by the developer and not Weld County taxpayers. - 2 - DEUTSCH, SPILLANE, REUTZEL & F ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS T LAW ORIGINAL OF DOCUMENT 9145 EAST KENYON AVENUE,,SUITE 200 DENVER,COLORADO 80237-1810 TELEPHONE: 694-1982 TE.EFA :(303)694-: PREVIOUSLY TELEFAXED WWW. HARVEY E.DEUTSCH SHARI L.ULERI KAREN V. REUTZEL of Counsel JOHN M.SPILLANE JACK E.REUTZEL DAVID WM.FOSTER E-MAIL:jspillane@dsrlaw.com • October 2, 2001 Weld County Planning Commission VIA TELEFAX AND MAIL c/o Mr. Kim Ogle, Weld County Planning Dept. 1555 N. 17 Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 RE: Case No. USR-1306, Platte Sand and Gravel LLC Application for Sand and Gravel Operation and Batch Plant Gibraltar Equity Investments,LLC and the Marie Louise Gollner Charitable Trust Dear Chairman Miller and Members of the Planning Commission: I indicated in my letter of May 29, 2001,that our office represents Gibraltar Equity Investments, LLC ("Gibraltar"), which is proposing to construct the Somerset Ridge Estates subdivision in Section - 27,Township 4 North, Range 67 West, across the river from the proposed sand and gravel operation and batch plant. The property currently is owned by the Marie Louise Gollner Charitable Trust (the "Trust"). Mr. Haren indicated at the Milliken Town Board meeting on September 12, 2001, that the proposed batching operations under the revised application will be conducted on the eastern edge of the permit area, east of the pond on which the extraction is taking place. In addition, the sand and gravel extraction will be a wet dredging operation undertaken exclusively in the pond, which will eliminate or reduce the noise and dust that would be associated with a dry operation. We also have had subsequent conversations with Mr. Haren and Mr. Sharkey regarding the operation. Based on the Milliken Town Board presentation and our subsequent conversations, we are satisfied that Platte Sand & Gravel's proposed operations, as revised, will not have a significant adverse affect on the Somerset Ridge Estates community. Accordingly, Gibraltar and the Trust do not oppose approval of the revised application. Sincerely, DEUTSCH, SPILLANE, REUTZ &FOSTER, P.C. By: John .Spillane JMS/slf cc: Mr.Michael A Messina Ms.Christine Hethcock John A Woodward,Esq. EXHIBIT Mr.Thomas Haren1 asp. Mr.J. R. Schnelzer Hello