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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence Miscellaneous 1/20/2005 HERITAGE RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY 1997 Garden Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97403 Phone 541/485-0454 FAX 541/485-1364 . . To: Mike Evans Land Planning Consultants 1071 Harlow Road Springfield OR 97477 From: Albert C. Oetting, PhD, RPA Heritage Research Associates, Inc. 1997 Garden Avenue Eugene, OR 97403 Date: January 20, 2005 HRA Letter Report 05-2: Status of Archaeological Investigations for the MountainGate Residential Development, Springfield, Oregon A number of archaeological surface and subsurface investigations have been conducted in the MountainGate Residential Development in southeast Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. These investigations have been conducted to comply with state and federal laws protecting archaeological resources, and to meet permit requirements of the City of Springfield Planning Department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. All archaeological investigations in the MountainGate Residential Development since 1995 have been conducted by archaeologists from Heritage Research Associates, Inc. (Heritage), under the direction of Albert Oetting. Since 200 I, these investigations included a surface archaeological survey of the overall development project area (330 acres), excavation of site discovery shovel probes in locations with a high potential for archaeological resources, and excavations at three archaeological sites (Figure I) and three isolated finds. Two sites (35LA657 and 35LA1261) were evaluated as eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), while one site (35LAI276) was assessed as not eligible. Portions of 35LA65.7 will be preserved in open space set asides as delineated on the 1998 Master Plan. Data recovery excavations were conducted at 35LAl261 to mitigate adverse impacts to this site. These archaeological investigations were reviewed in a consultation meeting on October 7, 2004 at the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in Salem, attended by representatives from SHPO, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Heritage, and the developer. Dr. Dennis Griffin, Lead Archaeologist for the Oregon SHPO, provided verbal concurrence with the findings and recommendations of these investigations at this meeting, and the Corps of Engineers has concurred with these findings in subsequent correspondence with SHPO. , /-20-'06 .....- . ."'~IVect: .lo-r0~ Planner: . . . Status of Archaeological Investigations for MountainGate -- page 2 January 20, 2005 BRA Letter Report 05-2 Archaeological Permits All archaeological investigations in the MountainGate Residential Development since 1995 have been conducted under state archaeological permits issued by the Oregon SHPO. Each permit application was reviewed and approved by the appropriate Oregon Indian Tribes as identified by the Commission on Indian Services. Notifications of fieldwork were sent to Tribes requesting such notice. All artifacts recovered in the MountainGate investigations will be curated at the State Museum of Anthropology, housed in the Museum of Natural and Cultural History at the University of Oregon in Eugene, under Accession Numbers 978 (AP- 183) and 1412 (all other permits). Four state permits have been issued by SHPO for various phases ofthe MountainGate investigations. Permit AP-183 covered the 1995 site relocation test excavations at 35LA657. Surface collection at 35LA657, the 2002 site discovery probes, and the evaluation test excavations at 3 5LA 1261 were conducted under permit AP-44 7. Permit AP-488 was issued for the 35LA1261 data recovery excavations. Permit AP-604 authorized the damage assessment excavations at 35LA657 and the evaluation test excavations at 35LA 1276. Investigations Prior to 2001 Previous archaeological investigations in this project area included a surface survey of the entire parcel in 1985 (Connolly and Baxter 1985) and subsurface investigations in 1995 to relocate site 35LA657, recorded in the 1985 survey (Oetting 1995). Site 35LA657 was evaluated as eligible for the NRHP and two open space set asides were incorporated into the development Master Plan to protect portions of the central area of3 5LA657. This plan was approved in 1998. A Summary ofInvestigations Since 2001 To satisfy City of Springfield requirements, the ground surface ofthe MountainGate Residential Development was resurveyed for archaeological resources in 2002 (Oetting 2003) (Figure I). Surface visibility was poor due to dense vegetation, but landforms with a high potential for archaeological materials were identified. These high potential areas were also examined in 2002 through the excavation of 140 subsurface site discovery shovel probes (30-cm-diameter). Approximately 2.9 m' of soil was excavated in the probes outside of site areas. Two new archaeological sites (35LA1261 and 35LA1276) and three isolated find locations were discovered and recorded through these discovery probes (Oetting 2003). Additional shovel probes in the vicinity of two isolated finds failed to produce additional artifacts. These locations (C8 and Ridge Area 1) do not meet the criteria for National Register consideration. The third isolate (Ridge Area 2) has not been fully examined. . . Status of Archaeological Investigations for MountainGate -- page 3 January 20; 2005 HRA Letter Report 05-2 35LA657: This site was recorded in 1985 and first tested and determined eligible in 1995 (Figure I). It was damaged during vegetation removal in 200 I. The surface artifact distribution was mapped in 2001 and several tools were collected from the surface at this time (Oetting 2001). Excavations to assess damage to the site were conducted in 2004 (Oetting 2004a). The 1995 and 2004 excavations examined 7.3 m3 of soil. Based on the results of these excavations, it was recommended that the existing 1998 Master Plan be implemented as originally approved, with the two open space set asides protecting the two primary artifact concentrations in the central part of site 35LA657. No further archaeological investigations were recommended at this site. 35LA1261: This site was discovered in the 2002 site discovery probe excavations (Figure I). Site evaluation test excavations were conducted and the site was recommended eligible for the NRHP. Since development plans could not be adequately altered to preserve this site, data recovery excavations were recommended to mitigate the adverse impacts caused by the residential development. A data recovery plan was approved by SHPO and these excavations were conducted in 2002 (Oetting 2002). SHPO has concurred that the completed data recovery work provided sufficient mitigation (de Freitas 2004). Overall, the evaluation and data recovery excavations removed and examined 12.9 m3 of soil in the site. No further archaeological investigations were recommended at this site. 35LA1276: This site was also discovered in the 2002 site discovery probe tests (Figure I). Site evaluation test excavations were conducted in 2004, examining 2.1 m3 of site soil (Oetting 2004b). Based on the modest results, this site wasxecommended as not eligible for the NRHP. No further investigations were recommended for this site. Review and Concurrence Overall, the archaeological investigations in the MountainGate Residential Development have resulted in two surface surveys of the 330-acre development, the controlled excavation of 25.2 m3 of soil, the evaluation of three archaeological sites, data recovery at one site, and preservation of the two primary artifact concentrations at one site through open space set asides specified in the development Master Plan. A consultation meeting was held at the Oregon SHPO in Salem on October 7, 2004 to review and assess the archaeological investigations undertaken for the MountainGate Residential Development. This meeting included representatives from SHPO, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Heritage, and the developer. The participants examined and discussed the history and sequence of the investigations, the archaeological data recovered, and the recommendations made regarding NRHP eligibility, data recovery, and site protection. Dr. Dennis Griffin, Lead Archaeologist for the Oregon SHPO, provided verbal concurrence with the findings and recommendations of these investigations at this meeting. The Corps of Engineers subsequently concurred with these findings through correspondence with SHPO, . . Status of Archaeological Investigations for MountainGate -- page 4 January 20,2005 HRA Letter Report 05-2 and concluded that these investigations have been "sufficient in scope and detail to meet the requirements of Section 106 of the NHP A" (National Historic Preservation Act) (Borda 2004). Remaining Issues Two issues remain: (1) completion of testing at the Ridge Area 2 isolated find and (2) completion of a comprehensive archaeological technical report. The Ridge Area 2 isolated find was deferred since it was in a later phase of development for the project, but this examination will be completed. Given that no archaeological materials were found during archaeological monitoring of a nearby trench for a Springfield Utility Board underground transmission line (Minor 2003), it is likely that this locale will remain an isolated find location that does not meet the criteria for National Register consideration. A comprehensive technical report documenting and analyzing all ofthe investigations conducted for the MountainGate Residential Development is currently being prepared. A final technical report, superceding the existing summary reports (Oetting 2002, 2003, 2004a, 2004b), is required to fully satisfY the terms of the state archaeological permits. This report will include contextual background information, description of all investigations conducted in the project area, and details of excavation methods and results for each site. Each site section will incorporate discussions of site stratigraphy, structure, and age; tabulate recovered artifacts; present the results of specific artifact analyses and other data analyses; and provide research conclusions. In addition, a general caveat regarding earth-disturbing construction anywhere in the MountainGate Residential Development project area is necessary. Archaeological sites and, in particular, Indian burials are protected under both federal regulations and Oregon state laws. Disturbance of graves is specifically prohibited by state law (ORS 97.745), even through accidental discovery, and even though reviewing agencies have concurred that the project is in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations. Although unlikely given the substantial excavations conducted in the project area, there remains the possibility that human burials or other significant prehistoric or historic cultural materials may be inadvertently encountered during construction activities for the MountainGate Residential Development. If this occurs, earth-disturbing activities in the vicinity of the discovery should be suspended immediately in accordance with applicable laws, and a qualified archaeologist should evaluate the discovery and recommend subsequent courscs of action. Likewise, if elements of the proposed residential development are substantially changed or realigned to incorporate areas that have not been examined for cultural materials, investigations similar to those conducted in the current project area should be undertaken in the new areas. . . Status of Archaeological Investigations for MountainGate -- page 5 January 20, 2005 HRA Letter Report 05-2 References Cited Connolly, Thomas J., and Paul W. Baxter 1985 An Archaeological Survey of Potato Hill and Vicinity, Springfield, Oregon. Baxter and Connolly Archaeological Data Consultants Report No.7. Borda, Donald 2004 Letter Seeking SHPO Comment for Concurrence with Archaeological Work Conducted at Mountaingate. Letter from the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Portland District, to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Salem, dated October 29, 2004. Letter available at Land Planning Consultants, Springfield. de Freitas, Susan 2004 Letter for SHPO Concurrence with Data Recovery Excavations at 35LAI261 (SHPO Case No. 04- 2431). Letter from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office to Land Planning Consultants, Springfield, dated October 19,2004. Letter available at Land Planning Consultants or at Heritage Research Associates, Inc., Eugene. Minor, Rick 2003 Archaeological Monitoring for the Second Section of the Underground Emerald Circuit in Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. Letter Report 03-31 by Heritage Research Associates, Inc., to Springfield Utility Board, Springfield. Oetting, Albert C. 1995 Cultural Resources Reconnaissance and Probing to Relocate Site 35LA657, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. Letter Report 95-33 by Heritage Research Associates, Inc. to MountainGate Properties, Inc., Pacific Palisades, CA. 200 I Snrface Mapping at Site 35LA657 on Potato Hill, Springfield, Land County, Oregon. Memo from Heritage Research Associates, Inc. to Land Planning Consultants, Springfield. 2002 Summary of Archaeological Data Recovery Investigations at 35LA 1261, MountainGate Residential Development Phase I, Lane County, Oregon. Letter Report 02-23 by Heritage Research Associates, Inc. to Land Planning Consultants, Springfield. 2003 Cultnral Resources Survey and Site Discovery Probing in the MountainGate Residential Development, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. Letter Report 03-34 by Heritage Research Associates, Inc. to Land Planning Consultants, Springfield. 2004a Snmmary of Site Assessment Excavations at 35LA657, MountainGate Residential Development, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. Letter Report 04-12 by Heritage Research Associates, Inc. to Land Planning Consultants, Springfield. 2004b Snmmary of Evaluation Test Excavations at 35LA 1276, MountainGate Residential Development, Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. Letter Report 04-3 by Heritage Research Associates, Inc. to Land Planning Consultants, Springfield. . . Status of Archaeological Investigations for MountainGate -- page 6 January 20, 2005 HRA Letter Report 05-2 ,J; o ~ , N , o ~ . . l u .;".. a , , :. . ' .: . , :;; lc.(J; ,i', v.), ,~:,' ,j "," "~ . ~~h"';.7:~,::;;1=S;~~~~::.:;o...~'::::!:'m:Ji;.;'::;7!.:-=:~""''''~'Cf~T'-::'~'~""~"::_":~'~~'~'''''~'~:0..'=;i.''~!~tSt.~~~_i\~::"i~~~~;;;:"..~''';;'1:'.l..l::: ~ ~'. "ii--' '''" ~ " ','- -, '.,,,. 01<' "'. "'" ....' "I' '\\. ,." I' ;.J ' '"'' ,- ..'~ 'I' ". ,- , ... ;",' <. "".;;I. ,,' ,<. . " of' l -I., .'. ..~," 0' .' ".,.,.~ /,1 ." ',-,.' I 35LA1276 . 1000ft , :j "' '\ ~~, I I 300m -, t' 35LA1261 ,.~ 35LA657 I I I _'1 , " .f ,', j.' , ~~.,.~ ~~, ,~ CJIlo- /.-' ',I ,I , , , " ". " ;,t/,," ,~- .; ~::, o = Site . f+'1 = Planned Development " . \" 1 f '} .... { ~. I ,,,,.,'Wol, , 1, Figure I. Location of archaeological sites recorded m the MountainGate Residential Development.