White Papers & Presentations
Using Empirical Archaeological Data to Indirectly Construct a Growth Curve from Crustose Lichen
Lichenometry is a dating technique that has been neglected in archaeological research despite its potential utility. Features from the geographic interface of the Columbia Plateau and North Cascades offer an opportunity to construct an indirect growth curve specific to this micro-region. This study compares measurements of lichen species on historical, dated features at four sites in the vicinity of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in North-Central Washington: Winston Lot Rock Wall, Holden Mine Feature 9 Rock Wall, 25 Mile Creek Rock Wall, and Swauk Prairie Cemetery. This poster was presented at the Society for American Archaeology 78th Annual Meeting in Honolulu.Download a PDF of the poster by Kate Shantry.
A Comparison of Pre- and Post-Construction Avian Use at a Northern Arizona Wind Energy Facility
This poster presents results of pre- and post-construction avian use studies conducted on the Perrin Ranch wind energy facility in northern Arizona in 2010-2011 and 2012, respectively. The facility has 62 1.6-megawatt turbines distributed across 39,833 acres of land. For large and small bird assemblages, two breeding seasons of pre-construction point count data were compared with one breeding season of post-construction point count data. Results show that for both large and small birds, species composition, relative abundance, and observation frequency during the pre-and post-construction sampling periods are comparable. Post-construction large and small bird species diversity and observation frequency data will be collected for the non-breeding season starting in November 2012; therefore, data outside of the 2012 breeding season are not available at this time. Results from this study strongly suggest that the presence and operation of wind energy facility of this structural configuration in this habitat type may not displace avian assemblages or alter species diversity. The poster was presented at the AWEA WINDPOWER 2013 conference in Chicago.Download a PDF of the poster by Tom Koronkiewicz, Lara Dickson, and Eric Koster.
Fire Restoration near Laguna Dam on the Lower Colorado River
This poster outlines a restoration plan for Bureau of Land Management land near the Lower Colorado River in southwestern Arizona destroyed by the May 2011 Laguna Fire. The project aims to restore and enhance 86 acres of severely fire-damaged landscape in five areas surrounding the Laguna Dam and Betty’s Kitchen Wildlife and Interpretive Area. The poster, which contains aerial images of pre- and post-fire conditions and planting details, was presented at the Arizona Riparian Council 26th Annual Meeting in Phoenix.Download a PDF of the poster by Eleanor Gladding and DeAnne Rietz.
Investigating Bias in Surface Visibility of Prehistoric Great Basin Sites
This poster presents results of a study investigating the effects of geomorphic and soil formation processes on lithic artifacts excavated from a sample of 18 prehistoric sites in eastern Nevada. Results indicate that the majority of sites had very high subsurface to surface ratios of lithic artifacts, and that surface contexts contained disproportionately higher percentages of large artifacts. The findings suggest that surface assemblages in the Great Basin are often not representative of overall site artifact count and diversity, and that even sites situated in eroding contexts may contain large buried components. This visibility bias carries implications for analyses of site distribution patterning and regional settlement behavior. The poster was presented at the Society for American Archaeology 78th Annual Meeting in Honolulu.Download a PDF of the poster by Mary Ann Vicari.
Yucca Roasting and Basketmaker to Post-Puebloan Occupations of Coyote Springs Valley
This poster presents the results of excavations at nine sites within Coyote Springs Valley of southeastern Nevada, including two residential areas and 16 yucca roasting pits from five of the sites. Results reveal that the area was utilized in particular for Joshua tree and Mojave yucca exploitation beginning in the Late Basketmaker II period and continuing through the ethnohistoric period. Although large prehistoric agave roasting pits are common in southern Nevada, direct evidence for yucca roasting is rare. The poster was presented at the Society for American Archaeology 78th Annual Meeting in Honolulu.Download a PDF of the poster by Amy Spurling, Mary Ann Vicari, and Victor Villagran.
Agriculture Intensification, Subsistence Efficiency, and Dietary Stress
Recent empirical research has suggested that maize agriculture in Fremont and Ancestral Pueblo contexts would have yielded lower return rates than hunting and gathering. If so, groups characterized by more intensive agriculture should be associated with lower subsistence efficiency. Insofar as lower efficiency results in increased risk of under- and malnutrition, more intensive agriculturalists should exhibit higher frequencies of osteological disease and dietary stress markers. This hypothesis was tested with a large sample of Fremont and Ancestral Pueblo skeletal data and corresponding archeological data that reflect variation in agricultural intensification. The poster was presented at the Society for American Archaeology 78th Annual Meeting in Honolulu.Download a PDF of the poster by Lisa Benson.
Smoldering Coals: Dating Historic Charcoal Production in Lincoln County, Nevada
This poster presents the findings of fieldwork conducted at an historic charcoal production site near the present-day Silver King Mine in northern Lincoln County, Nevada. Excavations revealed multiple episodes of site use, dating from prehistoric through modern periods, with the largest component consisting of numerous historical charcoal platforms, axe-cut trees, and diffuse historic artifacts. Most historic documentation of charcoal production in eastern Nevada focuses on the Eureka Mining District, where Italian immigrants initiated charcoal production during the 1870s in response to the increased demands for cost-effective fuel used in mining operations. The site contributes some of the earliest absolute dates for historic charcoal production in the Silver King Pass. The poster was presented at the Society for American Archaeology 78th Annual Meeting in Honolulu.Download a PDF of the poster by Victor Villagran and Tiffany Newman.
Disaster Plan: Probability Modeling in Northwest Colorado
This poster discusses the use of stepwise logistic regression to compare site locations and environmental variables to produce a model that can help identify and minimize the damage to perishable cultural resources — such as wickiups — most likely to be at risk from wildfires. This is especially true in northwest Colorado, which has a very high risk of devastating fires. The poster was presented at the Society for American Archaeology 78th Annual Meeting in Honolulu.Download a PDF of the poster by Paul Burnett.
Wildland Fire Management and the Uncontrolled Destruction of Archaeological Resources
The Intermountain West is a tinderbox. Massive wildland fires are drawing global attention. While the focus is on property destruction at the urban interface, fires in the hinterlands receive less attention. Within both contexts lie a complex archaeological landscape representing a critical, but poorly known portion of our nation’s cultural heritage. Managing these resources should involve threat assessments and evaluative surveys. In the Greater Yellowstone Area, we have a case study that incorporates probability models and collaborative post-burn sample surveys to document this material before it is further damaged, primarily by livestock trampling, erosion, and looting. This presentation was given at the 2013 Society for Applied Anthropology 73rd Annual Meeting in Denver.Download a PDF of the presentation by Paul Burnett.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Public Education and Archaeology
This poster discusses how the Project Archaeology program assists educators with implementation of common core standards and how archaeologists can offer tools to help educators integrate archaeology into existing curriculum. The poster was presented at the 2013 Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists annual meeting in Denver.Download a PDF of the poster by Sarah Baer.
Copyright 2012 SWCA Environmental Consultants
