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BLACK MOUNTAIN FOLSOM EXCAVATION ? ? SUCCESSFUL !!

This summers San Juan/Rio Grande National Forest/Smithsonian Institution Paleoindian/Paleoecology/Project excavation at the Black Mountain Folsom site revealed many clues that will help us to further understand cultural interactions related to the site. The Black Mountain site, located at an elevation of 10,160', was occupied by people of the Folsom culture, skilled hunters of a now extinct form of bison, They are among the earliest cultures known to inhabit North America, dating from about 10,900 to 10,200 BP (before present).
Immediately upon arrival, while establishing excavation grid lines, Smithsonian Institution Archaeologist Dr. Dennis Stanford found a Folsom point preform which had apparently just eroded from the ground due to heavy rains. The first subsurface artifact found was a completed Folsom point which exhibited breakage consistent with impact. Kevin Black, Assistant State Archaeologist and PAAC instructor who volunteered for seven days, found this point after finding a old crushed tobacco can at the same level in the 1-meter square. Needless to say he and the whole crew were pleasantly surprised with the find (especially after the can incident !). Another surprise came when a crew member excavated a Folsom preform tip which refit the Stanford surface find, The tip was found 30 meters away and 30 cm deep in an excavation unit ! Analysis of tool refits can prove important in analysis of the site.
Other important artifacts were found which will add to the knowledge of this high-altitude paleoindian site.
Portions of several other preforms were discovered, along with numerous flakes of stone resulting from the tool - making process. Other artifacts found included cores, completed Folsom point fragments, a unifacial scraper, flakes from the Folsom point fluting process (channel flakes), gravers, and a flake identified as possibly being the result of manufacturing an "ultra-thin", a fine stone knife which may have been used for skinning bison or other large animals. A very important feature found was the remains of a Folsom campfire location. Analysis of this .'" hearth and Carbon-14 dating of charcoal samples taken from it will be important in determining a firm date for the site. Another important aspect of the site involved identification of the source of raw material for the tools found at the site as possibly being from a location to the north of Pagosa Springs (Mosca Creek). Material collected from the chert source matches up nicely with the variety of material found at the Black Mountain site.
Approximately 30 square meters of the site were painstakingly excavated by the end of the excavation, which lasted 40 days. The Smithsonian Institution crew were joined by many volunteers, including SLV Archaeological Network members Vicki Goodrow, Loretta Mitsen, Marvin and Josh Goad, Bob and Judy Armagast, Virginia Simmons, Harry, Pat, and Elli Fluck, and Julee and Carrol Fleming. Over 100 visitors who dropped by the site were given extensive tours and about 200 school children from Creede, Center, Del Norte, Alamosa, and a group of home-taught students were also led on tours of the site. Special thanks are extended to all who worked on the site and especially to project director Pegi Jodry, of the Smithsonian Institutions Paleoindian/Paleoecology/Project, who led us through the endeavor. A program detailing the excavation will be formulated for the Spring of 1998.

Please visit the Black Mountain Folsom Site Page

BONANZA FIELD TRIP REPORT
by Virginia Simmons

The Archaeological Network field trip to the historic Bonanza area was attended by 55 people, who enjoyed beautiful weather, fall foliage, and scenery while learning a great deal about mining history and the project to clean up pollution caused by it. Leader of the tour was Tim Buxton project team leader from the San Juan/Rio Grande National Forest Saguache Ranger District, who provided a wealth of information and expert crowd control ! Some of the guests came from as far away as Boulder, Denver, Pueblo, and Salida for this very interesting and enjoyable tour. It ended with an optional extension that resulted in a glimpse of the Shawnut Mine, spectacular scenery, and some hot brakes for drivers without compound low 4 X4. A good time was had by all.

UPCOMING PENITENTE CANYON FIELD TRIP

There will be a field trip to view stone structures in the Penitente Canyon area on November 22. The trip will be led by Forest Service/BLM archaeologist Ken Frye. We will meet at 10 AM at the turn-off into Penitente Canyon from Rio Grande County Road 38, southwest of the town of La Garita. Be prepared for some short walks, uphill and downhill without cleared trails, and bring your lunch and water.

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BACKGROUND ARCHEOLOGY OF THE SLV:
EARLY ARCHAEOLOGIST E.B. RENAUD

NOTE: The following will begin a series of articles pertaining to the
background of the archaeology of the San Luis Valley.

In the summers of 1942 and 1944 E. B. Renaud, of Denver University, inventoried areas of the San Luis Valley from the vicinity of Dry Lakes, to the north, and along the Rio Grande into New Mexico, to the south. After recording numerous sites he defined the "Upper Rio Grande Culture", characterized by extensive use of black or dark lithic material (mostly basalt, obsidian, and darker colored cherts), unifacial side scrapers, ovate bifaces, bifacial choppers, drills, gravers, pounders, and oval manos.
Renaud proposed that a new projectile point type the "Rio Grande Point" was representative of the Upper Rio Grande area. Rio Grande points are large, broad, and stemmed. They have ground lower edges, a concave base, an often spoon shaped tip, and crude flaking creating uneven thickness.
Renaud described the lifeways of the Upper Rio Grande culture as one of hunters, who lived in both open camps and rock shelters. Sites are also found in quarry locations where basalt can be found, especially near San Antonio Mountain a main source of tool quality basalt.
It was later identified that the Upper Rio Grande culture should actually be a broader Rio Grande Complex with distribution throughout the southwest. Rio Grande Points are thought to be from the earliest part of the Rio Grande Complex (the Quemado Phase) probably dating from 7,000 to 6,000 BP (before present).

Please visit the E. B. Renaud Page

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