Wahweap--Stateline Development Area Inventory and Evaluation, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah

Summary

Planned development around the Wahweap area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

will involve constlllction of a variety of structures, roads, and utility corridors. Areas which may

be impacted were inventoried by pedestrian survey covering an area of 475 acres. Four

previously identified sites were relocated. Two of these were redefined as one site. Fifteen new

sites and 16 isolated finds were identified. Testing on six of the sites disclosed no significant

subsurface deposits. The crew conducted surface collection, mapping, and recording. Clearance

is recommended for all sites in the project impact areas because sufficient data have been

recovered.

In all, 876 items were recorded. Few of these were diagnostics, but they indicate use of

the area during the Late Prehistoric by Anasazi of unknown regional affiliation. Lithic analyses

show patterns of material selection, reduction, and transport. There are significant differences

in the final discard forms among material types, including differences in size and artifact type.

Only two site types source and nonsource - were identified. Diversity and redundancy

measures show that material type and artifact type distributions are dissimilar between the two

site types. Material type diversity indices for source sites are consistently high and vary little.

Nonsource site material type diversity indices have low mean values and are variable. Site type

size distributions are significantly different, with larger average sizes and greater variability at

sources. Artifact type diversity indices also have a higher average and are less variable at source

sites. These differences appear to result from application of a wider diversity of flaking activities

involved in production at source sites, and performance of more specialized activities at

nonsource sites, as they are influenced by the economic activities they support. Overall, the lithic

procurement and reduction system can be characterized as resembling that described by Kamp

and Whittaker (1986).

Little information could be recovered regarding site function or economic activities. The

environmental setting and the site distributions are similar to the dune-covered uplands near Lees

Ferry described by Geib (1986). It is likely that the Wahweap sites also resulted from gathering

of plant resources, especially ricegrass, in dune-covered areas.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Midwest Archeological Center Technical Reports

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