Stage 1A Cultural Resource Investigations for the Stockbridge Research Facility, Towns of Stockbridge and Lincoln and City of Oneida, Madison County, New York

Summary

Stage 1A cultural resource investigations were conducted for the Stockbridge Research Facility located in the Towns of Stockbridge, and to small degree, Lincoln as well as the City of Oneida, in Madison County, New York. The Stockbridge Research Facility was investigated under a variety of Federal and State directives and regulations, as well as the assessing of some properties associated with the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. The purpose of the investigation at the Stockbridge Research Facility was to locate and identify any unrecorded cultural resources, prehistoric or historic, that might be located within the boundaries of the Facility and to develop a sensitivity assessment of the potential for conducting additional field investigations (i.e., Stage IB) in order to search for unrecorded resources. Background research indicated that the Stockbridge Facility was considered to have varied potential sensitivities for the location of unrecorded prehistoric or historic archaeological sites ranging from low to moderate to high. The well-drained qualities of the soils, the gentle slope and the outcropping of chert in one place indicated an overall high prehistoric archaeological sensitivity for a majority of the Facility. This high potential was moderated somewhat in various locations where historic USAF impacts had occurred. The potential for locating historic cultural material, refuse or foundations, was considered to be high, based on the fact that one nineteenth century farm was located within the boundaries of the Facility.

Stage 1B field investigations have been recommended for those locations within the Facility boundaries containing moderate and/or high sensitivities for prehistoric and/or historic resources. These sensitivities are based primarily on physical factors that include, for example, the drainage qualities of soils, degree of historic impacts, degree of slope, distance to water) and similarities to recorded sites within the vicinity. The sensitivity assessment does not take into account, however, the potential for intangible properties such as ceremonial and/or religious purposes that might be important to local Native Americans, in particular the Oneida Indian Nation. The potential for portions of the Facility for identification as a Traditional Cultural Property exists.

In addition, the extant USAF structures at the Stockbridge Facility might be potentially culturally important because of their association with the "Cold War". The New York State Historic Preservation Office has indicated that they will need further guidance from the National Park Service (NPS) for the evaluation of Cold War Facilities and cannot provide, at present, an eligibility opinion on such properties, Therefore, an evaluation of such structures and features at Stockbridge was beyond the scope of the present study.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Rome Research Site Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management Archive

Keywords

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome Research Site

Sponsor(s): Lu Engineers

Submitted To(s): Air Force Research Laboratory

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