The Dry Lake Hydrologic Disturbance Evaluation Model: A New Method for Assessing Archaeological Integrity in Dry Lake Environments at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

Part of the Nellis Air Force Base (DRAFT) project

Author(s): Christopher E. Drover; Amy Wilson; David M. Smith

Year: 2006

Summary

The NAFB is interested in streamlining the identification of cultural resources in playa areas to quickly clear them for training. The Dry Lake Hydrological Disturbance Evaluation Model is a quantitative process by which archaeologists can assess whether a cluster of artifacts is an intact, culturally significant site, or merely the eroded remnants of several sites, using concepts of geomorphology, hydrology, and statistics, minimizing the need for intense field surveys. Using the findings of surveys in Cactus Flat and Indian Springs, including a database of 60 previously identified sites, it was determined that (1) intact sites are rare to non-existent on the playa surface, dunes, and lower bajada, and are more common in the upper bajada; (2) landform, erosion rates, and the degree of site integrity are statistically correlated; and (3) in micro-drainage areas, artifacts are scattered or absent in higher elevations and clustered in lower elevations as they erode downstream, coming to rest on the playa and margins. The model can be used to guide future investigations, which should focus away from the playa and margins, toward the bedrock outcrop areas of the bajada. The model can also be used to methodically assess the integrity of new archaeological finds

Cite this Record

The Dry Lake Hydrologic Disturbance Evaluation Model: A New Method for Assessing Archaeological Integrity in Dry Lake Environments at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Christopher E. Drover, Amy Wilson, David M. Smith. 2006 ( tDAR id: 455988) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8455988

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Site Name
26CK5814 • 26CK5815 • 26CK5816 • 26CK5817 • 26CK5818 • 26CK5819 • 26CK5820 • 26CK5821 • 26CK5822 • 26CK5823 • 26CK5824 • 26CK5825 • 26CK5826 • 26CK5827 • 26CK5828 • 26CK5829 • 26CK5830 • 26CK5831 • 26CK5832 • 26CK5833 • 26CK5834 • 26CK5835 • 26CK5836 • 26CK5837 • 26CK5838 • 26CK5839 • 26CK5840 • 26CK5841 • 26CK5843 • 26CK5844 • 26CK5845 • 26CK5846 • 26CK5849 • 26NY11131 • 26NY11132 • 26NY11134 • 26NY11135 • 26NY11136 • 26NY11137 • 26NY11138 • 26NY11139 • 26NY11140 • 26NY11141 • 26NY11142 • 26NY11143 • 26NY11144 • 26NY11145 • 26NY11146 • 26NY11148 • 26NY11149 • 26NY11150 • 26NY11151 • 26NY11152 • 26NY11153 • 26NY11154 • 26NY11155 • 26NY11156 • 26NY1457 • 26NY1489 • 26NY8763 Show More

Investigation Types
Environment Research

General
DACA63-00-D-0006

Geographic Keywords
Clark (County) • Las Vegas, Nevada • Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada • Nevada (State / Territory) • Nye (County) • United States of America (Country)

Spatial Coverage

min long: -117.728; min lat: 36.054 ; max long: -114.082; max lat: 38.36 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nellis Air Force Base CRM Manager

Sponsor(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District

Prepared By(s): TRC Solutions, Inc.; Prewitt & Associates, Inc.

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
Cactus-Flat-TRC-2006.pdf 24.85mb Jun 21, 2020 4:07:52 PM Confidential

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Contact(s): Nellis Air Force Base CRM Manager