Evaluation and Limited Data Recovery of LA 155815 and LA 156001, Kirtland Air Force Base, Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Author(s): Michael K. Church; James D. Gallison; Michael H. Jennings; Christine Hajek

Year: 2012

Summary

This report presents the findings of the investigation and evaluation of two early historic-period archaeological sites at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB). The two sites, LA 155815 and LA 156001, are eroding from the edge of an alluvial floodplain at the lower edges Tijeras Arroyo, leaving them exposed to impacts from Air Force security patrol vehicles. The presence of subsurface features led to a recommendation that the sites be considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Over a three-week period in June and July 2012, HDR archaeologists excavated about 20 m2 of LA 155815 and 25 m2 of LA 156001. Cultural deposits at the two sites were confined to the upper 15 cm of the sediments at the sites. We excavated a total of approximately 7 m3 of sediment, recovering 439 artifacts from LA 155815 and 137 artifacts from LA 156001.

We also identified and excavated several small features. At LA 155815 we uncovered a hearth and oven (Feature 1) within a circular alignment of wood post remains (Feature 2) and an associated plant processing area (Feature 3). At LA 156001 we exposed additional plant processing tools in association with four small, shallow hearth features.

The information collected was analyzed to determine the activities at the sites through studies of the features and the materials they contained and the lithic and ceramic artifact assemblages. The data collection was framed within research questions to address the significance of the sites as they relate to the early historic period in the middle Rio Grande.

Cite this Record

Evaluation and Limited Data Recovery of LA 155815 and LA 156001, Kirtland Air Force Base, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Michael K. Church, James D. Gallison, Michael H. Jennings, Christine Hajek. 2012 ( tDAR id: 469236) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8469236

Keywords

Culture
Historic • Pueblo • RIO GRANDE • TEWA

Material
Basalt • Building Materials • Ceramic • Chalcedony • Chipped Stone • Glazeware • Granite • Gray Madera • Ground Stone • Jemez Black/White • Kapo Black • Limestone • Manzan Burnished • Obsidian • Orthoquartzite • Polychrome • Rio Abajo • Socorro • Utilityware • Wood

Site Name
LA 155815 • LA 156001

Site Type
Artifact Scatter • Hearth • Plant Processing Site • Post Hole / Post Mold

Investigation Types
Site Evaluation / Testing • Site Stabilization

Geographic Keywords
Albuquerque, New Mexico • Bernalillo (County) • Kirtland Air Force Base • Tijeras Arroyo

Temporal Keywords
Historic

Spatial Coverage

min long: -107.15; min lat: 34.211 ; max long: -105.26; max lat: 35.15 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Kirtland Air Force Base CRM Manager

Record Identifiers

NMCRIS No.(s): 125673

Contract No.(s): W912PP - 09 -C- 0029

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
LA-155815-and-LA-156001-Final-Report.pdf 4.71mb Jul 1, 2022 12:43:48 PM Confidential

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Contact(s): Kirtland Air Force Base CRM Manager