Cultural Resources Monitoring, Site Inspections, Study Area 9, Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming

Summary

A Supplemental Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) was conducted at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Cheyenne, Wyoming. The purpose of this project was to identify potentially contaminated sites that may require additional investigation and/or remediation under the Air Force Installation Restoration Program (IRP). The Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) included sampling and analysis of soil and groundwater to assess the potential for contamination.

Ten areas of concern were identified. Study Area 9 was identified for evaluation as a potential landfill disposal area based on visible glass, metal and debris on the ground surface. Study Area 9 is located within the boundaries of Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin (48LA106), a 1867-1890 U.S. Cavalry-era Quartermaster Depot. Because intact archaeological deposits from this time period could be encountered, cultural resources monitoring of any ground disturbing activity was required.

Twelve trenches were excavated in Study Area 9 in the Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin area. Ten trenches were placed to investigate selected geophysical anomalies and to identify any hazardous materials. Modem (post-1950) debris associated with industrial and/or mechanical, railroad related/motor pool, architectural/demolition, and domestic activities were encountered in all trenches either on the surface or subsurface. A few historic artifacts were identified during monitoring of the trench excavations (glass and ceramic insulators, a World War II metal dog tag) but all post-date the Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin occupation. No Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin deposits were identified during the monitoring the Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection (PA/SI) trenching in Study Area 9.

Two trenches were placed adjacent to a possible cultural feature associated with the Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin occupation at the request of Rick Bryant, the Base Historic Preservation Officer. Examination of the cultural feature indicates that the presence of large wood planks and square machine cut nails are consistent with the Cheyenne Depot/Camp Carlin occupation; however, no other temporally diagnostic artifacts were recovered. The presence of dark humic soils and a large iron pipe or casing fragment may suggest that this area was a natural seep or spring and may have been developed as a well.

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1867 to 1890 (United States Cavalry-era)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): F.E. Warren Air Force Base CRM Manager

Record Identifiers

Task Order No.(s): 0091

Contract No.(s): F41624-00-D-8024

File Information