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remains. These can range in age from Paleoindian to historic period sites and in
complexity from an isolated hearth to extensive prehistoric habitation sites or historic
architectural features. Previous research in the study area indicates that prehistoric
discoveries could include, but are not restricted to, occupational surfaces, hearths, pit
features, caches, trash deposits or horizontal deposits of cultural materials (e.g., lithic
debris, sherds, charcoal, faunal remains, etc.), and architectural features including the
remains of housing structures or related features. Similarly, historic discoveries could
include occupation surfaces, hearths, trash deposits, pits, wells, privies, roadbed features,
and architectural/mining features. Each archaeological feature or deposit is a unique
entity, but the investigative procedures employed to recover pertinent data values from
these potentially disparate contexts generally require standardized archaeological
techniques.
Phase II excavation of features and structures will typically entail standardized areas of
investigation to effectively capture data values relevant to extramural activities and to
ensure adequate and comparable coverage of the proveniences. Where circumstances
allow, mechanical stripping of the overburden will be employed where cultural deposits
are encountered beneath significant deposits of sterile overburden. The mechanical
stripping will facilitate access to cultural deposits but will not impact known cultural
deposits. Typically, where conditions permit, a 3-meter square area will be excavated
around extramural features (e.g., hearths, storage pits) and a 10-meter square area will be
excavated around structures.
Phase II data recovery entails the complete excavation of all features within the area of
direct effects unless they are under a city street or integrity is lacking. If a feature is
located partially out of the area of direct effects, it will be completely excavated unless
the landowner forbids it. The manual excavation of units within a 1- by 1-meter grid will
normally accomplish these investigations and the investigation of artifact concentrations
lacking features. Standard archaeological data recovery procedures will be followed for
all discovery situations. Where artifact or ecofact (e.g., charcoal, fire-cracked rock, non-
human bone) concentrations are identified but features or structures are not evident, the
depth and complexity of the cultural deposit will dictate the amount of area to be
investigated. Excavation of a sufficient amount of the concentration will be conducted to
adequately characterize the nature and content of the deposit and to address the research
domains identified in the project treatment plan.
Within urban settings a more abbreviated approach to treatment is recommended. That
is, it is anticipated that, in most instances, the urban setting (i.e., paved city streets) will
preclude exposure of horizontal block areas to investigate cultural deposits, structures, or
features. If prehistoric or historic cultural deposits, features, or structures are
encountered within a restrictive urban setting, the standard treatment will entail
identification of the resource, drafting a plan map and wall profiles, description of the
resource and stratigraphic context, photographic documentation, and the controlled
recovery of relevant data values (i.e, sediment samples, chronometric samples, flotation
samples and macrobotanical remains, pollen samples, and any artifacts or other cultural
remains), as available. The data values will be recovered from the exposed area and from
backdirt. Unless further excavations are directed by FS or any other responsible land
managing agency, no additional investigation of these resources is proposed. The
