1. The UNEV Pipeline Project: An Update
Results of data recovery investigations
David T. Yoder, John C. Ravesloot, Brandon M. Gabler, and William D. Self
William Self Associates, Inc.

2. In 2010 the Holly Corporation is scheduled to construct the UNEV pipeline, a 400-mile-long project that will carry liquid petroleum products from a refinery in Woods Cross in north Salt Lake City to northeast Las Vegas. In 2009, as part of the mitigation effort for UNEV, William Self Associates performed phased data recovery at 11 prehistoric and 4 historic sites along the pipeline’s route. The preliminary results from two of the more interesting prehistoric sites (42MD3014 and 42MD3285, both near Delta, Utah) are presented. A human behavioral ecology framework is used to investigate issues related to site use and occupation.

3. UNEV Research Themes
Hypothesis 1: Archaic groups practiced a high degree of residential mobility
Hypothesis 2: Formative groups practiced a low degree of residential mobility
Hypothesis 3: Late Prehistoric groups practiced a high degree of residential mobility
Hypothesis 4: According to Madsen and Simms (1998), Fremont groups both farmed and foraged full-time, and switched between these strategies
Expectations:
Elements of Fremont material culture associated with characteristics of both high and low residential mobility should be present
Multiple types of Fremont complex sites should be present - some indicating long-term occupations associated with cultigens, others indicating foraging occupations
Material culture should provide indications of connections between foragers and farmers during the Formative period
Hypothesis 5: Wetlands environments were particularly productive, and therefore groups resided near them throughout prehistory

4. Overview of site, view to the east
42MD3014: Class III Results
Site type: Artifact scatter - flaked stone
Culture and period: Archaic, Formative, Late Prehistoric
Diagnostic artifacts: One Gatecliff Contracting-stem point
Description
situated on low sand knoll on a flat plain, 2 miles north of Sevier River
moderate-density lithic scatter of 50 flakes, represents core reduction
10 obsidian specimens collected for sourcing and hydration analyses
8 from Black Rock, 1 from Topaz Mountain, 1 from Wild Horse Canyon
hydration rims suggest Archaic, Formative, and Late Prehistoric periods
Overview of site, view to the east

5. 42MD3014: Surface Material Class Count Elko Corner-notched point 1
Bifaces 10
Cores 4
Debitage
609
Snake Valley Gray sherd
Sevier Gray sherd

6. 42MD3014: Subsurface Material Class Count
Feature 1: Large basin-shaped depression
Feature 2: Medium basin-shaped depression
Feature 3: Brush structure or wikiup
Feature 4: Medium pit
Feature 5: Medium pit
Material Class
Count
Projectile points (Elko Corner-notched fragment and an unknown fragment) 2
Bifaces 7
Debitage
1,398
Hammerstone 1
Ground stone
Fremont plain gray sherds
110
Sevier Gray sherd
Shell bead
Faunal bone 53

7. Medium depression (Feature 2) post-excavation; view to the south

8. Wikiup (Feature 3) pre-excavation; view to the north
42MD3014
Wikiup (Feature 3) pre-excavation; view to the north

9. Wikiup (Feature 3) post-excavation; view to the east
42MD3014
Wikiup (Feature 3) post-excavation; view to the east

10. Medium pit (Feature 4) post-excavation; view to the south and down
42MD3014
Medium pit (Feature 4) post-excavation; view to the south and down

11. Medium pit (Feature 5) pre-excavation; view to the west and down
42MD3014
Medium pit (Feature 5) pre-excavation; view to the west and down

12. very dark gray, massive silt, wetland/paludal deposit
42MD3014: Absolute dating
Beta Analytic
Conventional Age
Context
266330
4310 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal 3020 to 2880 B.C.)
Stratum IV
very dark gray, massive silt, wetland/paludal deposit
266331
1110 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal A.D. 870 to 1010)
Feature 1, depression
266332
1150 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal A.D. 780 to 980)
TU 29, stratum 2, level 3,
above Feature 3
266333
1000 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal A.D. 980 to 1060)
Feature 3, wikiup or
brush structure
266334
Feature 4, medium pit

13. 42MD3014 Summary
42MD3014 represents a moderate- to high-density, multicomponent habitation site
surface assemblage
626 artifacts: debitage, cores, bifaces, ceramics, and an Elko Corner-notched point
disturbed subsurface assemblage
1,723 artifacts: debitage, bifaces, projectile points, ground stone, ceramics, faunal bone, a hammerstone, a stone bead, and a piece of shell
two pit features, two depressions, and a possible wikiup
three features (Features 2, 3, 4) have clustering 14C dates
wikiup absolute date (Cal A.D. 980 to 1060) is during the Formative/Fremont period
wikiup represents short-term habitation
flaked stone tool manufacture occurred
food processing, evidenced by:
ground stone
faunal bone (cottontails, jackrabbits, small mammals, duck, and common teal)
macrobotanical remains (pickleweed, cheno-am, bullrush, sunflower, dropseed, little barley grass, Indian rice grass, saltbush fruit)

14. Overview of site, view to the north
42MD3285: Class III Results
Site Type: Artifact scatter - flaked stone, ceramics, FCR
Culture and Period: Fremont
Diagnostic Artifacts: Fremont Sevier Gray
Description
situated on broad, flat alluvial plain or terrace, one mile south of the Old River Bed
extensive, diffuse artifact scatter
500+ Fremont Sevier Gray sherds visible on surface
Overview of site, view to the north

15. 42MD3285: Surface Material Class Count Bifaces 2 Unifaces 1 Debitage
451
Sevier Gray sherds 42
Snake Valley Gray sherds

16. 42MD3285: Subsurface Material Class Count Parowan Basal-notched point
Feature 1: FCR concentration
Feature 2: Artifact concentration
Feature 3: FCR concentration
Feature 4: FCR concentration
Feature 5: Basin-shaped depression, possible wikiup
Feature 7: FCR and ground stone concentration
Not shown: Feature 6, a natural soil stain
42MD3285: Subsurface
Material Class
Count
Parowan Basal-notched point 1
Bifaces
Unifaces
Hammerstone
Debitage
254
Sevier Gray sherds 2
Ground stone 9
Faunal bone
Mineral/Manuport 6

17. FCR concentration (Feature 1); view to the northeast
42MD3285
FCR concentration (Feature 1); view to the northeast

18. Possible wikiup (Feature 5) post-excavation, moistened for emphasis;
42MD3285
Possible wikiup (Feature 5) post-excavation, moistened for emphasis;
view to the northwest

19. 42MD3285: Absolute dating Beta Analytic Conventional Age Context
266335
1960 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal 40 B.C.
to Cal A.D. 120)
Stratum III
black, massive, sandy silt, wet meadow deposit
266336
1240 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal A.D. 670 to 890)
Stratum V, Trench 1
266337
1490 ± 40 B.P.
(Cal A.D. 450 to 450,
460 to 480, 530 to 640)
Feature 5, possible wikiup

20. 42MD3285 Summary
42MD3285 represents a low- to moderate-density artifact scatter and possible habitation site
surface assemblage
498 artifacts: debitage, a uniface, bifaces, and Sevier Gray and Snake Valley Gray ceramics
multiple FCR and artifact concentrations
disturbed subsurface assemblage
277 artifacts: debitage, a hammerstone, a uniface, a biface, a Parowan Basal-notched point, ground stone, Sevier Gray ceramics, faunal bone, and a manuport
a possible wikiup
absolute date of Cal A.D. 450 to 450, 460 to 480, 530 to 640
if a wikiup, it represents short-term habitation
food processing, evidenced by:
ground stone
faunal bone (a rodent)
macrobotanical remains (pickleweed, cheno-am, bullrush, Indian rice grass)

21. Conclusions
Data gathered during Phase I data recovery from 15 sites are most useful for:
contributing to knowledge of regional prehistoric occupation in Utah
addressing research questions posed earlier in this presentation directed towards local and regional mobility and settlement patterns
addressing some site-specific mobility questions
Primary field work ended in October
analysis of the large collection of artifacts and samples is in progress
for example, preliminary analyses of the materials from 42MD3014 and 42MD3285 suggest that:
lithic tool manufacture occurred, with little on-site core reduction
there were multiple occupations, minimally during the Archaic and Formative/Fremont periods

22. Conclusions
Many of the prehistoric sites failed to produce a lot of data, but:
negative data are data nonetheless, and
some of our historic sites are quite interesting, such as 42SL255, the subject of the next paper by Scott O'Mack
Thanks to Holly Energy Partners and Sinclair Oil Corporation for providing the means to collect and disseminate this information, and the agency archaeologists who helped to facilitate it.