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Title: Inter and intrasite analyses of cultural materials from U20aw, Nye County, Nevada. Technical report No. 66

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:10150406

In the Spring of 1986 Desert Research Institute (DRI) conducted a Class III archaeological survey of Drill Hole U20aw on the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada. Seven archaeological sites were located during the course of this survey including two temporary camps, four lithic scatters, and a possible pinyon cache. This report presents the results of the analyses of the data derived from all sites investigated during the data recovery operations on Drill Hole U20aw. Detailed analyses were focused on the spatial distribution of artifacts and features within and between sites in the southern portion of the study area (26Ny4867, 26Ny4869, and 26Ny4871). These analyses indicate that 26Ny4871 served principally as a temporary camp, while the area around the canyonhead to the east (which includes 26Ny4867 and 26Ny4869) seems to have been used as a site for both temporary camps and special activity loci. Projectile point styles suggest that the area was occupied from the Early Archaic into the early Historic period. Analyses of the artifacts that were recovered indicate that obsidian was the preferred material for all classes of flaked stone tools. All stages of lithic reduction are represented on the sites, but core reduction and thinning of bifaces appear to have been the primary activities. Processing of floral foods is indicated by the presence of several ground stone artifacts. Pinyon nuts and other items appear to have been stored in the area of 26Ny4869 and to the north of the drill hole as evidenced by the presence of several rock features that may have served as caches.

Research Organization:
Nevada Univ., Reno, NV (United States). Desert Research Inst.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC08-90NV10845
OSTI ID:
10150406
Report Number(s):
DOE/NV/10845-T9; ON: DE93013927; IN: QSC-66; ISBN 0-945920-66-0
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Dec 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English