Cultural Resources Inventory of Forest Highway 69 (Forest Route 250), Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos County, Colorado

摘要

In June 1989, Alpine Archaeological Consultants, Inc., conducted an intensive pedestrian cultural resources inventory of 7 miles of right-of-way along Forest Highway 69 (Forest Route 250) on the Rio Grande National Forest in south-central Colorado. The project was carried out for the Interagency Archaeological Services branch of the National Park Service, acting on behalf of the Central Direct Federal Division of the Federal Highway Administration. Nine sites and 12 isolated finds were recorded. In addition, one previously recorded prehistoric site was revisited. Five of the newly recorded sites are prehistiric artifact scatters. Of the four remaining sites, two are historic carved aspen groves, one is a historic glass artifact scatter, and the last is segments of a historic road. Test excavations were conducted at all of the prehistoric sites in the project area, including the previously recorded site. The project sites were evaluated in regard to the National Register of Historic Places criteria for significance, the pertinent Colorado Resource Protection Planning Process documents, and a project-specific research design. Three sites are recommended as eligible for inclusion in the National Register.