Archaeological Salvage Excavations at SBa-534 and SBa-680 for STS 69 KV Transmission Line, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Santa Barbara County, California

摘要

Archaeological investigations were conducted by the Office of Public Archaeology at sites SBa-534 and SBa-680 in March, 1981, to mitigate impacts resulting from the construction of STS 69 KV Transmission Line on Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Excavations in peripheral areas of both sites yielded chipped stone assemblages consisting primarily of chert debitage. Preliminary analysis of these materials suggests that the sites served in part as loci for the maintenance and modification of chipped stone tools. The vertical patterning noted in the cultural deposits is probably the result of episodic deflation of the dunes in which the sites are located. It is recommended that the full study of the collections, to be completed as part of the forthcoming analysis of all STS-related mitigation programs, incorporate a systematic analysis of wind polish on artifacts to test the deflation hypothesis, and a detailed examination of lithic debitage characteristics to assess site function.