Utah Statewide Archaeological Society Newsletter, Volume 12, Number 2, June 1966

A Newsletter

Volume 12, Number l.n-/'\H ST /\TE HI STO RICAL SOCIET'J'

603 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE

June, 1966

INDEXED

C,ALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

Petroglyph from Snake Rock Site, East-central Utah

UTAH ARCHAEOLOGY is published quarterly by the UTAH STATEWIDE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Subscription is included in membership. Membership in the society is available from the secretary~treasurer at $2,00 per yeal', Correspondence concerning the activities of the society should be directed to the president. All manuscripts and news items should be sent to: Utah Statewide Archaeology Soc.iety % Dept. of Anthropology, University of Utah.

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·UTAH ;STATl!.'WIDE ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PRE~ :"'}JT: PRES. -ELECT:

SEC. -TREAS. : ADVISOR: EDITOR:

Ge\'4'ge W. Tripp, 98 west 2000 South, Bountiful, Utah Grant M. Keeder, 102 East Virginia Lane, Bountiful, Utah · Norma Dalton, 82-9 North 1st West, Sunset, Utah Dr. J. D. Jennings, Univ. of Utah Dept. of Anthropology, Salt Lake City, Utah C. Melvin Aikens, Univ. of ,Utah Dept. of Anthropology, Salt LakEr' City, Utah

EDITOR'S NOTES The Annual Meeting of the Utah Statewide Archeological Society was held at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on April 23. Papers and slides on Utah archeology and related subjects were presented by Floyd W. Sharrock, Don Hague. DeAn Brimhall, F. K. Hassel, Vii ate Hardy, and James Mock. We extend our appreciation to them for an enjoyable and instructive session. Also, at the meeting Fran and Carol Hassel passed on the presidency and secretary-treasurership of the society to George Tripp and N9rma Dalton. Grant M. Reeder was chosen as the new pre~ident­ elect.

The featured article in this issue is a preliminary report of excavations at Gunlock Flats by Kent C. Day, of the archeological staff of the University of Utah. The site is an interesting and i~portant one, representing the Virgin Anasazi people who inhabited southwestern Utah in the centuries from approximately A.D. 700 to 1100 ', For her interesting contribution to "Sherds ~ •. " column th'is issue, we thank Norma Dalton. Let me remind you again that this is your NeWSletter, existing to provide a forum for your ideas and experiences. The Newsletter i s in need of contributions f or future issues, so please take pen in hand and write. Send contributions to George W. Tripp, co-editor, 98 West 20th South, Bountiful, Utah. The Club News section is a little thin this issue, because several chapter correspondents did not respond to the call for infor~tion sent out by the editor. Blessings on those who did, , shame on those who did not!

PRELIMINARY REPORT ON EXCAVATIONS AT GUNLOCK FLATS. SOUTHWESTERN UTAH

by Kent.C. Day Gunloek Flats is an extensive open Pueblo, site on the east bank of the Santa Clara River, located 2 mi. south of Gunlock. Utah. and about IS mi. northwest of St. George, Utah. Excavation of Gunlock Flats was a salvage operation carried out by the University of Utah b~tween November 4 and December 15. 1965 under a National Patk Service contract. The work was done with the cooperation of the Bureau of Reclamation, Dixie Project in the proposed Gunlock Reservoir area.

The site occupies most of approximately 10 acres of level land that is the largest uncultivated open area in Santa Clara canyon between the village of Gunlock and Highway 91. Within the site area there are seven large U-shaped and seven small linear or oval dunes, all of which are partially covered by debris froo collapsed masonry structures, chipped stone items and sherds. A surface collection was made from the entire site, and three of the larger and two of the smaller dunes were excavated.

Excavations Dune 1 The northernmost major occupation area at the site. Dune 1, was partially destroyed by the construction of a dirt road. The undisturbed portion of this dune had the greatest concentration of occupation debris on its surface of any locality within the general site area. Nine structures, a burial. and four pits were excavated from it. The dune deposits containing these structures were stratified, and a three-fold sequence of building activity during aboriginal occupation was found. Pithouse structures 1-3, the burial, and four small pits are associated with the lowest deposits (occupation 1); pithouse structures 4 and 5 with the inte~mediate d8posits (occupation 2); and pithouse structures 6 and 7 and rectangular masonry structures 8 and 9 with the upper deposits (occupation 3).

Occupation 1 Structure 1. Structure I is a circular pithouse 12 ft. in dia. with a prepared clay floor and vertical earth walls 24 to 30 in. high. Two vertically set slabs line a 3 ft. wide portion of the southeast wall directly in line with a circular, clay-rimmed firepit and three oval floor pits. There are three small circular floor pits adjacent to the firepit. Eight vertical postmolds are spaced at about 5 ft. intervals around the outside edge of the pithouse rim.

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Structure 2. Structu;t".e;Z Is a circular pi thDuse approximately 12 ft. in dia-:-thath'a s near-vertical earthen walls about 30 in. high. Discontinuous, thin scraps of a prepared clay floor were found covering pa'rts of the bedrock gravel subfloor. Since this structure lacked other features, it is probable that it was abandoned before being completed.

Structure 3. Structure 3 is a circular pithouse 12! ft. in dia. with sloped gravel and earth walls about 24 in. high and a prepared clay floor. A circular, clay-rimmed firepit and two oval floor pits are "oriented southeast to northwest across the floor¡. Two small circular pits are adjacent to the firepit. In plan, this structure is similar to structure 1.

Structure 4. Structure 4 is a partially slab-lined pithouse about 13 ft. in dia. The slabs enclose a packed sandy clay floor that has two pairs of postmolds opposite each other near the outer edges of the floor.

Burial 1. A semi-flexed skeleton of an 18~20 year old female was found in an oval pit ai:lout halfway between structures 1 and 4. The torso was supine, arms akimbo and legs flexed upward and tipped together toward the edge of the pit. Orient.ation of the pit and skeleton is southeast-northwest with tEu~ skull to the southeast.

A complete gray "'are jar with a clapboard corrugated shoulder and red sandstone lid was found adjacent to the left pelvis.

Pits. Four circular pits in the occupation I stratum are located near " Burial 1, structure 2, and structure 3. The pits range from 24 to 50 in. in dia. and are 10 to 24 in. deep.

Occupation 2 Structure 5. Structure 5 is built upon burned roof debris within structure 4.

Structure 5 is a circular, slab-lined pithouse 8! ft. in dia. with a prepared clay floor and a cirCUlar, clay-rimmed firepit. ' Structure 6. Structure 6 partially overlies part of structure 1 and is on the same occupational stratum as structure 5. Structure 6 is a circular prepared clay floor about 10 ft. in dia. with a circular, clay-encased cobble firepit. No pit walls were observed. Two vertical postrnolds were found near collapsed masonry debris at the edge of the floor.

Occupation 3 Structure 7. Structure 7 partially overlies Burial 1, halfway between structure 1 and 4. Structure 7 is a partially slab-lined pithouse about 13 ft. in dia. with a prepared clay floor, a circular, Clay-rimmed firepit and an outside, attached rectangular cobble floor.

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Structure 8. Stn.!.cture 8 shAres , fj SegrJ~nt of its ~QUttW:lst wall with the north wall of structure 9. StL"Uc'tllT.', e 8 is a circular pithouse 12! ft. ' in dia. whh a prepared clay floor, circular; clay-rimmed firepit, cobble and coursed slab wall stubs and an attached, rectangular cobble floor.

Structure 9. Structure 9 joins s,tructu~e 8 and same cours~d slab wall remnant. Structure 9 is structure about 9 ft. long and 4! ft. wide with its north end and part of a small, coursed slab

both buildings share th~ a rectangular, slab-floored one coursed slab wall at "bin" in its northwest corner.

Structure 10. Strti~ture lQ , is a rectangular, slab floored structuri 9 ft. long and 5 ft. wide with an attached, saucer-shaped cobble floor that is 4! ft. in dia. ;

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Dune 2 Dune 2 is a U-shaped dune located 200 ft. southeast of Dune 1. Stratlfied deposits containing 10 structures,two borrow pits and a firehearth were excavated, at this dune. Structures 1 and 2 were found within the lowest level (occup~tion I), structure 3 wit'h in the int,e rlJlediate level (occupation 2), and st'ructures 4-10. the borrow pits and fir'e 'h earth within the upper . level (occupation 3).

Occupation 1¡ Structure 1. Structure 1 is 9! ft. long and 6 ft. wide. It has a prepared clay floor lapped to clay plastered earth wall stubs 1 to 8 in. high. Each wall is slightly curved and all corners are rounded. There is a circular, clay-ritilced firepi~ near the center of the structure.

Structure 2. Located 18 ft. south of , structure 1. Structure 2 is 8 ft . . square. It has a prepared clay floor, an oval, clay-rimmed firepit in the southwest corner and two sraall postmolds and a vertically set slab near the south edge of the floor.

Occupation 2 Structure 3. Structure. 3 is a remnant c;>f a prepared clay floor with a circular, slab-lined fir8pit. Structure 3 is located about 12 in. above structure 1.

Occupation 3 Structure 4. Str~cture 4 partially overlies the west side of structure 2.

Structure 4 is a rectangular chinked slab and cobble floor 10 ft. long and 5! ft. wide.

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Structure 5. Structure 5 is 16 ft. north of structures 2 and 4 and partially overlies structures 1 and 3. Structure 5 is a rectangular masonry building 12 ft. long and 8 ft. wide at the west end of 3 contiguous structures (structures 5, 6, 7). Its floor consists of sandstone slabs and prepared clay partially enclosed by a discontinuous wall of cobbles and slabs.

Structure 6. Structure 6 joins the east end of structure S. Structure 6 is rectangular in plan, 10 ft. long and 6 ft. wide. The floor is made up of puddled sandy clay over a base of rubble rock and sand. Wall stubs at the edge of the floor are cobbles and small boulders, sowe of which are encased in an adobe coil.

Structure 7. Structure 7 is attached to the east end of structure 6.

Structure 7 is approximately 7 ft. square and has a cobble and prepared clay floor that is partially outlined by cobble wall stubs.

Structure 8. Structure 8 is 16 ft. southeast of structure 7 and forms the north end of another three-room set of contiguous structures (structures 8, 9, 10). Structure 8 has a rectangular cobble wall outline 7 ft. long and 5 ft. wide. An incomplete slab and prepared clay floor is enclosed by the walls.

Structure 9. Structure 9 is a rectangular masonry structure 8 ft. long and 5 ft. wide that is contiguous on its north end with the south end of structure 8. The incomplete slab floor of structure 9 is outlined by cobble wall stubs.

Structure 10. Structure 10 The structure is 9 ft. long floor is outlined by cobble across the north end of the within the structure.

is contiguous to the south end of structure 9. and 5 ft. wide. Its slab and prepared clay wall stubs. A cobble partition built halfway structure forms a 2 ft. and a 5 ft. chamber

Miscellaneous features. A cobble firehearth 24 in. in dia. is located about 10 ft. west of st.ructure 9. Remnants of a slab floor was uncovered 3 ft. east of structure 7 and a roughly circular, rubble and earth filled "borrow pit" 4 ft. deep was fotUld 3 ft. east of structure 4. A similar "borrow pit" 6 ft. deep is 12 ft. north of structure S.

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Dune 3 The remains of si.x !:.lasonry structures wCJ:"e cleared at Dune 3, aU-shaped dune near the southern end of the site. These strUctures were covered by 6 to 12 in. of ¡ blowsand and sandy-clay fill mixed with loose cobbles and slabs. No stratification was evident and all structures were probably contemporaneous.

Structure 1. Structure 1 is a slightly arcuate, rectangular masonry building 10 ft. long and 6~ ft •. wide; Most of its floor is ulade up of fitted sandstone slabs chinked with waterworn pebbles or small sandstone chunks.

The north wall consists of horizontally laid sandstone slabs placed end to end along the edge of the floor. The east wall of this structure is a . line of large cobbles and slabs that is also the west wall of structure 2.

Structure 2. Structure 2, contiguous with structure 1, is a slightly arcuate rectangular masonry building 12 ft. long and 6! ft. wide. This structure has four cobble and slab wall stubs surrounding a prepared sandy-clay floor.

Together, structures 1 and 2 forw a segwent of

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arc concave to the south.

Structure 3. Located 14 ft. southeast of structure 2. Structure 3 is a rectangular masonry building 9 ft. long and 8 ft. wide. Its floor is fitted sandstone slabs that are chinked with waterworn pebbles and small sandstone chunks. The floor is outlined by a single course of cobbles and small boulders. A 22 in. wide opening in the center of the west wall is possibly an entry.

Structure 4. Structure 4 is an irregular 5 ft. square building attached to the south wall of structure 3. The slightly concave floor of structure 4 is chinked sandstone slabs. Wall stubs are cobbles and small boulders.

A 24 in. wide gap in the west wall is probably an entry.

Structure 5. Located approximately 25 ft. south of structure 1. Structure 5 is a rectangular masonry building with rounded corners, 9 ft. long ahd 8 ft. wide. Two large sandstone slabs lie end to end in the center of the fitted and chinked cobble and slab floor. The wall stubs are made up of waterworn cobbles and boulders set around the outside edge of the floor.

Structure 6. Located 5 ft. south of structure 5, structure 6 is a 5 ft . . by 7 ft. oval cobble outline filled with a layer of prepared clay approximately 3 in. thick.

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Mounds 1 and 2 Two isolated s~all dunes were sele cted for excavation. At each, beneath 6-12 in. of blowsand and loose cobbles or slabs, remains of a small, circular Qasonry structure were found. These structures have slightly concave, chinked floors of cobbles and/or slabs. They are each about 5 ft. in dia. and have cobble or boulder wall stubs.

Artifacts Pottery Pottery sherds were the most common artifact found at Gunlock Flats in all occupation levels. North Creek Gray, North Creek corrugated, Washington corrugated, and Sosi, Dogoszhi and Flagstaff B~l style varieties of North Creek B/G are the predominant types found~ A few St. George BIG, Middl~ton B/R and Middleton Polychrome sherds were found associated with the other sherds. All of these types and the single Southern Paiute Utility Ware sherd found at the site are generally considered to be indigenous to southweste nl Utah and indicate Gunlock Flats was occupied from about A.D. 900-1200. A single Snake Valley Gray sherd is the only evidence of contact with the contemporary Fre~ont peoples to the north of Gunlock Flats.

Chipped Stone Chipped stone artifacts and chipped stone debris were relatively rare in all occupation levels. Projectile points are consistently triangular with short, expanding stems and irregular bases. A few small, bifacially chipped blades, several heavy choppers, and pounding stones were found in all levels.

Ground Stone Two fully grooved cobble (~uls were found in occupation 1 at Dune 1. ax has a rounded butt and bit.

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A few complete metates and several metate fragments were found in all levels.

Generally oval or subrectangular in outline, most metates have an open end trough. Manos are generally loaf-shaped and have one primary grinding surface.

Vesicular basalt was the preferred n~terial for metates and manos though quartzite was also utilized.

Bone Split and burned bone of deer or sheep wer e common in all occupation levels.

Several simple bone awls were found in occupation levels 2 and 3 at Dune 1.

Ornaments Broken pieces of turquoise were found at Dune 3 near structure 3. A turquoise bead and animal effigy pendant were found associated with Burial 1.

A stone bead was found on the surface near Dune 3.

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Gunlock Flats was apparently occupied for a considerable length of sedentary horticulturists of the Southwestern Anasazi tradition.

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At Dune I the earliest occupants' major architectural works were circular, semisubterranean pithouses. Since there are no culturally sterile layers separating the sequence of building, it appears that pithouse construction-with some variation--probably continued throughout the time Dune I was occupied. Pithouses were also a feature of Dune 2 occupation, but because of minor differences between Dune 1 and Dune 2, and the mixed ceramic content of the lower levels of Dune 2, it is iQPossible to correlate exactly the stratified features of Dunes 1 and 2. It is probable, however, that t4e sequential occupations of both areas was Closely contemporary and the r.1inor architectural and ceramic differences between them merely a reflection of variability within the local Anasazi tradition. " The unstraf"ified Dune 3 occupation is, on ceramic and architectural evidence, correlated with the latest occupations at Dune 1 and Dune 2.

The latest components at all areas excavated share com~on architecturnl features and ceramic content. Rectangular masonry structures are the most common architectural feature excavated in the latest levels, though pithouses occur in the latest levels at Dune 1 and are contemporaneous with the masonry buildings. During the later occupation also, rectangular or circular masonry structures with slightly concave floors were built adjoining pithouses and larger rectangular structures or as isolated, freestanding buildings.

The pithouses possibly functioned as dual purpose residential ceremonial structures during site occupation. The small circular masonry structures with slightly concave cobble floors were probably granaries. The larger rectangular structures possibly were mUltipurpose buildings used as dwellings and/or storage facilities as population or seasonal crop production demanded.

In general, archeological content of Gunlock Flats shares nearly all its features with other Developmental Pueblo sites--the Giles site (Gunnerson 1962), the Frei site (Pendergast 1962), Three Mile Ruin, Goosenecks Overlook, and sites in Zion National Park (Schl'oe dpr 1955; Aikens 1966)--previously excavated in southweste~n Utah.

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Refer'-"!nces Aikens, C. Melvin 1966 Excavations in Southwest Utah. University of Utah Anthropo l ogica l Papers, No. 76. Salt Lake City.

Guunerson, James H. 1962 Highwav Salvage Archeology: St. George, Utah, MisceJlanecQs Collected P~p~re 1-7, Univp.r~ity of ' Utah Anthropological Papers, No. 60.

Salt Lake City.

Pend", rg.q.st, David 1962 Th~ Frei

M. Sitej Santa Clara, Utah. Miscellaneous Collected Papers 1-7, University of Utah Apthropological Papers, No. 60. Salt Lake City.

Rudy, Jack R and Robert D. Stirland 1950 An At~heological Reconnaissance in Washington County, Utah.

Universit of .Utah . Anthropological Papers, No. 18. Salt Lake City.

Schroeder, Albert H. 1955 Archeology of Zion Park.

No. 22. Salt Lake City.

University of Utah

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Anthrop'olo~ca1

Paeers,

SHERDS bits of this 'n that ...

ShAre I'm jntprPRting ArcheoJogic.q1 experience or an unusual artifact with readers of the Newsletter. Do you have a question of an archeological nature? We will try to answer it in this column. Address correspondence to the Editor.

Numi-Chi

by Norma Dalton In the March-June 1965 issue of the Newsletter, an article was printed describing a 4-H club project on archeology for young people. A report on the activities and accomplishments of this group may be interes~ing to you.

The objectives of the Numi-Chi 4-H club were principally to learn about prehistoric Utah Indians, to learn how to protect and preserve remains of ancient cultures, and to encourage public interest and appreciation of I~ah's archeological and historical heritage.

The three main topics studied were: homes or dwellings, writing or rock art, and pottery. In connection with the presentation of lesson material" we went on hikes, trips, and tours to see sites and collections. One such hike was up th'c mountain east of Willard. We found some ver'y dim pictographs and petroglyphs in shallow caves. The children were thrilled and treated these with a great deal of reverence. We visited the Plain City "Injun Creek" excavation several times during the sumtaer.

There were eighteen display articles prepared by the Numi-Chi for the Davis County Fair. The displays were built to scale and housed in boxes of sand each four inches high so the overall display was uniform even though many built individual parts. There were three large charts behind the display boxes titled: "What is Archeology?", "Rock Art" and "Preserve Our Archeology . " These were well done in color, eye catching and informative. The ma in th e me of the display was De ve lo me nt of the Pre historic Utah Indian Dwe lli~ .

The first case was ~a n '-o-pen cave shelte r ofthe Des'e r t pe-ople- ' followed by brush windbreaks and the pit house. One pit house was completed and one was a cutaway. Finally came the apartment type dwelling built in a large cave or overhang. Other displays were of granaries, a kiva, a dry-laid rock fortress, steps in pottery making and a simulated excavation explaining cultural levels. Each display was judged and participants won ribbons and cash a~vards. Seven of these displays were exhibited at the State Fair, each earning a ribbon and a cash award.

The president of the club was invited to visit Governor Rampton and explain this new project to him and show him several displays. The group is ready and anxious to study another year. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of this project book may write the Davis County Extension Ser-'ice, Farmington, Utah, and ask for the 4-H club archeology project book phase 1.

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CLUB NEIlS Ogde n Chapter, Utah Statewide Archeological Society Officers President: Vice-Pres. : Sec. Treas.: !:!e.e :ting s Time ann

Mr. Phillip Hansen, 830 North 100 West, Sunset, Utah Mrs. Kenneth (Dorot:h;v)Wildoner, 979 Manchester Rd., Kaysville, Utah Mrs. Michiel (Jean) Burson, 2446 North 400 West, Sunset, Utah 8:00 p.m., second Friday of each Iil0nth at the home of one of the members.

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News Members of the Ogd~n Chapter welcon~ new members Don and Lee Hanselman and Col. Julian Gist. The Hanselmans live at l325-25th St., Ogden, Utah, and Col. Gist lives at 2496 North 400 West, Sunset, Utah. Col. Gist is the father of our new secretary. Jean Burson.

In Dece~ber, 1965, we enjoyed a Christu~s Social at the home of Smitty and Ronald Fike. Our meetings for January and February were held in the auditorium of the Mountain Fuel Supply Co. in Ogden. On January 14 Dr. R. C. Euler, frOla the Anthropology Dept., University of Utah, presented an illustrated tour of southern Utah and Arizona Indian cultures. On February II, C. Melvin Aikens gave a lecture on Prehistoric Utah Indian cultures. Both of these meetings were well attended and very enjoyable.

We becarae acquainted on l-1arch 4. 1966, with Do [IlOSt colorful individual who lives in Layton, Utah. He is Mr. Dell Adans, a walking mUSeUll1. We enjoyed his artifacts, slides and stories of Indians he knew during his early life as a sheep herder. We [;let in the home of Jerry and Judy Girvin, Kaysville.

This was also the tin~ of our annual elections. The retiring presidency, Norua Dalton, Smitty Fike and Leah Wancyzk welcome the new cl ub of ficers, and wish to extend an appreciation to all those who helped make the past year a successful experience for all of us.

The April 29 meeting was held as a combined April and May meeting in the home of Phil and Lillian Hansen, Sunset. Mr. Merrill (Bud) Peterson was our guest speaker. l1r. Peterson used slides to present a lecture on the historic and prehis-t..oril' inhahi-tants 0f th.=> R0Ar Lak('> area. It is always a pleasure to meet with Hr. Peterson.

Noroa Dalton, correspondent

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Utah County Archeological Officers President: Vice-Pres. : Sec.-Treas.:

Socict~

Wayne H. Allred, 140 West 2nd South, Lehi, Utah Dale Barnett, Payson, Utah Alma Banks, 217 East 8th North, Orem, Utah

Meetings The Utah County Archeological Society meets the last Thursday of every month at the Page School in Springville.

News Some of our speakers have been Mr. James Mock, who gave an interesting talk about how to identify different types of pottery. Mel Aikens showed slides of the University of Utah's digs at Ogden, Nephi, and Santa Clara. and some of the petroglyphs in Canyonlands. Dr. Glen Moore, botanist at Brigham Young University, told us about the plant life found in the digs at Mesa Verde and about how the Indians made use of plants. Dr. George Hansen, geologist at Brigham Young University, brought riiany skulls ,and things to show us pertaining to early man.

A tour of the Hutchings Museum at Lehi was taken by the club in May with refreshments served at the Wayne Allred hor,le afterwards.

For the second year the club members "put" many fine displays of Indian artifacts in the Timpanogas Gem and Mineral Society show at Provo.

Our club's annual social was held in January at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Krebs in Provo. The menu incllIof'd CAribou anJ !Joose brought from Alaska

by Dale Harnett of rayson.

Wayne H. Allred. correspondent

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Utah Archeology Department of Anthropology University of Utah Sal~ LAkA City, Utah 84112

Utah State Historical Society 603 East South Temple Salt Lake City, Utah