Homestead archaeology - Pinedale, Wyoming

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Pinedale Online > News > June 2016 > Homestead archaeology

Homestead dig. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.

Homestead archaeology
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
June 7, 2016

The Upper Green River Basin Chapter of the Wyoming Archaeological Society (WAS) hosted a small excavation of a prehistoric hearth at the Sommers Homestead Living History Museum on Saturday, June 4th. The dig was a chance to find out more about the old site and let the public have a chance to see and help with an archaeological dig. Professional Archaeologists from the Pinedale Bureau of Land Management, Bonneville Archaeology, and WAS members helped with the dig. They found fire-cracked rock, a worked glass chip, and a mano grinding stone. It is not known how old the feature is, but Sommers family members say it has been there for as long as they can remember, however due to the presence of a petroleum product (tar), dating the feature will be impossible. Visitors to the Homestead were able to come by and watch the dig during the day.

Moving equipment The site is between the horse-drawn manure spreader and the sled.	The site	Staking Blake Griffin pounds in a stake on the unit boundary.
Staking unit	Measuring Justin Vogias (L) and Dave Vlcek (R) take measurements.	Measurements
More measurements	Starting to open it up Members of the Upper Green River Basin Chapter of the Wyoming Archaeological Society help open up the site.	Screening All the dirt removed from the unit is carefully screened.
Screening Pinedale BLM seasonal archaeologist Justin Vogias.	Dave Vlcek Dave owns Bonneville Archaeology and also is the Vice President of the Upper Green River Basin Chapter of the Wyoming Archaeology Society.	BLM archaeologists BlM seasonal archaeologists Justin Vogias (L) and Blake Griffin (R) help at the excavation at the Homestead.
Screening	Finding a chip WAS member Mike Hawkins looks at a potential artifact. It turns out to be a chip that appears to have been worked from a piece of window glass.	Flake This piece appears to have been worked from window glass.
Taking measurements Mike Hawkins (L) and Blake Griffin (R) take measurements of the feature.	Mano This stone was used as a tool to grind things. It has been ground smooth and fits very well into a hand.	Recording finds
Exposed rocks	Photographing WAS member Clint Gilchrist photographs the progress of the dig.	Chunk Some of the dirt appeared to possibly have an oily residue. The dig feature is near the old Homestead garage and the residue could have come from drips off of vehicles or equipment parked nearby or discarded oil. More tests would be needed to positively identify the substance.
Examining chunk Pinedale BLM seasonal archaeologist Blake Griffin.	Old rocks Uncovering the hidden story...	Looking at what was found Albert Sommers (in yellow shirt) comes by to see what was found at the site.

Pinedale Online > News > June 2016 > Homestead archaeology

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