HomeMy WebLinkAbout23C Valley West Sub Ph 1 Addendum to Class III Cultural Resource Inventory Results Gallatin Co MT 2003 - Part 1 RECEIVED FFR 0 3 2003
AABERG CULTURAL RESOURCE CONSULTING SERVICE
2909 East MacDonald Drive Billings,Montana 59102 phone/fax (406)655-3540
VALLEY WEST SUBDIVISION PHASE 1,
ADDENDUM TO CLASS III CULTURAL RESOURCE
INVENTORY RESULTS, GALLATIN COUNTY, MONTANA
by
Stephen A. Aaberg,
Chris Crofutt
and
Jayme Green
prepared by:
Aaberg Cultural Resource Consulting Service
2909 East MacDonald Drive
Billings, Montana 59102
report prepared for:
Morrison-Maierle, Incorporated
Bozeman, Montana
January 2003
i
Montana Cultural Resource Annotated Bibliography System
DATA ENTRY FORM
DOCUMENT GA REPORT
NUMBER: DATE: 01 30 03
County File Report No.
Code Code SHPO use on
AUTHOR(Last,First,Middle Initial,et al) Aaberg, Stephen A., Chris Crofiitt, and
Jayme Green
TITLE: Valley West Subdivision Phase 1,Addendum to Class III Cultural Resource
Inventory Results, Gallatin County, Montana
AGENCY: OTHER AGENCIES: OTHER COUNTIES: 1 (2)
AGENCY DOCUMENT/PROJECT NO: SURVEY ACRES: 240
DOCUMENT TYPE: 1. Inventory/Evaluation 2. Overview
3. Mitigation/Excavation 4. Other
KEYWORDS: (SHPO use only) (1) (2) (3)
(4) (5) (6) (7)
INVENTORY LOCATION PROPERTIES/
T R S SITE NUMBER PROPERTY/SITE NAME
2S 5E 9 24GA1588
2S 5E 10
Attach to inventory report and send to: State Historic Preservation Office,Montana
Historical Society, 1410 8th Avenue,PO Box 201202, Helena,MT 59620-1202
VALLEY WEST SUBDIVISION PHASE 1,
ADDENDUM TO CLASS III CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY RESULTS
GALLATIN COUNTY, MONTANA
by
Stephen A. Aaberg,
Chris Crofutt
and
Jaymye Green
Aaberg Cultural Resource Consulting Service
2909 East MacDonald Drive
Millings, Montanan 59102
January 2003
Contract Report to Morrison-Maierle, Incorporated
Bozeman, Montana
ABSTRACT
Morrison-Maierle, Incorporated, of Bozeman, Montana, are the consulting engineers for
Phase I of the Valley West Subdivision. The project is being undertaken by Valley West, L.L.C., of
Calistoga, California, on lands they own just inside the west boundary of the city of Bozeman, and
Bozeman Lakes L.L.C. of Phoenix, Arizona. As apart of the subdivision, developers plan to build
residential and commercial areas, roads and alleys, sidewalks,parks, install utility services(power,
sewer, water), drainage ditches, and preserve wetlands areas around Baxter Creek and the
Maynard-Border Ditch. As required by the Gallatin County Commission, a cultural resource
consultation was requested. Morrison-Maierle Incorporated (MMI) contracted with Aaberg
Cultural Resource Consulting Service (ACRCS) of Billings, Montana, to conduct the necessary
cultural investigations.
A Class III cultural resource survey of the entire 240 acre Valley West Subdivision Phase 1
project area was carried out by ACRCS on September 17-19, 2002. Prehistoric cultural remains of
any sort were not found during the survey. A portion of the Phase I property was inspected during
an earlier survey in April of 2002 and cultural resources were not found. This report is an
addendum to the earlier report and details findings of cultural reource investigations of all of the
remaining portion of the Valley West Phase I project area.
A previously unrecorded historic site (24GA1 588)was discovered during the September of
2002 survey of a 240 acre portion of the planned subdivision. The site consists of a small shed that
may have been moved to its current location. Also present at the site is a corral with several small
pens and a loading chute. Both of these structures are unkept and in deteriorating condition. This
historic site is recommended as ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.............................._.............................................................................I................
.....9
LISTOF FIGURES............................................................a.......................................................
INTRODUCTION...........................................................__................................... ....................fl
Project Background.........................................................................................................
fl
Scopeof Work..................................................................................................................1
Description of Valley West Subdivision Phase 1...........................................................1
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE CONSIDERATIONS..............................................................7
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND NATURAL HISTORY ..............................................9
LocalGeography............................................. ................9
PhysiographicPirolale.....................................................................................................11
Vegetation.......................................................................................................................I I
Fauna...............................................................................................................................11
Climate..........<.................................................................................................................12
Geology............................................................................................................................12
CULTURALSETTING ............................................................................................................14
Prehistory.......................................................................................... r 4,
Protohistoryand History...............................................................................................14
FIELD METHODS, RESULTS,AND RECOMMENDATIONS.........................................17
FieldMethods.................................................................................>...............................17
SurveyResults................................................................................................................17
ResourceDescriptions ...................................................................................................18
Site24GA1 588......................................................................................................................1 8
Description........................................................................................................................Da
NationalRegister Status and Recour gnc;nndztllons..........................................................19
SUMMARY...................................... ..........>..............................................................................20
REFERENCESC1TI D.............................................................................................................21
APPENDIIXA:.........__.......__......... .........................................................................................23
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Locator map shoe,,, ng Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 project area in Gallatin
County,Montana...................................................................................................................3
Figure 2: Bozeman Quadrangle, Gallatin County-Montana, USGS 7.5' Topographic w?'th
the proposed Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 survey boundary....................................4
Figure 3: Valley West Subdivision Phase I Preliminary Plan with Structure Locations....5
Figure 4: Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 Land Use with Structure Locations.................6
Figure 5: Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 Project Area and Site Boundary.....................10
1i
INTRODUCTION
Project Background
Morrison-Maierle,Incorporated,(MMI)of Bozeman,Montana,are the consulting engineers
for the proposed Valley West Subdivision. The project is being undertaken by Valley West L.L.C.of
Calistoga,California,the owners of the property,and Bozeman Lakes L.L.C.of Phoenix,Arizona,
on lands located on the west edge of the city of Bozeman. As a part of the subdivision,the owners
intend to develop a portion(309 acres)of the property designated as Phase 1.(Figures 2-5). Phase
1 plans utilize approximately 75 acres for residential dwellings and include proposed streets and
alleys,soccer fields and parks,and various utilities(water,sewer,power). A 69-acre parcel of Phase
1 was inspected previously(Aaberg 2002)and 240 acres were surveyed in the fall of 2002.
In 2002 MMI contracted with Aaberg Cultural Resource Consulting Service (ACRCS) to
carry out the Class III cultural resource inventory of the remaining 240 acres of Phase I. The contract
charged ACRCS with conducting a Class III cultural resource survey to identify any prehistoric and
historic sites that may be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places(NRHP)in
areas where any form of development is planned.
Scope of Work
Because construction the proposed subdivision could potentially disturb cultural sites,
ACRCS was requested to identify and record any prehistoric and historic properties within the
planned boundaries of the Valley West Subdivision. ACRCS field supervisor Chris Crofutt along
with field technician Jayme Green,conducted an archaeological survey of 240 acres of Phase 1 in the
Valley West Subdivision between September 17 and 19, 2002. A 69-acre portion of Phase I was
previously investigated by Aaberg(2002) in April of 2002.
The primary objective of the Class III inventory was to locate and record any cultural
resources, prehistoric or historic, within Phase 1 of the Valley West Subdivision. The secondary
objective was to determine National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility for any sites
found inside the survey boundary. Determinations of significance or NRHP eligibility of prehistoric
sites are generally accomplished by interpreting results of test excavation and through analysis of
surficial site attributes. Historic site evaluation is accomplished mainly by researching primary and
secondary documents,and/or oral history,and analysis of architectural attributes of standing historic
structures.
This report details the methods used in the survey, describes the results, and provides an
environmental and cultural setting as a context for understanding the archaeology and history.
Description of Valley West Subdivision Phase 1
The property is divided into three main blocks with further division into ten tracts and one
park (Figure 3). Block 1 is the southern half of Phase 1 and occurs between north-south running
Cottonwood Road and Ferguson Road. East-west running Cascade Street and West Babcock Street
1
form the north and south borders of this block. Block 1 consists of three tracts,two residential and
one smaller commercial tract located in the southwest corner of Block 1 in Tract 2. This block also
contains the 69 acres that were previously surveyed.
Block 2 is the northern half of Phase 1,also between Cottonwood Road and Ferguson Road.
Cascade Street follows the southern border and Durston Road follows the northern border of the
block. Block 2 is broken up into four residential tracts. Heritage Christian School lies between
Tracts 1 and 4,and a small area of private land lies in the northwest corner of Tract 4. The Maynard-
Border Ditch flows through the middle of Blocks 1 and 2. A 100' corridor along the length of the
ditch is reserved as a parks area.
To the west of Cottonwood Road is Block 3. This block is divided into three tracts, two
residential and one smaller commercial tract in the southeast corner. To the north and west of Block
3 is land set aside for Bronken Park. This park will contain several soccer fields and some ponds.
Baxter Creek cuts through the southwest corner of Block 3,running north outside the survey area,
then through the southwest corner of Bronken Park.Along the northern section of Baxter Creek are
also marsh lands.Planned even farther west of Bronken Park are more residential areas,with a large
man-made pond(Figure 4).
Outside the survey area to the east are the Ferguson Meadows and Valley Unit Subdivisions.
Just off of the southeast corner is another area of Valley Unit Subdivisions and the Crescent Valley
Condominiums. To the south and west of the survey area are undeveloped and/or farm lands.
The project is planned for construction over an 8— 10 year period,with approximately 1300
residential units to be constructed on the property.
2
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Figure 1: Locator map showing Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 project area in Gallatin
County,Montana.
(map adapted from DeLorme Mapping 1994 Montana Atlas & Gazetter)
3
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Figure 2: Bozeman Quadrangle,Gallatin County-Montana,USGS 7.5' Topographic with
the proposed Valley West Subdivision Phase I survey boundary.
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Figure 3: Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 Preliminary Plan with Structure Locations.
(adapted from Valley West Preliminary Plan map,MMII)
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Figure 4: Valley West Subdivision Phase 1 Land Use with Structure Locations.
(adapted from Valley West Subdivision Adjacent Land Uses, NMI)
6
LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Since the proposed Valley West Phase 1 subdivision development involves land disturbing
activities,the Gallatin County Commission required consideration of potential effect to any cultural
resources that could occur on the property. A number of additional state and federal laws mandate
the treatment of prehistoric and historic sites on certain lands and developments. These laws
include: the Antiquity Act of 1906, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969(and subsequent amendments),Executive Order 11593 of 1971,
the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974,the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979,the American Indian Religious
Freedom Act,the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990, the Montana
Environmental Policy Act,and the Montana.Human Skeletal Remains and Burial Site Protection Act
of 1991. Consideration of historic,paleontological,archaeological,and cultural sites is required by
the City of Bozeman Planned Unit Development Regulations.
Cultural Resources can be broadly defined as any physical remnants of past human life and
activity that occurs within the landscape. These resources are then identified and defined as"sites",
where past human occupation occurred and past use can be documented. Any of these sites that are
50 years old or older can be considered a cultural resource.
All cultural resources are evaluated by a set of criteria established by the National Park
Service(USDI-NPS Bulletin 15)and are determined significant only if they meet one or more of the
following standards:
A) they are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of our history; and/or
B) they are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
C) they embody distinctive characteristics of a type,period,or method of construction that
represents high artistic value or the work of a master,or that possess high artistic values,
or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack
individual distinction;
D) they have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or
history.
If sites do not meet any of the above criteria of eligibility for listing in the National Register
of Historic Places, they are considered non-significant. With agreement of site evaluations by a
permitting or managing agency (including county commissions) and the Montana State Historic
Preservation Office(MTSHPO),the proposed action may continue without further consideration or
consultation of the non-significant sites.
If a site or sites meet any of these criteria, a permitting or managing agency is required to
determine the effect of the proposed action on the site. Upon concurrence with the MTSHPO,one of
the following three determinations is possible:
1. No effect—the agency has determined that the undertaking will not effect the site. The
project is allowed to proceed.
2. No adverse effect—the agency determines that there will be some degree of an effect,but
it will not be adverse. The agency submits a report justifying this determination to the
Montana SHPO and NPS which may agree or disagree to the decision. When a consensus
is reached,the project is allowed to proceed.
3. Adverse effect—the agency determines that the effect on discovered, eligible cultural
resources will be adverse. When this occurs,the agency is directed to consider ways to
mitigate the impacts on cultural resources. Mitigation of a significant cultural resource
includes a range of options, such as project redesign and/or avoidance, documentation
(photography and archival research), restoration and data recovery (through
archaeological excavation). Which of these options is utilized is determined on a case-
by-case review.
Mitigation treatments are tailored to the distinct values of the property and the planning
options available within the project design. Once all of the consulting parties agree on
mitigation procedures for the eligible properties and the conditions or stipulations have been
met,the project may proceed.
8
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND NATURAL HISTORY
Local Geography
The legal description for lands encompassed by the planned Valley West Subdivision-Phase
1 project area is as follows:
N W 1/4 Section 10,E 1/2NE 1/4 Section 9,NW 1/4NE 1/4 Section 9,NE 1/4N W 1/4 Section 9;
Township 2 South, Range 5 East; Gallatin County,Montana
The Valley West Subdivision occurs on flat terrain near the west edge of the city of
Bozeman. The locality is part of the Gallatin Valley and the vicinity appears to be part of the Baxter
Creek floodplain (Figure 2) although the Gallatin Valley in this area includes alluvial sediments
deposited by a variety of streams that drain northward to the East Gallatin River. Even though the
project area was once rural in nature, the city of Bozeman and associated subdivisions have
encroached on the locality and developments essentially surround the Valley West tract. Less
development has occurred to the west of the tract.West Babcock Street forms the south boundary of
Phase 1 while Ferguson Avenue runs along the east edge. Durston Road travels across the northern
border of the Valley West development. Cottonwood Road cuts through the planned Valley West
Subdivision running north—south and Cascade Street passes through the subdivision east—west.
Cascade Street connects Cottonwood Road to Ferguson Road(Figure 4).
The Maynard-Border Ditch(an active natural stream and ditch)flows northward through the
center of the east half of the Phase 1 project tract,eventually discharging into Baxter Creek about 5
miles to the north-northeast of the tract. Baxter Creek, a perennial stream that flows northerly
through a portion of the Valley West Subdivision,is found both inside and outside the boundaries(to
the west) of the Phase 1 survey area. Baxter Creek eventually enters Hyalite Creek about 7 miles
north-northwest of the project tract. Several miles from its confluence with Baxter Creek,Hyalite
Creek flows into the East Gallatin River. The Baxter Ditch, the largest irrigation feature in the
vicinity of the project area, flows along the west side of Cottonwood Road. A smaller irrigation
ditch runs parallels the north side of Durston Road(Figure 3).
From the vicinity of the project area,the East Gallatin River flows northwesterly through the
Gallatin Valley,along the west slopes of the Bridger Range. About 20 miles northwest of Bozeman,
near Manhattan,Montana,the East and West Gallatin Rivers join to form the Gallatin River. The
Missouri River rises from the confluence of the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson Rivers, about 30
miles northwest of the project area. On the southwestern and western horizons,across the Gallatin
Valley,are the Spanish Peaks and the Madison Range,while the Gallatin Range and foothills rise not
far to the south and southeast.
9
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Figure 5: Valley West Subdivision Phase I Project Area and Site Boundary.
(derived from USGS 7.5' Bozeman, Montana Quadrangle)
10
Physiographic Profile
Mt. Ellis stands at the northern edge of the Gallatin Range,rising to 8,331', about 10 miles
southeast of the project area while Wheeler Mountain,at about 8,800',is present about 8 miles to the
south-southeast. The Hyalite Peaks rise to over 10,000'some 18 miles to the south. The project area
rests at about 4815', within the Gallatin Valley and the tract occurs for the most part within the
inactive floodplain of Baxter Creek. Baxter Creek has its source in the footslopes of the Gallatin
Range to the south of the project area. Other alluvial fan and slope deposits also intrude into the
edge of the Gallatin Valley from the south and are present south of the project area. Soils apparent in
exposures on the Phase 1 terrace are alluvial loams. Stream and outwash gravels underlie the loam,
which appears to range from 0.75cm to 1.25 meters thick.
Except for wetland areas, the entire Phase 1 tract is currently being farmed or has been
farmed in the past. Other previous developments have also affected the area. In addition to street
construction,several borrow ditches and dozer cuts have been excavated in the eastern section of the
Phase 1 development. These ditches and cuts appear to have been made some time ago as vegetation
has begun to reclaim them.
Vegetation
Essentially all of the project tract has been cultivated and presently supports a variety of
introduced pasture grasses. The non-agricultural vegetation of the project area can be divided into
three main communities:grassland,mountain forest,and riparian. In addition to various grasses and
sedges, the grassland areas support goldenrod, aster, canada thistle, and other weedy fortis. The
forests on the mountain slopes to the south of the project area are dominated by Douglas fir, with
aspen on the fringes. There is very little riparian vegetation along the man-made Maynard-Border
Ditch that flows through the tract.
Fauna
Even with urban development spreading to the project area, white-tail deer are common
sights. The Gallatin Range provides habitat for a variety of other species including elk,mule deer,
moose, and black bear. Other species frequently seen in or near the project area include skunk,
cottontail rabbit,raccoon,mink,weasel,snowshoe hare,fox,coyote,muskrat,beaver,and porcupine.
Mountain lion and bobcat are present in area mountain ranges and occasionally are seen in the valley.
A variety of small rodents are present as are a variety of songbirds and raptors. Historically,bison
were present in Gallatin Valley. The Antoneson Site, a late-prehistoric bison kill site a few miles
southwest of Bozeman,provides archeological evidence for bison in numbers large enough to have
supplied communal hunting opportunities for the aboriginal human inhabitants of the area.
11
Climate
Generally, the Gallatin Valley experiences cold winters with heavy snow from December
through May. The east and northeast aspects of area mountain ranges see large accumulations of
snow,making those areas suitable for ski developments. Western aspects receive similar quantities
of snow, but more exposure to the sun keeps accumulations lower than other aspects. Annual
precipitation at Bozeman ranges between 15 and 17 inches. The Gallatin Range receives
considerably more precipitation than valley settings.
The weather in the Gallatin Valley is influenced by three main air masses: Pacific,Arctic,
and Tropical Maritime. During the winter, Pacific and Arctic weather systems determine
temperature and precipitation tendencies,with Pacific systems generally being warmer and wetter.
Arctic systems are generally colder and dryer. During winter months,Pacific systems can produce
mild downslope winds("chinooks"),which melt snows and raise temperatures. Spring weather in
the area is variable and unpredictable, with alternating influences from all three fronts, although
Pacific systems tend to dominate. Late spring and early summer,typically the wettest months of the
year, see mainly Pacific and Tropical Maritime systems. In the summer, occasional Tropical
Maritime systems move through Montana,but Pacific systems still dominate.
Geology
The appearance of the Gallatin Range and its adjacent valleys is a result of billions of years of
geologic activity. At the core of the Gallatin Range are igneous and metamorphic rocks formed
during the Precambrian Era. These"basement"rocks are dominated by gneiss,but includes schists
and granite, as well (Alt and Hyndman 1990). Flooding by shallow seas during the Paleozoic and
Mesozoic Eras covered the Precambrian basement rock with layers of shale,sandstone,mudstone,
siltstone, limestone and conglomerate. These sedimentary rocks include Mississippian Period
dolomitic limestone of the Madison group,which contains chert nodules and some quartzite(both of
these rock types were sometimes used by prehistoric peoples for making chipped stone tools).
At the close of the Mesozoic Era,during the Cretaceous Period,mountain building,with its
heating, stretching,and uplifting, caused the continental crust to break into blocks and gave rise to
the Rocky Mountains (Alwin 1983). Those blocks which rose farthest became mountain ranges,
while adjacent blocks became intermountain valleys. The Gallatin Range was formed when blocks
of Precambrian basement rock uplifted along faults that run northwest to southeast. The movement
of the basement rock,in turn,caused the layered veneer of Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rock
to fold between and over the fault blocks.
Basement rock is visible along the northwestern front of some area ranges, while folded
layers of sedimentary rock outcrop along the northern fringe of some ranges.
By the beginning of the Tertiary Period,most drainages in intermountain areas were in place.
However, as the Tertiary progressed, drainage patterns changed with the occurrence of succesive
very dry periods followed by wetter intervals. Dry times saw drastic drops in surface water. With
diminished water flow and runoff, sediments eroded from mountains began to accumulate on
12
footslopes and on valley floors. During following wet intervals some of these sediments were
washed downslope and downstream, and did not.accumulate to the degree they did during dry
intervals. As sediments accumulated during dry periods,some drainages were blocked,causing the
formation of lakes in valleys like the Gallatin Valley. During wet intervals when precipitation was
abundant, surface water increased. Valley lakes, including those which developed in the Gallatin
Valley,breached their shores,cutting new valleys, and forming new terraces.
During the Tertiary Period,the floor of the Gallatin Valley was covered with sediments of the
Renova Formation. The Renova sediments consist of fine silts, sands, gravels, limestone, and
occasionally, coal, as well as volcanic ash. Volcanism was common throughout the region during
the Tertiary Period. Eruptions capped all but the northern end of the Gallatin range with andesite and
spread ash over large areas.
The succession of wet and dry periods of the Tertiary came to an end with the first of several
glacial periods that occurred during the Pleistocene Epoch.Evidence of alpine glaciers can be found
at the highest elevations in the Gallatin Range. Increased precipitation accompanied glaciation and
surface water increased dramatically. Water from glacial and interglacial periods was largely
responsible for the final sculpting of the Gallatin Valley. Large volumes of water moved through the
valley as the glaciers melted,depositing course gravels on the valley floor and on some of the higher,
older terraces.
Since the close of the Pleistocene,the middle and lower reaches of the Gallatin River have
matured and a relatively broad floodplain has developed. Upper reaches of this river flow through a
relatively narrow mountain canyon and floodplain development is more restricted. In most areas
floodplain deposits of silt, sand,and gravel now cover Pleistocene gravels. Deposition of colluvial
sediments on mountain footslopes and alluvial sediments along water courses continues. At the
same time,area streams and rivers persist in cutting down through Pleistocene gravels and Tertiary
valley fill. Overbank sediments present along Baxter Creek and within the project tract are likely
Holocene in age.
13
CULTURAL SETTING
Prehistory
Technically, the project area is part of the Northwest Plains subarea of the Plains Culture
Area. However,because intermountain areas of southwestern Montana are proximal to the Plateau
Culture Area,and particularly the Basin Culture Area,some archaeologists feel the project area was
influenced by cultural and subsistence characteristics of all three culture areas(Ethnoscience 1991;
Roll et. al. 1989; Deaver and Deaver 1986; Deaver and Deaver 1984). The majority of projectile
points(time sensitive artifacts)found in southwestern Montana fit within the traditional typologies of
the Northwestern Plains after Reeves (1983), Frison (1991) and Mulloy (1958). For details of
chronological schemes applicable to the site area the reader is referred to An Archaeological
Overview of Butte District Prehistory by Deaver and Deaver(1986).
These chronologies are nearly identical in projectile point typologies associated with them.
The oldest outline for prehistory in Montana was first set forth by Mulloy(1958)and it formed the
foundation for subsequent chronologies. The Reeves chronology essentially follows Mulloy and
divides prehistory into three periods:Early,Middle,and Late.Reeves refined Mulloy's taxonomy and
added other terminology to define prehistoric cultural traditions and phases based on the
archaeological record.
Frison divides prehistory into essentially three periods but further subdivides them. Frison's
divisions include the Paleoindian Period,the Archaic Period (Early Plains Archaic, Middle Plains
Archaic, and Late Plains Archaic), and the Late Prehistoric Period. Frison also applies the term
Protohistoric for the period when Euro-American settlement and trade were indirectly influencing the
aboriginal peoples of the Northern Plains but before contact had actually occurred. Frison has fewer
taxonomic subdivisions based on technology and geographic boundaries. He uses "archaic" to
suggest change in the emphasis of prehistoric economies with plants emerging as more important in
diet at the beginning of the Archaic Period and a focus on bison in the Late Prehistoric Period
The Gallatin Valley area includes many of the same archaeological manifestations which are
found elsewhere on the Plains including campsites,rock alignments,bison kills,cairns,ceremonial
sites, hearths, lithic scatters, pictographs and petroglyphs, hunting pits or blinds, tipi rings,
rockshelters,trails and wikiup(Deaver and Deaver 1986). Hundreds of sites have been recorded on
BLM,Forest Service,State and private lands in the Gallatin and Missouri headwaters area. Surface
finds and excavation data indicate this portion of southwestern Montana has been occupied since
early Paleoindian times through the Protohistoric Period. Virtually the entire typological sequence of
the Northwestern Plains is represented by artifacts found in the vicinity of the project area.
Protohistory and History
It is not until the protohistoric and historic period that modern Native American tribal
configurations can be seen. The introduction of the horse and the domino affect of white encroa-
chment from the east may have displaced and rearranged Native American groups in Montana and
over most of North America. For the most part,it is impossible for archaeologists to determine tribal
14
affiliations,ethnicity,or language from the artifacts prehistoric peoples left behind in southwestern
Montana.
The project area was used by a variety of American Indians during the protohistoric and his-
toric periods. Blackfeet, Flathead, Nez Perce, and Shoshone-Bannack groups ventured into the
region at times.
The period when contact with whites was actually made and when written records of those
interactions were made is known as the Historic Period. In Montana, the Lewis and Clark
Expedition of 1805-1806 is generally accepted as the beginning of the Historic Period. Horses were
probably traded from distant Spanish California settlements and likely escaped confinement,
reaching Montana through natural migration. In any case, horses are estimated to have entered
Montana by A.D. 1700 and could have reached the state as early as A.D. 1650. Metal items and guns
were also among goods traded during protohistoric times.
Horses transformed the cultures of the plains. Prior to the horse the only beast of burden on
the plains was the dog. Dogs were used to drag a V shaped sled or frame called a travois. The apex
of this frame was carried on the dog's back while the open ends of the V dragged on the ground.
Material to be hauled was bound to the frame. The travois was later adapted for use with the horse
and subsequently a much heavier load was carried.
Horses allowed individual Native Americans to chase bison and to shoot single animals as
they rode alongside. Hunting became easier and it was possible to carry larger quantities of personal
belongings from camp to camp. The range for hunting and carrying on social interaction was
substantially extended. In effect,the horse made it more possible to accumulate wealth in the form
of goods of luxury (e.g. blankets, beads, skins, guns, knives, and tobacco) and goods of necessity
(food). Horses themselves became one of the most valuable commodities and expressions of wealth.
Prehistoric foot nomads probably had no comparable measure of wealth. Life became easier for
some and the prestige position of chief likely came into being at this time. Horse stealing adventures
became an avenue to advancement in wealth and social standing. Vestiges of aboriginal life
remained with Montana's Indians even after the coming of trade goods and the settlement of the west
by whites. Plains Indians continued to hunt big game whenever possible although it became
increasingly difficult to survive in that life style as the buffalo neared extinction. Plains aboriginals
also continued to use plants for food, in health and medicine, for making tools, and in rituals and
ceremonies.
The coming of the Europeans brought easier access to valued trade goods. White settlement
also brought competition for land and food. Worst of all, white civilization brought European
diseases, such as smallpox, to which the Native Americans had little resistance. These diseases
decimated some tribes reducing their populations by as much as 75 percent. In less than seventy
years after the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through what is now Montana, the remnants of
Plains Indian tribes were placed on reservations,ending 12,000 years of hunting and gathering as a
way of life on the plains and in the mountains of Montana.
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The wildlife,scenic,and agricultural qualities of the Gallatin Valley were noted very early in
the Euro-American history of the west. Passing through the area in the summer of 1806, Captain
William Clark noted the abundance of game including elk, deer, antelope, beaver, and bison. A
member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition,John Cotter,returned to the headwaters of the Missouri
in 1808 and together with John Potts set up a fur trading and trapping business. However,both men
met with Indian hostility,particularly the Blackfeet,and were soon forced out of the area(Potts was
in fact killed by the Blackfeet). Trapping soon returned to the area and reached a peak in the 1830s
before tapering off after 1850 (Burlingame 1980). Jim Bridger, for whom the Bridger Range is
named, was among the early trappers and traders who came to southwestern Montana during this
period and were successful at the fur trade business.
The agricultural potential of the Gallatin Valley began to be realized about the time of major
gold strikes in southwestern Montana,particularly in the area around Alder Gulch. Gallatin City was
the first community in Gallatin County and was established in 1863 just downstream from the
confluence of the Madison,Gallatin,and Jefferson Rivers(Cheney 1983). Bozeman was founded in
1864 and was named after John Bozeman who purportedly brought the first wagon train of
immigrants to the area that same year. Fort Ellis was built as a military post on the east edge of
Bozeman,near the mouth of Rock Creek Canyon,in 1867. Established to allay settler's fear of attack
by hostile bands of Sioux and Crow,the fort also served as outfitter for the 1870 Washburn-Langford
expedition to what was to become Yellowstone National Park. Fort Ellis was abandoned in 1886.
Nelson Story is credited with driving the first cattle herd north from Texas to the Gallatin
Valley in 1866 and soon after area agriculture began to flourish. Farming and ranching ventures
spread outward from the Bozeman and Gallatin City areas. Tourism has replaced agriculture as the
number one industry in the Gallatin Valley area although ranching and farming continue.
Homestead patents for lands encompassing Phase 1 of the Valley West Subdivision were
issued to Enoch D. Ferguson on December 1, 1876 (Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder Office
records—Deed Book K, page 170) and September 10, 1883 (BLM General Land Office records -
Serial#MTMTAA042917;Document#214). Ferguson, one of the early settlers of Bozeman and
the Gallatin Valley, was issued a homestead patent for lands adjacent to Phase 1 in 1876 and
apparently began his ranching efforts in 1874. Ferguson is listed in Progressive Men of the State of
Montana (Bowen and Co. n.d.). That volume indicates that Ferguson was born in Tennessee in
1844,served in the Confederate Army(First Tennessee Cavalry)in 1861,was captured and released
and returned to "studies" in Tennessee. Eventually Ferguson moved to Indiana and studied for
another year before becoming a teacher. He left Indiana for Montana, via St. Louis, Missouri, in
1869 and reached Fort Benton by steamer that same year. Ferguson then apparently traveled to the
Bozeman area and "took up a tract of land" about two miles west of Bozeman. He gradually
expanded his ranch and raised oats and hay and shorthorn cattle. His residence was in Bozeman,not
on the ranch land. In 1874 Ferguson and three others "located" the Rocky Ford coal mine and the
Trail Creek coal mine. Ferguson was active in the community and served as the Gallatin County
Assessor in 1877 and 1878. He was a member of the Bozeman City Council in 1893,was a school
trustee for a number of years, and was also a member of the Yellowstone Expedition of 1874.
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FIELD METHODS,RESULTS,AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Field Methods
The first cultural resource survey of the Valley West-Phase 1 project area was conducted by
Stephen A. Aaberg in April of 2002. At that time an intensive pedestrian survey of a 69-acre tract
was was carried out and an overview level reconnaisance of all of Phase I was completed. On
September 17, 2002, an additional 240-acre tract was intensively survey by field supervisor Chris
Crofutt and field technician Jayme Green. The entire 240-acre tract was inspected in 30 meter
spaced transects oriented north-south. The current channel of the Maynard-Border Ditch north of
Cascade Street(Figure 4)was also walked. By agreement with the Gallatin County Commission and
the Gallatin County Historic Preservation Officer, the subdivision developer had been allowed to
excavate several road beds into the Phase 1 tract prior to Class III survey. These road cuts provided
very good subsurface exposure over much of the Phase 1 tract. The surface of the tract was heavily
vegetated so presence of the road cuts provided opportunity for substantial subsurface observations.
The road cuts varied from about 60cm deep to about 1.25 meters deep. In some instances,the cuts
reached precultural stream gravels. Although the project area tract has been cultivated for over 100
years, and currently supports a variety of pasture grasses, surface visibility was relatively good.
Visibility was impaired in some areas where tall grasses and weeds covered the surface.
Morrison-Maierle had earlier requested a file search for the project area from the Montana
State Historic Preservation Office. The file search indicated that previously recorded archaeological
sites were not present in the project area. Three previous cultural resource inventories included
portions of the township and range in which Phase 1 occurs. One previous cultural resource project
included the Wl/2NE1/4 of Section 10, just to the east of the Phase I project area, but did not
document any cultural resources (Lahren 2000).
Survey Results
Prehistoric archaeological remains of any sort were not found during survey of the Valley
West,Phase 1 tract. One historic site(24GA1588)with two features,a small frame building and a
corral-loading chute,were found and recorded in the southwest portion of Tract 2 in Block 3(Figure
3). The building appears to have been moved to its current location from elsewhere,as it is resting
on a partial log sill foundation. The corral consists of an elevated loading chute and several small
pens west of the chute.
Also noted near the project area were some irrigation features. The Maynard-Border Ditch
flows through the center of the east portion of the Phase I parcel. This drainage, and an adjacent
corridor on both sides of the stream, will not be developed and will be maintained as a park.
Although this feature is classified as a ditch, it is actually a natural drainage that carries irrigation
water from the Farmers Canal, well south of the project area. It carries a yearly natural flow from
various small springs located upstream from the Phase 1 tract. This feature has been substantially
altered in recent years as Bozeman has expanded into the area. Only the portion of this drainage that
flows through the Phase 1 tract was inspected during field survey. Irrigation features of any sort(e.g.
turnouts, laterals)were not evident within Phase 1. This drainage is not listed in a compilation of
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early Gallatin County irrigation features compiled by Dr.Robert Dunbar of Montana State University
and published by Bates (1994). An 1868 GLO map of Township 2 North, Range 5 East (Marsh
1868) shows no agricultural developments whatsoever in Section 10.
The Baxter Creek Ditch appears to be the oldest primary irrigation feature in the vicinity but
has been substantially altered in this portion of Bozeman as new streets and utility corridors were
constructed. A portion of the Baxter Creek Ditch occurs inside the Phase 1 project area but it will
not be affected by proposed development.
Although portions of Section 10 were part of the Ferguson ranch,historic features associated
with the ranch(if there were any),were not apparent. As mentioned earlier,the Ferguson home was
located within the city of Bozeman.
Resource Descriptions
Site 24GA1588
Description
The site consists of a small frame shed (Feature 1) and a nearby corral and loading chute
(Feature 2).The property is located in a hay field on the east side of Baxter Creek within the Gallatin
Valley. Baxter Creek flows north to the east fork of the Gallatin River. Baxter Ditch runs north-
south approximately '/<mile east of the property. Adjacent land is dominated by cultivated fields,
mostly hay,with new subdivisions and other urban construction activity essentially surrounding the
site.
Feature 1 is a small, single room, frame building constructed with 2 x 8 inch vertical studs
(milled lumber)that are covered with shiplap siding(no interior or sub-wall). The feature exhibits a
single pitch shed style roof that slopes west and the shed has a plank floor. The only doorway(no
door remaining) is on the south end of the north elevation. The east facade has three, side by side,
window portals with no trim and no glass remaining. The south and west elevations have no
windows or doors. The feature does not appear to be resting on a formal foundation although an
approximately 15"-diameter log, running north—south beneath the the middle of the building, may
have been an attempt to level the structure. Roof rafters are 2"x 4"s(true dimension)with fascia and
open soffit. Remnants of white paint are still present on the siding. Corrugated tin covers the roof.
The feature measures 14.2'north—south by 12.5'east west.The west wall is Thigh and the east wall
is 9.3'high. The only items present in this shed were some old tires and it appears that the shed was
used for storage.
Feature 2 is a loading chute with associated pens or corrals. The corral is constructed of a
combination of 6"diameter posts and railroad ties with horizontal log poles/rails ranging from 4"to
5" in diameter. The gates are made from 2" x 8" milled boards that are hung with large, stamped
metal hinges. The horizontal rail poles are are fastened to posts with modern wire nails. The loading
chute is mostly collapsed as are portions of the corral fence. The chute was constructed of posts and
rails and had a sloping ramp with a board floor supported by railroad tie cross beams. The feature,
including loading chute and corral, measures approximately 60 meters north—south by 27 meters
east—west.
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The dates of construction for this site have not been firmly established. A chain of title
search was carried out at the Gallatin County Clerk and Recorder's Office. Results of that search
show that the property stayed in the Ferguson family until 1961 when Veda Ferguson Purdy sold a
tract of land, which included the site area,to James and Jean Ray. The Rays retained the property
until 1971 when they sold it to J. Patrick McGloin. A month after acquiring the property McGloin
sold it to Frank P.Zoch,Jr.and he in turn sold the property to Robert R. Shelton within a week. The
Shelton family,who also purchased the Flying D and Spanish Creek Ranches near Gallatin Gateway
at about the same time, retained the property until 1978 when it was sold to Virgil and Phyllis
Jahnke. The Jahnkes initiated development of this land and surrounding lands and subsequent
developers continued the process. Since 1978 the Valley Subdivision,just east of Valley West,has
grown substantially,particularly during the 1990s.
Construction materials used in the site features include milled lumber,milled posts,railroad
ties, corrugated metal roofing, and wire nails and spikes. All of these materials post-date 1900.
Some of the posts in the corral are not completely weathered and the bases of some appear to be
treated. The only other artifacts obsderved at the site were two badly rusted automobile parts(fender
fragment and body fragment) that were found along Baxter Creek just west of the site. The
fragmentary condition of the car parts prevented identification of the make,model and age although
generally they appear to associate with a vehicle that pre-dates 1950. It is not clear if these old car
parts associate with the site.
Some physical evidence suggests that the shed was moved to the site. The area encompassed
by the corrals suggests that the site was a very small livestock enclosure and that the associated
loading chute was likely used only locally. The site was not likely a regional or area livestock
shipping center but was more likely used by a single family or ranch or perhaps by a few neighbors.
The Shelton Ranches were among the largest cattle producers in Gallatin County and it is
possible that the corrals and loading chute date only to the early 1970s. The Spanish Creek and
Flying D Ranches encompassed lands that originally included a number of homesteads and smaller
ranches with numerous buildings. Athough it is possible that the shed at the site was moved there
from the Shelton Ranches—Flying D/Spanish Creek holdings, it is equally possible that the corral
and loading chute pre-date ownership by the Sheltons. Droplap and shiplap siding was very popular
during the 1920s, 1930s,and early 1940s and these materials argue that the shed pre-dates Shelton
ownership. If the shed(Feature 1)was erected on site,and was not moved to the property later,then
it likely dates to the era of between 1920 and 1940(unless used or recycled construction materials
were employed). The property was still owned by the Ferguson family during this era although
Enoch Ferguson had passed away.
National Register Status and Recommendations
Based on observations of construction materials used in site features, it is unlikely that the
site associates with the earliest era of farming and ranching undertaken by Enoch D. Ferguson.
While it is possible that the site features were constructed during ownership of the land by the
Ferguson family, it is equally possible the shed and loading chute-corral post-date Ferguson
ownership. Absence of any other historic features and absence of any other historic artifacts(with
19
the exception of two rusty car parts)indicates the site was not associated with a larger farmstead or
ranchstead.
Architecturally the features at this site do not meet requirements for significance under
Criterion C. Features are in poor condition and even in their original form,in good condition,would
not likely have met requirements for architectural significance. The site also fails to meet
requirements under Criteria A and D. The site is one of many local loading chutes and corrals
associated with the 20`h Century livestock industry in Montana and the Gallatin Valley. It does not
appear to associate with a larger ranchstead and may have been used temporarily. The site has
limited information value and would not likely contribute further to our understanding of local or
regional history. If the site features dated to the time when the land was part of the early, Enoch
Ferguson farming and ranching effort, it could have been significant under Criterion B through
association with Ferguson. However,construction materials used in the features and presence of two
rusted car parts suggest the site likely dates to between 1920 and 1950,if not later. Therefore the site
is suggested as non-significant and ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
SUMMARY
The project tract was intensively inspected on foot in September of 2002. Surface and
subsurface exposures on the project area tract are considered adequate. Prehistoric archaeological
materials or deposits were not found during survey of the entire 240 acre Phase I tract of the Valley
West Subdivision. Proposed subdivision developments will not affect any known,National Register
eligible cultural resources within the project tract. One historic site (24GA1588)recorded during
survey is suggested as non-significant and not eligible for listing in the National Register. Further
cultural resource investigations or mitigative measures are not warranted at this time.
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REFERENCES CITED
Aaberg, Stephen A.
2002 Valley West Subdivision-Phase 1, Gallatin County, Montana Class III Cultural Resource
Survey Results. Contract report by ACRCS,Billings,Montana,prepared for Morrison-Maierle,
Inc. as agents for Bozeman Lakes,LLC, Bozeman, Montana.
Alt, David and Donald W. Hyndman
1990 Roadside Geology of Montana. Mountain Press Publishing Company,Missoula, MT.
Alwin, John A.
1983 Western Montana: A Portrait of the Land and Its People. Montana Geographic Series,No.
5. Montana Magazine, Helena, MT.
Bates, Grace
1994 Gallatin County Places and Things Present and Past(Second Edition).
Bowen,A.W. & Company
no date Progressive Men of the State of Montana. A.W. Bowen&Company, Chicago.
Bureau of Land Management-Montana State Office
2002 General Land Office records - Serial#MTMTAA042917;Document#214 recording
homestead patent of Enoch D. Ferguson in 1883 for a portion of Section 10, T2S, RSE.
Burlingame, M.G.
1980 The Montana Frontier. Big Sky Books. Montana State University.
Cheney, R.C.
1983 Names on the Face of Montana. Mountain Press Publishing Company, Missoula, MT.
Deaver, Sherri and Ken Deaver
1986 An Archaeological Overview of Butte District Prehistory. Bureau of Land Management
Cultural Resource Series, Number 2.
Deaver, Ken and Sherrie Deaver
1984 Archaeological Site Testing and Evaluation in the Beartrap Canyon of Madison County,
Montana. Report prepared for Bureau of Land Management, Butte District.
Ethnoscience
1993 Mitigation of Sites 24M4225 and 24MA557, Bear Trap Canyon, Montana,edited by Ken
Deaver. Contract report for Montana Department of Highways, Helena, MT.
Frison, George C.
1991 Prehistoric Hunters of the High Plains(revised 1991). Academic Press,New York.
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Lahren, Larry A.
2000 Fluidyne-Ferguson Avenue Sub-Division-Gallatin County, Montana(WI/2NE1/4 Section
10, T2S, R5E).
Marsh, B.F.
1868 General Land Office Map of Township 2 South, Range 5 East, surveyed by B.F. Marsh in
1868 and approved by Surveyor General in 1869. Map archived in the Montana State Office
of the Bureau of Land Management, Billings, Montana.
Mulloy, William T.
1958 A Preliminary Historical Outline for the Northwestern Plains. University of Wyoming
Publications 22(1), Laramie.
Reeves,Brian O.K.
1983 Culture Change in the Northern Plains: 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1000. Archaeological Survey of
Alberta Occasional Paper No. 20.
Roll, Tom E.
1982 Kootenai Canyon Archaeology: The 1979 LAURD Project Final Mitigation Report.
Report by Montana State University to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District.
Roll, Tom E., William P. Eckerle, and Stephen A. Aaberg
1989 Bear Trap Canyon Archaeology. Report submitted to the Butte District, Bureau of Land
Management.
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