Test Excavations at Box Canyon and Three Other Side Canyon Sites in the McNary Reservoir,
Abstract
The Columbia River Side Canyon Sites superficially appear as lithic, shell and bone scatters exposed in four north to south running breaks through basalt cliff terraces and adjacent to McNary Reservoir. All of the canyons are characterized to some extent by the presence of semistabilized and unstabilized sand dune formations. It is in deflated areas in these dunes that the sites are exposed. The constant tendency for dune movement accounts both for the initial discovery of the sites and a source of gradual site deterioration. The site locations provide a unique set of problems to field archaeology; problems that are generally avoided by archaeologists who often work at more dramatic sites in other environmental contexts. This project is an attempt to (1) develop a test strategy that would meaningfully sample the range of cultural materials at deflated sites, (2) offer information of utility for informed cultural resource management, and (3) present data for the research needs of the large archaeological community. This report summarizes the results of the project. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA104104
Entities
People
- Bruce D. Cochran
- Eileen Adams-rasmussen
- Greg C. Burtchard
- Kim Simmons
Organizations
- Washington State University