Painted Hills FEIS Appendix J - MAY 2023APPENDIX J:
Cultural Resources Survey – Gustin
Pipe Off-Site
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CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT COVER SHEET
DAHP Project Number: 2021-11-07772
Author: Jordan J. Thompson, Olivia Gagnon, Justin Fitzpatrick, and David A. Harder
Title of Report: Cultural Resource Survey for the Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey
Project, Spokane County, Washington
Date of Report: March 29, 2022
County(ies): Spokane Section: 34 Township: 25 N Range: 44 E
Quad: Freeman, 1973 Acres: 5.7
PDF of report submitted (REQUIRED) YesX
Historic Property Inventory Forms to be Approved Online? Yes NoX
Archaeological Site(s)/Isolate(s) Found or Amended? Yes NoX
TCP(s) found? Yes NoX
Replace a draft? Yes NoX
Satisfy a DAHP Archaeological Excavation Permit requirement? Yes NoX
Were Human Remains Found? Yes DAHP Case # NoX
DAHP Archaeological Site #:
Cultural Resource Survey for the
Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe
Off-Site Survey Project,
Spokane County,
Washington
By:
Jordan J. Thompson, Olivia Gagnon,
Justin Fitzpatrick, and David A. Harder
March 2022
ABSTRACT
Cultural Resource Survey for the Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey Project, Spokane
County, Washington
Whipple Consulting Engineers is proceeding with plans for the development of the Painted Hills
Housing Development—subdividing a 100.0-acre site into 600 residential lots. This primary area
of impact has been surveyed and reported on previously by Plateau Archaeological Investigations
(Plateau). During the review process, Spokane County Public Works requested that additional
survey be carried out on an off-site location, which will be used for flood control. This survey will
address this off-site portion of the project. The project area covers approximately 5.7 acres and lies
in Section 34 of Township 25 North, Range 44 East, Willamette Meridian.
The project area lies within the traditional territory of the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene peoples and
the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) predictive model places
portions of the project in areas of "Very High Risk" for encountering cultural resources. The
cultural survey will be performed to support Spokane County permitting requirements.
Pre-field research included the review of known archaeological resources within a 1.0-mile radius
of the area of potential effect (APE) as inventoried at the Washington State Department of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). This review was completed using DAHP’s secure
electronic database known as the Washington Information System for Architectural and
Archaeological Data (WISAARD). This database includes recorded archaeological resources,
historic property inventories (HPIs), National Register of Historic Properties (NRHP) and
Washington Heritage Register (WHR) properties, identified cemeteries, and previously conducted
cultural resource surveys found throughout the state.
The fieldwork was completed in a manner consistent with RCW 27.53.030, and included inspection
techniques to identify both surface and subsurface archaeological resources. Plateau archaeologists
conducted a pedestrian survey and excavated one subsurface probe. The pedestrian survey
covered the entire APE and the subsurface probe was excavated opportunistically within the
Project Area. A ditch and catch basin were inventoried as Property 726296, but are ineligible for
listing on the NRHP. Plateau recommends that the proposed undertaking will result in No Historic
Properties Affected, and no further archaeological investigations are recommended prior to, or
during, execution of this project.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 ii
KEY INFORMATION
PROJECT
Cultural Resource Survey for the Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey Project,
Spokane County, Washington
REPORT AUTHORS
Jordan Thompson, Olivia Gagnon, Justin Fitzpatrick, and David A. Harder
COUNTY
Spokane County
LEGAL LOCATION OF PROJECT
Section 34 of Township 25 North, Range 44 East, Willamette Meridian
USGS QUADS
Freeman, Washington 7.5 minute, 1973
ACREAGE
5.7 acres
PROJECT DATA
No previously recorded historic properties
One new cultural resource located and/or recorded
DAHP PROJECT NUMBER
2021-11-07772
MANAGING AGENCY
Spokane County
REPORT PREPARED FOR
Whipple Consulting Engineers
FIELD NOTE DISPOSITION
Archived at the office of Plateau Archaeological Investigations LLC, Pullman.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
David A. Harder, M.A.
CERTIFICATION OF RESULTS
I certify that this investigation was conducted and
documented according to Secretary of Interior's
Standards and Guidelines and that the report is
complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Signature of Reporter
March 29, 2022
Date
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
KEY INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
PROJECT DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES FOR SURVEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PRE-FIELD RESEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
REGIONAL PRECONTACT BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Ethnography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Places of Cultural Significance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
REGIONAL HISTORIC BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Spokane County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Cartographic Analysis of the Project Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
FIELD METHODS AND SURVEY RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Painted Hills Gustin Pipe Off Site Ditch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
WORKS CITED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
APPENDIX A: HISTORIC PROPERTY INVENTORY (HPI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
APPENDIX B: UNINTENTIONAL DISCOVERY PLAN (UDP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. The location of the Project Area within Spokane County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Figure 2. The Project Area shown on a portion of the Freeman USGS map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Figure 3. The Project Area shown in relation to documented TCPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Figure 4. The Project Area shown on selected historic maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Figure 5. The Project Area and field investigation inventoried on an aerial photograph . . . . 19
Figure 6. Overview of the Project Area. View to the north. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Figure 7. Overview of the Project Area. View to the north . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Figure 8. The drainage ditch. View to the east. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. NRCS Soil Descriptions within Project Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Table 2. Ethnographic Villages Near the Project Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Table 3. Previously Conducted Cultural Resource Surveys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Table 4. Shovel Probe Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 iv
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Whipple Consulting Engineers are continuing with their plans to construct a housing development
at Painted Hills, located in Spokane County, Washington (Figure 1). The project will include an
area to be used as an offsite flood control for an adjacent housing development. The Project Area
will be located north of East Copper River Lane and adjacent and to the west of Highway 27. The
western boundary of the Project Area intersects with East 40th Avenue. Anticipated impacts include
excavations, compaction of sediments, and other ground-disturbing construction activities. The
area of potential impact covers approximately 5.7 acres, and lies within Section 34 of Township 25
North, Range 44 East, Willamette Meridian (Figure 2). The area of potential impact hereafter will
be referred to as the "Project Area."
The project area lies within the traditional territory of the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene peoples and
the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) predictive model places
portions of the project in acres of "Very High Risk" for encountering cultural resources. The
cultural survey will be performed to support Spokane County permitting requirements.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES FOR SURVEY
The cultural resource survey of the Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey Project is intended
to identify potential historic properties, including archaeological and built environment cultural
resources, within the Project Area prior to execution of the proposed project. The pre-field research
is designed to identify any known historic properties, including archaeological sites and isolates;
historic property inventories of buildings, structures, and historic districts; and cemeteries located
in or near the Project Area. Fieldwork procedures are intended to identify areas of moderate to
high probability for such cultural resources, previously recorded or otherwise. This report
describes the pre-field research, methodology, results, and recommendations for the cultural
resources aspect of the proposed project.
PRE-FIELD RESEARCH
Pre-field research included the review of known archaeological resources within a 1.0 mile (mi) (1.6
kilometer [km]) radius of the Project Area as inventoried at the Washington State Department of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) in Olympia, Washington. This review was
completed using DAHP’s secure electronic database known as the Washington Information System
for Architectural and Archaeological Data (WISAARD). This database includes recorded
archaeological resources, historic property inventories (HPIs), properties and districts on the
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the Washington Heritage Register (WHR),
identified cemeteries, and previously conducted cultural resource surveys found throughout the
state.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 1
Figure 1. The location of the Project Area within Spokane County.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 2
Figure 2. The Project Area shown on a portion of the Freeman USGS map.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 3
Plateau also conducted cartographic analysis of landform, topography, proximity to water using
topographic maps, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) online soil survey.
Secondary historic resources, on file at the DAHP and the Plateau office in Pullman, were consulted
to identify other potential historic resources. In addition, available survey and overview reports
and ethnographic accounts of the region were consulted. This background review allows for the
identification of previously recorded historic and archaeological resources within or near the
Project Area.
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
The Project Area lies within the Spokane Valley Outwash Plains, within the Northern Rockies
ecoregion (McGrath et al. 2010). The Northern Rockies ecoregion transitions from the Okanagan
Highlands of Washington, to expanses of high mountains and low valleys extending across
northern Idaho. The predominant draw for Native American and European American populations
in this region was, and still is, the extensive river systems and lakes, and the abundance of
resources these waterways support. The most significant hydrological feature is the Columbia
River, which flows for more than 1,200 mi (2,000 km) from the base of the Canadian Rockies in
southeastern British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Oregon. Totaled, it drains a 259,000
mi2 (431,670 km2) basin. Nine major tributaries to the Columbia—Clark Fork River, Clearwater
River, Flathead River, Kettle River, Kootenai River, Pend Oreille River, Priest River, Saint Joe River,
and the Spokane River—flow within the ecoregion. Four major lakes—Flathead Lake, Lake Pend
Oreille, Payette Lake, and Priest Lake—also comprise the hydrological network. The Spokane
River/Nine Mile Reservoir runs 4.0 mi (6.44 km) north of the Project Area.
The Project Area and surrounding regions contained an abundance of life. It is likely, though, that
Native Americans had access to a larger variety of species during the past that played a role in
aboriginal use, settlement, and travel patterns in relation to the Project Area. The following lists
a few of the more discernible mammals that may have been available to aboriginal populations:
mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), racoon (Procyon lotor), Nuttal cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttalli), mink
and weasel (Mustela spp.), yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), woodchuck (Marmota
monax), badger (Taxidea taxus), beaver (Castor canadensis), porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), and
several species of ground squirrels (Citellus spp.). Predators include red fox (Vulpes fulva), river
otter (Lutra canadensis), coyote (Canis latrans), grizzly bear (Ursus chelan), black bear (Euarctos
americanus), and mountain lion (Felis concolor). Several other species may have been present in the
region in the past such as wolves (Canis lupus) and even the occasional bison (Bison bison) may have
been available prehistorically (Burt and Grossenheider 1961; Ingles 1965, Schroedl 1973).
Many types of fowl and game were available in the past including: Swarth blue grouse
(Dendragapus obscurus pallidus), Columbian ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus affinis), Columbian
sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus), western sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus phaios),
mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), western harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus
pacificus), American common merganser (Mergus merganser americanus), the lesser snow goose (Chen
hyperborea hyperborea), and the Great Basin Canada goose (Branta canadensis moffitti). Seasonally
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 4
available birds such as Gadwall (Anas strepera), wood duck (Aix sponsa), redhead (Aythya americana),
and the northern ruddy duck (Oxjura jamaicensis rubida) resided in the region during summer.
Winter game birds of the region include canvasback (Aythya valisineria) and American greater scaup
(Aythya marila nearctica) (Lothson 1977).
According to Lothson (1977), several species of fish were available in the region (especially along
the major river and stream drainages) such as: sturgeon (Acipenser), whitefish (Prosopium), suckers
(Pantosteus, Catostomus), bullheads (Cottus) and anadromous fish such as salmon (Oncorhynchus
spp.) and steelhead (Salmo gairdnerii). Ray (1942) noted that many of the mentioned fauna were
ethnographically used by Native Americans in the region and continue to be an important resource.
Vegetation in the immediate area falls within the Pseudotsuga menziesii vegetation zone, typically
occurring between elevations of 1,800 and 3,950 feet (ft) (600 and 1,300 meters [m]) AMSL (Franklin
and Dyrness 1973). The native overstory include Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), ponderosa pine
(Pinus ponderosa), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and western larch (Larix occidentalis). Understory
typically consists of low shrubs, including snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), oceanspray (Holodiscus
spp.), currant (Ribes spp.), and various species of rose (Rosa spp.) (Franklin and Dyrness 1973).
Brown (1982) also notes that arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), bluebunch wheatgrass
(Agropyron spicatum), common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva]ursi),
Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens), prairie junegrass (Koeleria
macrantha), strawberry (Fragaria spp.), and treetip sagebrush (Artemisia tripartita) are commonly
associated with the soils located within the Project Area. Many of these plants have been
incorporated in Native American use, as medicinal plants, food sources, and other employments.
The Spokane Valley Outwash Plains consist of gently rolling plains that include the southern
portion of the Purcell Trench, Rathdrum Prairie, and Spokane Valley. Elevations range from 2,100-
2,800 ft (640.1-853.4 m). The geology of the region is characterized by pleistocene glacial outwash,
flood gravels, and terrace gravels overlain in the south by lacustrine sediments. According to the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (2021), the Project Area contains two soil types: Urban
land-Springdale, disturbed complex, and Hardesty ashy silt loam.
Table 1. NRCS Soil Descriptions within Project Area.
Soil Name Parent Material Horizons % P/A
Urban land-
Springdale,
disturbed
complex
Sandy and gravelly
glaciofluvial deposits with
minor amounts of volcanic ash
and loess in the upper part
Horizon I (0 to 13 in): gravelly ashy coarse sandy loam
Horizon II (13 to 25 in): very gravelly loamy coarse sand
Horizon III (25 to 61 in): very cobbly coarse sand
84%
Hardesty ashy
silt loam
Alluvium derived from
volcanic ash mixed with loess
in the upper part
Horizon I (0 to 32 inches [in]): ashy silt loam
Horizon II (32 to 39 in): ashy very fine sandy loam
Horizon III (39 to 60 in): ashy loamy very fine sand
16%
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 5
The climate in the Columbia Basin was cool and moist at the end of the last glacial period.
Gradually, climatic conditions became markedly warmer and dryer by approximately 9,000 years
before present (B.P.). The warm dry climatic trend reached its maximum around 6,500 B.P. and
then conditions reverted to a cooler and moister regime (Fryxell and Daugherty 1962).
Comparatively, the present climate is arid with mild moist winters and hot dry summers (Meinig
1968). The mean seasonal temperatures recorded at the Spokane International Airport weather
station (#457938) between 1881 and 2016 are 29.6E Fahrenheit (F) in winter and 66.9E F in the
summer. Extreme temperatures of -25E F and 108E F have been recorded at the same station.
Yearly precipitation averages 16.13 inches (Western Regional Climate Center 2021).
REGIONAL PRECONTACT BACKGROUND
The Project Area is included in the Plateau culture area, which corresponds roughly to the
geographic region drained by the Fraser, Columbia, and Snake Rivers. The Plateau culture area is
bordered on the west by the Cascade Mountains and on the east by the Rocky Mountains. The
northern border of the culture area is in Canada where it gives way to Arctic culture patterns. The
southern border of the Plateau culture area mixes gradually with the Great Basin culture area
(Walker 1998:1-3).
A cultural chronology provides a time line describing the adaptation, material culture, subsistence,
and sometimes settlement patterns of the people who inhabit a specific area. A culture chronology
for the Eastern Plateau was compiled by Roll and Hackenberger (1998), which covers the 9,000
years of human occupation within the area created by the drainage systems of the Kootenai, Pend
Oreille, Spokane, Clearwater, and Salmon Rivers. While variation is exhibited between the
drainages (specifically the Salmon and Clearwater which support anadromous fish populations,
and the Kootenai, Pend Oreille, and Spokane [above Spokane Falls] which do not contain
anadromous fish species) three overarching phases were defined for the Eastern Plateau as a whole:
the Early Prehistoric (6,000 to 3,000 B.P.), the Middle Prehistoric (3,000 to 1,500 B.P.), and the Late
Prehistoric (1,500 to 200 B.P.). The culture chronology of the Eastern Plateau has been discussed
at length in Roll and Hackenberger (1998), and, if pertinent, will be discussed further within the
results of this report.
Ethnography
Ethnographic sources that depict the geographic distribution of Native American traditional
territories provide a general guide for identifying the range of occupation for Indigenous groups
in the precontact and historic eras. However, these boundaries are oversimplified and should not
be viewed as rigid considering that they are arbitrarily defined, with sharp lines that neither depict
joint or disputed occupations nor historical changes in range distributions prior to and after the
early- to mid-19th century (Walker, ed. 1998:viii). The sources that were used to identify the
traditional territories in which the Project Area is situated are Ross (1998) and Palmer (1998) and
Frey (2001). While these sources provide a baseline for recognizing the ancestral homes of the
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 6
groups that originally occupied the Project Area, it is important to recognize the variability in the
geographic distribution of groups on the Plateau and the broader relationships between people and
place that make these boundaries permeable (see Thom 2009:179).
Spokane The Project Area falls within lands traditionally occupied by the Spokane Indians,
speakers of a dialect of Interior Salish, a language shared with neighboring Coeur d’Alene, Kalispel,
Pend d’Oreille, and Flathead groups (Ross 1998). Three bands of Spokane lived in eastern
Washington—Lower Spokane, with a principal settlement near Little Falls; Middle Spokane,
occupying Hangman or Latah Creek; and Upper Spokane, who lived along the Little Spokane River
and upriver from the junction of Hangman Creek. Ross (1998:271) notes that the Middle and Upper
Spokane considered themselves “all one people,” and distinguished themselves from the Lower
Spokane. Traditional Coeur d’Alene territory extended over the drainage and headwaters of the
Spokane River (Palmer 1998).
Traditionally, food procurement activities and the establishment of villages followed a seasonal
pattern. Winter habitation sites were occupied during the coldest months of the year, and likely
were in place by mid- to late-October. In the subsequent four to five months, stored foods and
game were the primary sources of food. In early spring, when winter supplies began to dwindle,
people began making forays to gather emergent root crops (Nelson 1973). Spring, summer, and
fall root and berry gathering, as well as hunting and resource processing, took place at areas away
from winter villages. Task groups often went to specific areas to hunt, to quarry toolstone, to
collect berries, or to gather other resources such as tules to make mats (Aikens 1993:90). The
predictability of salmon runs provided a valuable resource for immediate and stored use (Schalk
1977). By the end of summer, reserves of dried salmon and prepared roots were stocked for the
winter.
Ethnographically, the Spokane lived in three types of settlements: permanent winter villages,
temporary summer and fall villages, and task-specific summer encampments for hunting, plant
gathering, and mineral and lithic exploitation (Ross 1998:272). Winter villages, located along the
Spokane River, included hunting grounds, resource gathering areas, burial grounds, and sacred
sites. Conical semi-subterranean pit houses were constructed for winter villages using poles
covered with layers of tule mats or a permanent double-apsidal lodge with an inverted V pole
construction covered with tule mats. Summer fishing villages supported relatively large polyglot
populations that came together to fish, trade, and entertain. Temporary villages were comprised
of many families and were located in seasonal resource areas. Smaller temporary tule mat
structures were used in summer villages and encampments (Ross 1998).
For the Spokane, fishing commenced in May at several major fisheries along the Spokane River
(Ross 1998). Set nets, traps, leisters, harpoons, hooks, gaffs, and dip nets were used. In sections of
narrow streams, crushed granite was used to line stream beds to afford better visibility. In the
winter, the Spokane used snowshoes, toboggans, and frozen animal hides to transport heavy loads.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 7
The introduction of the horse in the mid-eighteenth century greatly increased their mobility and
changed their socioeconomic patterns. Now they were able to travel greater distances and carry
heavier loads, as well as having contact with remote Native American cultures.
Coeur d'Alene The Project Area lies within the traditional territory of the Coeur d’Alene people.
The Coeur d’Alene call themselves the Schitsu’umsh, translated “The Discovered People” or “those
who are found here” (Coeur d’Alene 2010). The nickname, Coeur d’Alene, was generated by the
local French fur traders and was applied to Chief Stellum, delineating his harsh bartering methods
as having a “Heart of an Awl” (Coeur d’Alene 2010; Stevens 1955).
Traditional Coeur d’Alene territory included four million acres of rolling Palouse prairie, foothills,
mountains, and valleys (Frey 2001:7). Frey’s (2001:7) Coeur d’Alene ethnography delineates
western boundaries, as sanctioned by Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council, as beginning at the Spokane
River continuing south along Hangman (Latah) Creek and Pine Creek drainages, to Steptoe Butte,
Washington.
The Coeur d’Alene are grouped into three divisions; Spokane River and Lake Coeur d’Alene
division (17 villages), the Coeur d’Alene River division (12 villages), and the St. Joe River division
(9 villages) (Palmer 1998:313). Ray (1936:130-133) lists 34 villages within Coeur d’Alene territory.
Boas and Teit (1930) list a total of 33 villages; six villages along the St. Joe River, 11 villages along
the Coeur d’Alene River, and 16 villages along the Spokane River—Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Hunting, fishing, and gathering were practiced, and productivity was maximized through various
land management practices such as burning, pruning, harvest timing, and access regulation by
bands. Late summer was spent in upstream meadows of the Coeur d’Alene, St. Joe, and Palouse
river drainages digging camas. Fall was spent huckleberry picking, hunting, and fishing in the
uplands. During winter, people congregated in the lowlands for hunting, fish trapping, and ice
fishing (Palmer 1998:315).
Sprague (2005:41) notes that the Coeur d’Alene had the greatest variety of water craft of any
Plateau group. Ethnographic accounts recognized several types of bark-covered canoes, including
the flat keel sturgeon nose, curved keel sturgeon nose, and the Kalispel variant of the sturgeon-
nose; the Kutenai “Eastern” type elk hide canoe; dugout canoe; tule rafts; and bull boats. Water
craft were used for basic transportation, fishing, hunting, and gathering resources such as the water
potato (Sagittaria latifolia), which grows in soft mud underwater. Canoes were used in fun
pastimes, such as canoe racing and tipping, which in turn strengthened “canoe fighting” (warfare)
skills (Sprague 2005:52). The importance of the canoe is emphasized in death as it is pounded on
to announce a death, much like a church bell. Fragments of canoes were used as burial markers,
and the canoe makes an appearance in religion and legends—most notable is the star constellation
called “the canoe“ (Sprague 2005:53).
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 8
Following the introduction of the horse on the Plateau, the Coeur d’Alene actively sought to acquire
many of the animals (Cebula 2003:28). Herds of horses soon became symbols of wealth and status;
they eased communication, and enabled transport to and from far distant buffalo hunting grounds,
leading to absence during the late fall and early spring months (Palmer 1998:315). Eventually the
open prairies of the Palouse became far more suitable than the forested reaches of Lake Coeur
d’Alene for equestrian life (Cebula 2003:30). Over time, horse rearing centered on the Hangman
and Palouse river regions (Frey 2001:53).
The smallpox epidemic seems to have appeared among the Coeur d’Alene in 1780 when they were
reported to have a population of 3,000-4,000. The population was ravished by the epidemic, and
by 1853 the Tribe reportedly numbered 320 people. By 1905 the population had steadily climbed
to 494 individuals. Currently Tribal enrollment totals 1,922 people (Coeur d’Alene 2010).
Chief Circling Raven’s prophecy of black robes carrying sticks was realized when the Coeur
d’Alene heard of the Jesuit Priests. In 1842 Pierre Jean de Smet came to the area, and in November
Father Nicolas Point was sent to introduce Catholicism and begin the Sacred Heart Mission. The
mission was first located along the St. Joe River, then moved north to Cataldo in 1850 where the
structure built by Father Anthony Ravalli and the Coeur d’Alene still stands (Frey 2001:65). In 1877
the mission was located too close to the Mullan Road (running from Fort Walla Walla to Fort
Benton, Missouri), and so was relocated near DeSmet amongst the prairies suitable for agriculture
(Palmer 1998:322).
Cebula (2003:108) states the Jesuit priests aimed to convert Coeur d’Alene shaman as they had great
ability in influencing tribal members. Coeur d’Alene Catholic converts visited various shaman’s
lodges speaking persuasion. Many Coeur d’Alene, such as Chief Peter Moctelme, followed the
advice of the Catholic Fathers to farm, accruing large expanses of cultivated land that would later
be taken away in 1905 and 1906 with the Dawes Allotment Act of 1891 (Ruby and Brown 1981:268).
The Executive Order of 1873, signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, began a series of land
relinquishments by the Coeur d’Alene. Reservation boundaries were delineated as 590,000 acres.
An 1891 act further reduced sovereign lands to 400,000 acres. In 1894, the federal government
reimbursed the Coeur d’Alene Tribe $15,000 for a one-mile strip of land east of Lake Coeur d’Alene,
where squatters had formed the town of Harrison. The Allotment Act of 1910 again reduced land
ownership to some 104,000 acres. In 1908 and 1911, the Coeur d’Alene residents of southern Lake
Coeur d’Alene were evicted, and the $11,000 compensation was used by the state to develop
Heyburn State Park. Currently 70,000 acres are owned by the Tribe and Tribal members, within
a reservation boundary of some 345,000 acres of sovereign land inclusive of the town centers of
Benewah, DeSmet, Plummer, Sanders, Tensed, and Worley (Coeur d’Alene 2010).
While ethnographies such as those referenced above provide a useful means of understanding the
traditional lifeways of Indigenous peoples, it is important to remember that Indigenous groups
were, and continue to be, markedly complex, dynamic, and diverse. Uncritical applications of the
ethnographic record to representations of past lifeways have the potential to produce reductionist
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 9
views of tribes and bands that portray them as homogenous or static. The above depictions of the
Spokane and Coeur d'Alene peoples serve as generalized portrayals of the traditional lives of these
groups, and should be viewed in light of these complexities.
Places of Cultural Significance
Traditional Cultural Places (TCPs) are important for the “role the property plays in a community’s
historically rooted beliefs, customs and practices” as stated in the National Register Bulletin 38 (U.S.
Department of the Interior 1990). Although these places can be difficult to identify and evaluate
from an etic perspective, an initial search of pertinent publications can be helpful toward
identifying the types of places that may be expected. The National Register Bulletin 38 goes on to
state that “examples of properties possessing such significance include:
•a location associated with the traditional beliefs of a Native American group about
its origins, its cultural history, or the nature of the world;
•a rural community whose organization, buildings and structures, or patterns of land
use reflect the cultural traditions valued by its long-term residents;
•an urban neighborhood that is the traditional home of a particular cultural group,
and that reflects its beliefs and practices;
•a location where Native American religious practitioners have historically gone, and
are known or thought to go today, to perform ceremonial activities in accordance
with traditional cultural rules of practice; and
•a location where a community has traditionally carried out economic, artistic, or
other cultural practices important in maintaining its historic identity.”
The Project Area falls within the traditional territories of the Spokane. A review of ethnographies
was undertaken to help identify any known TCPs within or near the Project Area. The works of
Angelo Anastasio (1972), Jay Miller (1998), Verne F. Ray (1933; 1936; 1939; 1942), John Ross (1998),
Robert Ruby, John Brown, and Cary Collins (2010), Allan Smith (1988), and Leslie Spier (1936) were
consulted. Fourteen villages have been documented near the Project Area (Table 2; Figure 3).
Numerous collections of published legends were consulted to identify points of legendary
significance near the Project Area. These include publications by Franz Boas (1917), Ella Clark
(1969), Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz (1984), Verne Ray (1933), and M. Terry Thompson and
Steven Egesdal (2008).
As narratives are living, highly functional cultural traditions, they can serve particular or varied
motifs. For instance, a single story may be told in different ways in order to serve an intended
purpose, such as the transmission of traditional ecological knowledge, to emphasize a moral
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 10
imperative, or to explain the unexplainable. As such, the narratives identified here are not detailed,
rather accounts of documented legends. For closer examination one is encouraged to seek a more
nuanced understanding of the traditions through the Tribes.
Table 2. Ethnographic Villages Near the Project Area.
Traditional Name Translation Details
Sqlaxa'lk"Refers to falls in rivers A large permanent village was located on both sides of the
Spokane river. Located 10 km north of the p/a (Ray 1936, Spokane
Village 27).
Sunna'tculks The place where many
crows are found
Located at present day Hillyard, WS. A medium sized village for
fishing, hunting and grazing: fall and winter only. Located 12 km
northwest of the p/a (Ray 1936, Spokane Village 25).
Sqami'n'Unavailable Small winter camp at the point where the railroad bridge now
crosses the Spokane River on the north side of the river. Located
15 km northwest of the p/a (Ray 1936, Spokane Village 26).
Qu'yu Place where Oregon
grape grows
Situated on Latah Creek. Populus permanent settlement with high
access for hunting and fishing. Located 15km west of the p/a (Ray
1936, Spokane Village 28).
MuC'lc Cottonwood Camp of 30 people was to be found near the swamp at the south
end of Liberty Lake. Located 12 km east of the p/a (Ray 1936,
Coeur d’Alene Village 32).
IcanaC'kwaqon two inlets at an angle A camp two miles south of no. MuC'lc with two or three families.
Located 13 km east of the p/a (Ray 1936, Coeur d’Alene Village
33).
Unavailable Unavailable A one-family camp was situated just east of IcanaC'kwaqon.
Located 14 km east of the p/a (Ray 1936, Coeur d’Alene Village
34).
Èatcnwáxi?tpbm Flat by dogwoods Northeast of Liberty Lake, located on the southern bank of the
Spokane River, 8 km northeast of the p/a (Palmer 1998, Village 1).
NeslÍxum Unavailable North of Liberty Lake, located on the northen bank of the Spokane
River, east of Èatcnwáxi?tpbm, 11 km northeast of the p/a (Palmer
1998, Village 2).
Nesxwáxwe Unavailable North of Liberty Lake, located on the northen bank of the Spokane
River, east of NeslÍxum, 13 km northeast of the p/a (Palmer 1998,
Village 3).
Ntsetsakwolsákwo Unavailable North of Liberty Lake, located on the northen bank of the Spokane
River, east of Nesx?áx?e, 15 km east of the p/a (Palmer 1998,
Village 4).
Múlš Cottonwood Located on the southeastern shore of Liberty Lake, 13 km east of
the p/a (Palmer 1998, Village 14).
Ènák!wa?qcn One on the Head Located approximately 1.5-2 miles south of Múlš,13 km east of the
p/a (Palmer 1998, Village 15).
Unavailable Unavailable Located approximately 0.75-1.25 miles east of Ènák!wa?qcn, 15km
east of the p/a (Palmer 1998, Village 16).
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 11
Figure 3. The Project Area shown in relation to documented TCPs.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 12
Ray (1933:183-184) notes a Sanpoil tale near Davenport. The tale involved Kapu’ collecting his
horses around Davenport. As he started north toward home, he saw a roaring fire at the end of a
canyon before his horses were spooked by the ghost of a crazed Spokane woman who once lived
in a winter camp site in that location. The camp site was abandoned after an earthquake, circa 1874.
Clark (1969:116-117) relates The Origin of the Spokane River. It is said that the Spokane lived in terror
of a huge monster that consumed all the fish and wildlife, was so strong as to uproot large trees
with a single swipe of his hand, and no hunter could kill him. A Spokane girl was collecting berries
near the location where the Spokane River now spills into the Columbia River. She came upon the
monster sleeping on a hillside. She ran to alert her village and soon the people had the sleeping
monster tied up and were beating him. The monster awoke angry, broke through his bindings, and
ran eastward toward Lake Coeur d’Alene. As he did, he cut the channel of the Spokane River, and
when he reached the lake the water rushed through this channel and into the Columbia River.
Four Smokes, told by Lawrence Aripa, emphasizes the importance of Lake Coeur d’Alene as the
heart of Coeur d’Alene territory from the beginning. After various families of Coeur d’Alene
traveled with surrounding Tribes great distances to hunt buffalo in Montana, they returned home
to Lake Coeur d’Alene. These trips brought about challenges, experiences, growth, trade goods,
and knowledge of one’s abilities applicable to the forefront of a changing dynamic homeland (Frey
1995:15-20).
Another oral tradition, Coyote and the Rock, describes how Lake Coeur d’Alene acquired its
distinctive blue coloration. In this, Coyote is asked by a bird to stop Rock’s hazardous impact on
everything. Coyote persuades Rock to chase after him, all the while creating mountains, clearing
trees on the Palouse, and clearing trees atop Plummer Butte. Eventually Rock rolls through a patch
of blueberries, over a cliff, and lands in Lake Coeur d’Alene, turning the lake blue (Frey 1995:71-75;
2001:119). This story teaches that the First Peoples (the First Animals) prepared the landscape of
the Coeur d’Alene world (Frey 2001:152).
Some TCPs, features, or resource collection areas with specific, attributed cultural significance are
likely still known to some Native American informants, and reasonably considered sacred and
necessarily closely guarded. Given the Spokane Tribes unique relationship with the surrounding
landscape and the Tribe’s interest in preservation and protection of sacred and traditional places,
if additional TCP review is necessary, it is strongly suggested that the Tribe be consulted directly.
REGIONAL HISTORIC BACKGROUND
In 1809, Oregon Territory saw an influx of trappers and fur traders, beginning with the Canadian-
owned North West Company as they made their way into the region and built Spokane House in
1810, located near the confluence of the Spokane River and Hangman Creek. Spokane House
became the first permanent European settlement in the State of Washington (McCart and McCart
2000:213). For a time, Spokane House thrived as both a trading center and a gathering place for fur
traders. Despite its successes, Spokane House was abandoned in 1816. By that time, trading routes
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 13
had shifted largely to the Columbia River, leaving the Spokane House no longer logistically or
economically important (Meinig 1968). In 1825, the Hudson’s Bay Company closed Spokane House
and moved its local operations north to Fort Colville at Kettle Falls.
Subsequent to the opening of the Oregon Trail in 1840, Euroamerican settlers flooded the area,
bringing trade, religion and disease into Native-occupied areas. In 1846, the United States took
control of the Oregon territory in the Oregon Treaty. With increasing population and economic and
political pressures of immigrants and the Whitman massacre, the Territory of Oregon (Oregon
Territory) was officially established in 1848. By 1850, nearly 12,000 immigrants had passed through
the Plateau region along the Oregon Trail (Beckham 1998; Walker and Sprague 1998). With the
establishment of the Oregon Territory in 1848 and Washington Territory in 1853, federal
involvement proliferated. Treaties between Native tribes and the new state and federal
governments were soon underway.
Washington Governor Isaac Stevens, also appointed as Superintendent of Indian Affairs by
President Pierce, worked jointly with Joel Palmer, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Oregon, to
negotiate a series of treaties between 1854 and 1855. These treaties were difficult to maintain in
light of the Chinook jargon used in negotiations, rapid influx of miners following the several
“rushes,” and settlers who were eager for property. Almost immediately after signing the Walla
Walla Council Treaty of 1855, gold was discovered on several promised reservations in the Plateau,
and miners began to confiscate the mineral-rich lands. The introduction of disease, treaty
violations, and other stresses introduced by the new settlers caused mistrust and eventually,
warfare. Several battles took place in the area between 1855 and 1858 during the Plateau Indian
War.
Of these was the Battle of Pine Creek, also known as the Battle of Tohotonimme, near modern day
Steptoe Butte. In 1858, Colonel Edward J. Steptoe and 160 troops marched towards Fort Colville
after learning of clashes between Native Americans and Euroamerican settlers. Steptoe and his
troops invaded Coeur d’Alene and Spokane territory, resulting in a battle at Tehotomimme (Steptoe
Butte) on May 17th. The troops were defeated and Steptoe retreated the following day. As a result
of this loss, Colonel George Wright marched troops from Fort Dalles to the area and defeated the
tribes, burned grain fields, destroyed stored foods, and butchered over 900 head of horses. These
actions ended conflict between Native American groups and Euroamerican settlers in the region.
(Beckham 1998: 154).
Major smallpox epidemics in 1846 and between 1852-1853 severely impacted the Spokane
population. In 1881, 154,602 acres of land were established as the Spokane Reservation with an
additional 2,000 acres restored to tribal ownership in 1958 (Lahren 1998: 494). A decrease in land
meant a decrease in food resources. The installation of dams beginning in 1911 at Little Falls
prevented salmon, a major food source, from coming upstream. Non-Native American settlement,
disease, and other factors, have taken a toll on the Spokane population, and it was not until the
mid-1920s that the population began to see a growth.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 14
Spokane County
Spokane County was formed on January 29, 1858, annexed by Stevens County on January 19, 1864,
and re-created on October 30, 1879. Adjacent counties are Pend Oreille County to the north, Bonner
County (Idaho) to the northeast, Kootenai County (Idaho) to the east, Benewah County (Idaho) to
the southeast, Whitman County to the south, Lincoln County to the west, and Stevens County to
the northwest. Spokane County is the most populous county in eastern Washington and home to
the second largest city (Spokane) in the state. After settlement in the 1870s, Spokane became the
hub for the mining, timber, and railroad industries of the Inland Northwest. In the surrounding
areas, sheep/cattle ranching and especially wheat farming became important; some of these
industries are still important today (Colford 2006).
The fire of 1889, literally destroyed a great portion of downtown Spokane, leaving no real services
to the community. Slowly, tents started popping up, supplying everything from liquor to
household items. Soon, construction began on more permanent, brick and stone structures, many
of which are still standing today. Between 1907 and 1918, the city was booming, primarily with the
rapid rise of the extractive industries, such as mining and lumber, as well as the cities'
infrastructure (Arksey 2006). Bridging the Spokane river was always a challenge. Starting with
flimsy, wooden structures, then graduating to steel, the construction of a more durable, permanent
span was desperately needed…enter the steel reinforced concrete arch. Between 1907 and 1915,
no fewer than ten such spans were erected over the Spokane, some still in use today (Creighton
2013; Stratton 2005).
Beyond the city limits, agriculture, and other such related industries were operating full bore. With
the evolution of mechanized farming, and increase of farmable acreage, most especially with the
farming of dryland wheat, more wheat would be planted throughout the county. By 1925, the
formation of the Caterpillar Company from the combined interests of Danial Best and Oliver Holt,
revolutionized farming in the Northwest and beyond (Creighton 1996).
Though railroading, mining, lumber, and other related industries created a robust economy, by the
1920s and 1930s, this was no longer the case, hence what would fill the vacuum? Although farming
was and still is a major force in Spokane County, within the city of Spokane a trend in healthcare,
education, publishing, manufacturing, and in some cases, the high tech industries have filled that
vacuum. Spokane has always been a major convention city (at one time it was the smallest city to
host a worlds fair, EXPO 74), and with the recently completed downtown convention center, the
entertainment sector has greatly evolved, hosting national ice skating and regional sports venues.
With a population of 523,000, Spokane County continues to thrive. As of 2021, the city of Spokane
has become a top destination for living, as well as a hub for expanded national business enterprises.
Cartographic Analysis of the Project Area
The Project Area is located in the N½ S½ of Section 34 of Township 25 North, Range 44 East. The
1887 cadastral map (McMicken) shows a road in the alignment of Highway 27 and no additional
built environment surrounding the Project Area (Figure 4A).
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 15
Figure 4. The Project Area shown on selected historic maps.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 16
The 1901 Spokane USGS topographic map shows a road adjacent to the eastern boundary of the
Project Area in alignment with Highway 27 as well as a structure just north of the eastern region
of the Project Area (Figure 4B.
The 1905 atlas shows a road adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Project Area in alignment with
Highway 27 with no additional built environment surrounding the region. The western portion of
the Project Area is shown to be owned by E. W. Tomlin, and the eastern potion is owned by Millard
Heirgood. (Figure 4C; Fidelity Abstract Company 1905).
The 1949 Greenacres USGS topographic map shows Highway 27 adjacent to the eastern boundary
of the Project Area with three structures north of the eastern region of the Project Area (Figure 4D).
The 1950 atlas shows Highway 27 adjacent to the Project Area. The western portion of the Project
Area is shown to be owned by J & E Edwards, and the eastern portion is owned by G. D. Hawkins
(Figure 4E; Metsker 1950).
PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGY
A review of previously recorded cultural resources and archaeological surveys was completed
through the WISAARD on November 9, 2021. The review covered areas within Sections 02, 03, and
04 of Township 24 North, Range 44 East; and Sections 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, and 35 of Township 25
North, Range 44 East.
There have been six previously conducted cultural resource surveys within 1.0 mi (1.6 km) of the
Project Area (Table 3). None of these surveys intersect with the Project Area.
Table 3. Previously Conducted Cultural Resource Surveys within 1.0 mi of the Project Area.
Author Project Distance from P/A Results
Axton 1999 Dishman-Mica Road Survey 0.75–1.0 mi SW HPI outside
Research Area
Axton and Grundy 2000 36th Avenue and Progress, Sommer,
Adams, and Best Road Survey
0.5–0.75 mi NE HPI outside
Research Area
Corley 2015 Sun Acres Pump Station 0–0.25 mi E Negative
Fitzpatrick et al. 2020 Dishman Estates at Altender Ranch 0.75–1.0 mi SW Negative
Mclntosh and Harder 2019 Pine Valley Ranch III 0–0.25 mi N Negative
Sackman and Harder 2018 Painted Hills Residential Development 0.25–0.5 mi WSW Negative
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 17
In 2019, Plateau Archaeological Investigations completed a cultural resource survey for the Pine
Valley Ranch III Project (McIntosh 2019). This survey is adjacent to the Project Area and is located
0–0.25 mi (0–0.4 km) northeast of the northwestern boundary of the Project Area. The review
revealed no cultural resources within 1.0 mi (1.6 km) of the Project Area.
A total of 11 HPIs have been inventoried, or derived from the Spokane County Assessor’s records
within 1.0 mi (1.6 km) of the Project Area. None are located within 0.25 miles of the Project Area
and none have been determined eligible for inclusion on the NRHP.
FIELD METHODS AND SURVEY RESULTS
Survey work was completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and
Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (48 FR 44716, September 29, 1983) and under
the supervision of Principal Investigator, David Harder. Plateau archaeologist Michaelle Machuca
completed the cultural resource survey on March 1, 2022. The limits of the Project Area were
identified using maps provided by the client. Survey conditions were in the mid 50s, intermittent
overcast skies, no wind, and no precipitation.
The Project Area is in Spokane Valley, along East 40th Avenue, west of Highway 27, and south of
East 39th Lane. The environment of the Project Area was a gravel pit with a sparse forested area
surrounding the gravel pit and a ditch with grasses. The sparse forested area was consistent with
the vegetation as described in the Environmental Setting section of the report. Prior to the field
visit, a utility locate was requested under ticket #21516663. This locate identified no subsurface
utility lines.
The archaeologist conducted pedestrian survey consisting of three north/south transects in the
gravel pit portion of the Project Area and two contouring transects of the canal portion of the
Project Area. These transects were spaced at intervals no more than 20 m (66 ft) (Figure 5). Ground
surface visibility varied between 20% in the forested portion of the Project Area to 100% in the
gravel pit portion of the Project Area (Figure 6 and Figure 7). Plant debris and vegetation impeded
ground visibility.
One subsurface probe (SSP) was excavated within the Project Area as a 40 cm hole (Table 4). The
SSP was opportunistically placed in an area that appeared to be the least disturbed. The
archaeologist removed sediment in arbitrary 10 cm levels, screened spoils through ¼-inch wire
mesh, and recorded sediment characteristics on standardized forms with the color, composition,
and degree of compaction noted. The archaeologist took representative photographs of the Project
Area, and all subsurface probes and other relevant geospatial data were recorded using a handheld
GPS unit. Urban land-Springdale, disturbed complex was observed within the SSP. The SSP
reached a depth of 100 cm (39.4 in).
No Native American or historic-era cultural materials or features were observed during the
pedestrian survey or excavations.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 18
Figure 5. The Project Area and field investigation inventoried on an aerial photograph.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 19
Figure 7. Overview of the Project Area. View to the north.
Figure 6. Overview of the Project Area. View to the north.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 20
Table 4. Shovel Probe Results.
SSP# NAD83
UTM Zone 11
Depth Strats and Description Results
1392 0482775 E, 5274056 N 100 cm 0-100 cmbs: Strat I: 10YR 4/4, dark yellowish brown,
gravely, sandy loam with 80% subangular to rounded
gravel.
Negative
Painted Hills Gustin Pipe Off Site Ditch
The ditch begins on the west side of HWY 27 (0.4 miles [0.6 km] south of 32nd Avenue) and runs
west, crossing through the Gustin property to the Comer/Gustin (Bar 4 Bar Inc.) property line for
a distance of 0.25 miles (0.4 km). From that point, the ditch disappears into a depression/catch
basin. This particular area is entirely within the Comer property. The area has recently been fenced
with 6.0 ft (1.8 m) chain link as dumping and other nefarious activity has taken place. The ditch and
depression (4.2 acres) are within an easement owned by Spokane County. The property owner
states that as far as he knows, no irrigation was ever undertaken in this area, and the so-called ditch
is simply a conveyance for flood/storm waters from east of HWY 27. The property owner states
that occasionally one to two feet of water could accumulate in the depression/catch basin. It is
apparent that Gustin property adjacent to the Comer property to the east (32.2 acres) had been
farmed at one time; according to Spokane County Auditor records, the property has been
associated with the Gustin name since the early 1900s. It appears the ditch was simply a run-off
trench, possibly constructed by the county at some unknown date through its easement, as it enters
the Gustin property via a culvert travelling under HWY 27 from farm ground east of the highway.
Additionally, the catch basin/depression located on the Comer property lies at a lower elevation,
and essentially becomes the end point for drainage west of Gustin's property. Early maps of the
area show no irrigation properties, other than Modern Land and Water company approximately
two miles north of the project area. Irrigation operators can be found north and east along the
Spokane River stretching into Idaho, such as East Farms, Liberty Lake and works in Otis Orchards.
The 1912 Ogle shows quite a bit of development in the project area consisting of platted areas
(Larchmont) in the north half of section 34 near the community of Chester; typical farm acreage can
be found to the east and west, but no irrigation works. The ditch is not maintained and contains
a large amount of overgrowth. Certain criteria must be met in order to be eligible for inclusion on
the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The following four criteria are: A) A resource that
is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our
history; B) A resource that is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; C) One that
embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that
represent 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, or; D) One that has
yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. The
flood/stormwater ditch meets none of the criteria mentioned above, and therefore is ineligible for
inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 21
Figure 8. The drainage ditch. View to the east.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Plateau archaeologists conducted a pedestrian survey over the entire Project Area, and excavated
one subsurface probe. The SSP was excavated to a depth of 100 cm (39.4 in). The pedestrian survey
and subsurface investigations for the project resulted in no newly recorded archaeological
resources. A ditch and catch basin were inventoried as Property 726296, but are ineligible for
listing on the NRHP (Appendix A). Plateau recommends that the proposed undertaking will result
in No Historic Properties Affected, and no further archaeological investigations are recommended
prior to, or during, execution of this project. An Unintentional Discovery Plan (UDP) has been
prepared and included in this report for use during all ground-disturbing work on the project. It
is suggested that the UDP be included with the contract documents. The UDP is included in
Appendix B.
Should ground-disturbing activities reveal any cultural materials (e.g., structural remains,
European American artifacts, or Native American artifacts), activity will cease and the Washington
State Historic Preservation Officer should be notified immediately. The results and
recommendations in this document concern the specified APE. The proponent is advised that the
results and recommendations reported herein do not apply to areas of potential effect altered or
expanded after the cultural resource survey. A supplementary cultural resource review will be
necessary should the APE be altered or changed, as per 36 CFR 800.4.
If ground-disturbing activities encounter human skeletal remains during the course of construction,
then all activity will cease that may cause further disturbance to those remains. The area of the find
will be secured and protected from further disturbance to those remains. The area of the find will
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 22
be secured and protected from further disturbance until the State provides notice to proceed. The
finding of human skeletal remains will be reported to the county medical examiner/coroner and
local law enforcement in the most expeditious manner possible. The remains will not be touched,
moved, or further disturbed. The county medical examiner/coroner will assume jurisdiction over
the human skeletal remains and make a determination of whether those remains are forensic or
non-forensic. If the county medical examiner/coroner determines the remains are non-forensic,
then they will report that finding to the DAHP who will then take jurisdiction over the remains.
The DAHP will notify any appropriate cemeteries and all affected tribes of the find. The State
Physical Anthropologist will make a determination of whether the remains are Indian or Non-
Indian and report that finding to any appropriate cemeteries and affected tribes. The DAHP will
then handle all consultation with the affected parties as to the future preservation, excavation, and
disposition of the remains.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 23
WORKS CITED
Aikens, C. Melvin
1993 Archaeology of Oregon. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
Portland, Oregon.
Anastasio, Angelo
1972 The Southern Plateau: An Ecological Analysis of Intergroup Relations. Northwest
Anthropological Research Notes 6(2):109-229.
Arksey, Laura
2006 "Great Spokane Fire destroys Downtown Spokane Falls on August 4 1889." Accessed
2021. https://www.historylink.org/File/7696.
Axton, Susan
1999 A Cultural Resource Survey of Dishman-Mica Road Between 40th Avenue and Mohawk Drive,
Spokane County, Washington. Archaeological and Historical Services, Eastern
Washington University, Cheney, Washington. On file at the Department of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia, Washington.
Axton, Susan, and Barbara J. Grundy
2000 A Cultural Resource Survey of the 36th Avenue and Progress, Sommer, Adams, and Best Roads
Project Area, Spokane County, Washington. Archaeological and Historical Services,
Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington. On file at the Department of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia, Washington.
Beckham, Stephen D.
1998 History Since 1846. In Handbook of North American Indians: Plateau, v.12, edited by
Deward E. Walker, pp.149-173, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC.
Boas, Franz (editor)
1917 Folk-tales of the Salish and Sahaptin Tribes. Collected by James A. Teit, Marian K.
Gould, Livingston Farrand, and Herbert J. Spinden. Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore
Society 11. Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Breckenridge, J. C.
1887 Cadastral Map: Township 25 North, Range 44. Electronic document, blm.gov, accessed
November 9, 2021.
Brown, A. Ruth
1982 Soil Survey of Stevens County, Washington. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
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Burt, William H., and Richard P. Grossenheider
1961 A Field Guide to the Mammals. The Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin
Company, Boston.
Cebula, Larry
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Lincoln, Nebraska.
Clark, Ella E.
1969 Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest. University of California Press, Berkeley,
California.
Coeur d’Alene Tribe
2010 Overview. Electronic document, cdatribe.com/TribalGov/Overview.aspx, accessed May
27, 2010.
Colford, Ann M.
2006 Spokane County, Thumbnail History. Electronic document, historylink.org, accessed
April 26, 2018.
Corley, Jackie
2015 Sun Acres Pump Station Cultural Resource Survey. Spokane Tribe of Indians Preservation
Program, Wellpinit, Washiongton. On file at the Department of Archaeology and
Historic Preservation in Olympia, Washington.
Creighton, Jeff
1996 Combines and Harvesters. MBI Publishing, Minneapolis, MN.
2013 Bridges of Spokane. Arcadia Press.
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
2021 WISAARD. Electronic document, dahp.wa.gov, accessed November 9, 2021.
Erdoes, Richard and Alfonso Ortiz
1984 American Indian Myths and Legends. Pantheon Books, New York, New York.
Fidelity Abstract Co.
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Fidelity Abstract CO. Kerrville, Texas.
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Fitzpatrick, Justin, Moira Riggs, Adam Sackman, Brooke J. Cohen, and David A. Harder
2020 Cultural Resource Survey for the Dishman Estates, at the Altender Ranch Project, Spokane
County, Washington. Plateau Archaeological Investigations, LLC., Pullman, Washington.
On file at the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia,
Washington.
Franklin, Jerry F., and C.T. Dyrness
1973 Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington. USDA Forest Service Research Paper PNW-
80. Pacific Northwest and Range Experiment Station, Portland.
Frey, Rodney
1995 Stories That Make the World. Oral Literature of the Indian Peoples of the Inland Northwest. As
Told by Lawrence Aripa, Tom Yellowtail, and Other Elders. University of Oklahoma Press,
Norman, Oklahoma.
2001 Landscape Traveled by Coyote and Crane. The World of the Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene
Indians). In Collaboration with the Schitsu’umsh. University of Washington Press, Seattle,
Washington.
Fryxell, Roald, and Richard D. Daugherty
1962 Schematic Geoarchaeological Chronology for Eastern Washington and Related Areas.
Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Ingles, Lloyd G.
1965 Mammals of the Pacific States: California, Oregon, and Washington. Stanford, California.
Lahren, Sylvester L.
1998 Reservations and Reserves. In Handbook of North American Indians: Plateau, v.12, edited
by Deward E. Walker, pp. 484-498, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Lothson, Gordon A.
1977 Archaeological Reconnaissance and Phase II Testing of Oroville Urban Levees. Progress Report
No. 52, Washington Archaeological Research Center, Washington State University,
Pullman.
McCart, Joyce, and Peter McCart
2000 On the Road with David Thompson. Fifth House Publishers, Calgary, Alberta.
McGrath, C.L., A.J. Woods, J.M. Omernik, S.A. Bryce, M. Edmondson, J.A. Nesser, J. Shelden, R.C.
Crawford, F.A. Comstock, and M.D Plocher
2010 Ecoregions of Washington. U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, Virginia.
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McIntosh, Brandon M., and David A. Harder
2019 Cultural Resource Survey for the Pine Valley Ranch III Project, Spokane County, Washington.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations, LLC., Pullman, Washington. On file at the
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia, Washington.
Meinig, Donald W.
1968 The Great Columbia Plain: A Historical Geography, 1805-1910. University of Washington
Press, Seattle.
Metsker, Charles
1950 Township 25 N., Range 44 E. In Standard Atlas of Spokane County County, Washington.
Metsker Map Company.
Miller, Jay
1998 Middle Columbia River Salishans. In Handbook of North American Indians: Plateau, v. 12,
edited by Deward E. Walker, Jr., pp. 253-282. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Mullan, John
1909 Miners and Travelers’ Guide. Ye Galleon Press, Fairfield, Washington. Reprinted in 1991.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
2021 Web Soil Survey. Electronic document www.nrcs.usda.gov accessed November 9, 2021.
Nelson, Charles M.
1973 Prehistoric Culture Change in the Intermontane Plateau of Western North America. In
Explanation of Culture Change: Models in Prehistory, edited by C. C. Renfrew, pp. 371-390.
Gerald Duckworth, London.
Palmer, Gary
1998 Coeur d’Alene. In Plateau, edited by Deward E. Walker, Jr, pp. 313-326. Handbook of
North American Indians, Vol. 12, William C. Sturtevant, general editor, Smithsonian
Institution, Washington DC.
Ray, Verne F.
1933 Sanpoil Folk Tales. Journal of American Folk-Lore 46(180):129-187.
1936 Native Villages and Groupings of the Columbia Basin. Pacific Northwest Quarterly
27(2):99-152.
1939 Cultural Relations in the Plateau of Northwestern America. Publications of the Frederick
Webb Hodge Anniversary Publication Fund Vol. 3. Southwestern Museum
Publications, Los Angeles.
1942 Cultural Element Distributions: XXII Plateau. Anthropological Papers 8:2. University of
California Press, Berkeley.
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Roll, Tom E., and Steven Hackenberger
1998 Prehistory of the Eastern Plateau. In Handbook of North American Indians: Plateau, v. 12,
edited by Deward E. Walker, Jr., pp. 120-137, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Ross, John Alan
1998 Spokane. In Plateau, edited by Deward E. Walker, Jr., pp. 271-282. Handbook of North
American Indians, Vol. 12, William C. Sturtevant, general editor, Smithsonian
Institution, Washington D.C.
Ruby, Robert H., John A. Brown, Cary C. Collins
2010 A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Third Edition. University Oklahoma
Press, Norman.
Ruby, Robert H., and John A. Brown
1981 Indians of the Pacific Northwest. A History. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman,
Oklahoma.
Sackman, Adam J., and David A. Harder
2018 Cultural Resource Survey of the Painted Hills Residential Development Project. Plateau
Archaeological Investigations, LLC., Pullman, Washington. On file at the Department
of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia, Washington.
Schalk, Randall F.
1977 The Structure of Anadromous Fish Resource. In For Theory Building in Archaeology,
edited by L.R. Binford, pp. 207-249. Academic Press, New York.
Schroedl, Gerald F.
1973 The Archaeological Occurrence of Bison in the Southern Plateau. Reports of Investigations
No. 51. Laboratory of Anthropology. Washington State University, Pullman,
Washington.
Smith, Allan H.
1988 Ethnography of the North Cascades. Project Report No. 7, Center for Northwest
Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman.
Spier, Leslie
1936 Tribal Distribution in Washington. General Series in Anthropology No. 3. George Banta
Publishing Co., Menasha, Wisconsin.
Sprague, Roderick
2005 Canoes and Other Water Craft of the Coeur d’Alene. Journal of Northwest Anthropology,
v. 39, no. 1, pp 41-62.
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Stevens, Harold D.
1955 An Analysis of Coeur d’Alene Indian-White Interrelations. Unpublished Master’s thesis.
Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho.
Stratton, David H.
2005 Spokane and the Inland Empire: An Interior Pacific Northwest Anthology. Washington State
University Press, Pullman, WA.
Thom, Brian
2009 The Paradox of Boundaries in Coast Salish Territories. Cultural Geographies 16:179–205.
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2008 Salish Myths and Legends: One People’s Stories. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln,
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1990 Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Traditional Cultural Properties in National
Bulletin #38. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Interagency Resources
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1901 Topographic Map: Spokane 15' Series.
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Walker, Deward E., Jr.
1998 Plateau, edited by Deward E. Walker, Jr. Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 12,
William C. Sturtevant, general editor, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
Walker, Deward E., Jr., and Roderick Sprague
1998 History Until 1846. In Handbook of North American Indians: Plateau, v. 12, edited by
Deward E. Walker, Jr., pp. 138-148. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
Western Regional Climate Center
2016 457938, Washingon Spokane Internatinoal weather station. Electronic document,
www.wrcc.sage.dri.edu, accessed November 9, 2021.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022 29
APPENDIX A:
Historic Property Inventory (HPI)
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Location
Address:WA-27, Spokane, Washington, 99206
Tax No/Parcel No:45344.9108
Plat/Block/Lot:34-25-44 NW1/4 OF SE1/4 EXC THE W 600FT OF S 400FT THEREOF & EXC THEPTN DAF; BEG AT
NE COR SD1/4 TH S ALG E LN SD1/4 412FT; TH WTO W R/W LN STATE HWY; TH CONT W 145FT
TH S 157FT; TH E 145FT; TH N 157FT TO POB
Geographic Areas:Spokane County, T25R44E34, Spokane County Certified Local Government, FREEMAN
Quadrangle
Information
Number of stories:N/A
Architect/Engineer:
Category Name or Company
Historic Context:
Category
Historic Use:
Category Subcategory
Agriculture/Subsistence Agriculture/Subsistence - Drainage
Agriculture/Subsistence Agriculture/Subsistence - Drainage
Construction Type Year Circa
Construction Dates:
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Historic Property Report
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Project Number, Organization,
Project Name
Resource Inventory SHPO Determination SHPO Determined By,
Determined Date
2021-11-07772, , Painted Hills,
Gustin Pipe Off-Site
11/12/2021 Survey/Inventory
Local Registers and Districts
Name Date Listed Notes
Project History
Thematics:
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Historic Property Report
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Catch Basin showing Refuse Looking SE.jpg
Storm Water Ditch Looking West from HWY 27.jpg
Photos
Catch Basin Looking East.jpg
Gustin Ditch Looking West from HWY 27.jpg
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Historic Property Report
Painted Hills Gustin Pipe Off Site 726296Resource Name:Property ID:
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Inventory Details - 11/12/2021
Styles:
Period Style Details
No Style No Style
Detail Information
Common name:
Date recorded:11/12/2021
Field Recorder:(John) Jeff Creighton
Field Site number:
SHPO Determination
Surveyor Opinion
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Significance narrative:The ditch begins on the west side of HWY 27 (0.4 miles south of 32nd Avenue) and runs
west, crossing through the Gustin property to the Comer/Gustin (Bar 4 Bar Inc.) property
line for a distance of 0.25 miles. From that point, the ditch disappears into a
depression/catch basin. This particular area is entirely within the Comer property (4.2
acres). The area has recently been fenced with six foot chain link as dumping and other
nefarious activity has taken place. The property owner states that as far as he knows, no
irrigation was ever undertaken in this area, and the so-called ditch is simply a conveyance
for flood /storm waters from east of HWY 27. The property owner states that occasionally
one to two feet of water could accumulate in the depression/catch basin. Interestingly,
the 4.2 acre parcel is actually within an easement owned by Spokane County.
It is apparent that Gustin property adjacent to the Comer property to the east (32.2
acres) had been farmed at one time; according to Spokane County Auditor records, the
property has been associated with the Gustin name since the early 1900s. It appears the
ditch was simply a run-off trench, possibly constructed by the county at some unknown
date through its easement, as it enters the Gustin property via a culvert travelling under
HWY 27 from farm ground east of the highway. Additionally, the catch basin/depression
located on the Comer property lies at a lower elevation, and essentially becomes the end
point for drainage west of Gustin's property.
Early maps of the area show no irrigation properties, other than Modern Land and Water
company approximately two miles north of the project area. Irrigation operators can be
found north and east along the Spokane River stretching into Idaho, such as East Farms,
Liberty Lake and works in Otis Orchards. The 1912 Ogle shows quite a bit of development
in the project area consisting of platted areas (Larchmont) in the north half of section 34
near the community of Chester; typical farm acreage can be found to the east and west,
but no irrigation works. The ditch is unmaintained and contains a large amount of
overgrowth.
Certain criteria must be met in order to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register
of Historic Places (NRHP). The following four criteria are:
A) A resource that is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to
the broad patterns of our history.
B) A resource that is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past
C) One that embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of
construction, or that represent 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, or;
D) One that has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or
history.
The flood/stormwater ditch meets none of the criteria mentioned above, and therefore is
ineligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
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Physical description:The drainage ditch is approximately three feet in depth and six feet across. The ditch is
unlined and is overgrown with vegetation and native grasses. There are no irrigation
features. There are two dirt crossings from the far field to the residential area. The ditch
terminates 0.25 miles to the west emptying into a natural depression. The ditch is fed
from a flood plain on the east side of highway 27, via a culvert. This resource appears to
be unmaintained, and simply serves as a conveyance for storm/flood discharge.
Bibliography:
Spokane County Assessor, Field Assessment files, 2021; Spokane County Auditor, online
document search; In person interview with Tim Comer, property owner, 13 November
2021.
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 Page 6 of 6
Historic Property Report
Painted Hills Gustin Pipe Off Site 726296Resource Name:Property ID:
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APPENDIX B:
Unintentional Discovery Plan (UDP)
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site
Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan
Treatment of Archaeological
Materials Discovered During
Project Implementation
By:
Emily L. Whistler
March 2022
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Whipple Consulting Engineers is proceeding with plans for the development of the Painted Hills
Housing Development—subdividing a 100.0-acre site into 600 residential lots. This primary area
of impact has been surveyed and reported on previously by Plateau. During the review process,
Spokane County Public Works requested that additional survey be carried out on an off-site
location, which will be used for flood control.
Whipple Consulting Engineers retained Plateau Archaeological Investigations, LLC (Plateau) to
complete the cultural resource survey and identify potential impacts to cultural and historical
resources. The area of potential effect, referred to as the Project Area, covers approximately 5.7
acres and lies in Section(s) 33 of Township 25 North, Range 34 East, Willamette Meridian. (Figure
2). The survey was subsequently reported in Cultural Resource Survey for the Painted Hills, Gustin
Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington (Thompson et al. 2022), and recorded with the
Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) under Project
Number 2021-11-07772.
Pre-field research consisted of a file review completed through the Washington Information System
for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD) on 9, 2021. The review covered
areas within Sections 02, 03, and 04 of Township 24 North, Range 44 East; and Sections 26, 27, 28,
33, 34, and 35 of Township 25 North, Range 44 East. This review revealed 11 cultural resources and
six previously conducted cultural resource surveys within 1.0 mile (mi) (1.6 kilometer [km]) of the
Project Area. This database includes recorded archaeological resources, historic property
inventories (HPIs), National Register of Historic Properties (NRHP) and Washington Heritage
Register (WHR) properties, identified cemeteries, and previously conducted cultural resource
surveys found throughout the state of Washington. Additionally, a review of Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) records, both General Land Office (GLO) online records and land patent
information, was completed. Topographic maps and aerial photos were reviewed to identify
additional indicators of past land use. .
Plateau archaeologists conducted a pedestrian survey and excavated a subsurface probe. A ditch
and catch basin were inventoried as Property 726296, but are ineligible for listing on the NRHP.
Plateau recommends that the proposed undertaking will result in No Historic Properties Affected,
and no further archaeological investigations are recommended prior to, or during, execution of this
project.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Laws and Regulations Regarding Archaeological and Cultural Resources
Several laws and regulations, set forth on both federal and state levels, address concerns for burials,
rock cairns, archaeological sites, historic structures, and other cultural resources. Those pertinent
to this project are several Chapters of the Revised Code of Washington and the Washington State
Governor's Executive Order 21-02.
Chapter 27.44 of the Revised Code of Washington offers protection for Indian burials, cairns,
glyptic markings, and historic graves on private and public property. This regulation provides civil
and criminal penalties for the intentional disturbance or removal of these types of properties.
Chapter 27.53 of the Revised Code of Washington requires that a permit be acquired through the
Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) prior to the
intentional disturbance, excavation, removal, or alteration of any known historic or archaeological
resource through any means.
Chapter 68.50 of the Revised Code of Washington describes the investigations, treatment, scientific
study, and final disposition of human remains. This chapter includes very little information that
pertains to the inadvertent discovery of archaeological materials.
Chapter 68.60 of the Revised Code of Washington outlines protections for cemeteries, historic
graves, and other human remains. This chapter further outlines procedures pertaining to the
inadvertent discovery of human remains.
Washington State Governor's Executive Order 21-02 requires all state agencies implementing or
assisting with construction or land acquisition projects that receive state funding to consider how
the proposed projects may affect cultural resources. Prior to the expenditure of state funds,
Executive Order 21-02 requires the lead state agency of a given project to consult with the
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (i.e. Washington State's SHPO), and all
affected Tribes of a proposed project, "to take all reasonable action to avoid, minimize, or mitigate
adverse effects to archaeological and historic archaeological sites, historic buildings/structures,
traditional cultural places, sacred sites or other cultural resources.."
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Inadvertent Discovery Plan
Proper application and management of this IDP requires that a professional archaeologist be
contacted if ground-disturbing activities reveal potential Native American or historic-era cultural
materials or features (Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5). The archaeologist shall meet the Secretary
of the Interior’s standards for a professional archaeologist as defined at 36CFR61 Appendix A.
Construction within 200 ft (60 m) of the discovery will stop, and the area will be secured to protect
the find from additional damage. The archaeologist will document the find, prepare a brief written
statement, and take photographs of the find for submission to the lead agency and the SHPO at the
DAHP. The find will also be reported to the THPO of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Coeur
d' Alene Tribe. It is the responsibility of the lead agency, Spokane County, to contact the affected
Tribes. This consultation process will take place even if the pre-contact or historic-era cultural
materials appear to have lost their depositional integrity. Work within 200 ft (60 m) of the find will
not resume until a plan for management or preservation of the materials has been approved.
Following the project, the archaeologist will provide a report detailing the procedures and results
of the investigation.
During the investigation, the archaeologist will observe rules of safety and will comply with any
safety requirements of the excavation contractor and project engineers. Entry into any excavation
will only be done under the direct supervision and approval of the construction foreman (or his or
her agent) and verification that entry and exit is safe.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains
If ground-disturbing activities encounter human skeletal remains during the course of construction,
then all activity will cease that may cause further disturbance to those remains. The area of the find
will be secured and protected from further disturbance to those remains. The area of the find will
be secured and protected from further disturbance until the State provides notice to proceed. The
finding of human skeletal remains will be reported to the county medical examiner/coroner and
local law enforcement in the most expeditious manner possible. The remains will not be touched,
moved, or further disturbed. The county medical examiner/coroner will assume jurisdiction over
the human skeletal remains and make a determination of whether those remains are forensic or
non-forensic. If the county medical examiner/coroner determines the remains are non-forensic,
then they will report that finding to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
(DAHP) who will then take jurisdiction over the remains. The DAHP will notify any appropriate
cemeteries and all affected tribes of the find. The State Physical Anthropologist will make a
determination of whether the remains are Indian or Non-Indian and report that finding to any
appropriate cemeteries and affected tribes. The DAHP will then handle all consultation with the
affected parties as to the future preservation, excavation, and disposition of the remains.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Protocol to Follow When No Archaeologist is Present
If an archaeologist is not on-site when cultural materials (e.g., pre-contact artifacts and/or features,
historic-era artifacts and/or features) are uncovered, the following steps shall be followed:
Suspend work within 200 ft (60 m) of the find.
Take a photo of the artifact(s) or feature(s). Include a common object such as a quarter, a tape
measure, a person, or a pickup as a scale to show the size of the find.
Take photos of the location of the find from several angles and distances.
Record a GPS point if possible.
Contact Plateau by telephone to notify us of the find.
Provide an email with photos and any additional information you are able to gather.
Precontact Artifacts Precontact artifacts can include stone, wood, or bone tools. Stone tools are
the most common artifact encountered since they do not deteriorate over time.
Precontact Features Precontact features can include fire pits, hearths, burn deposits, ash, rock
alignments, rock mounds, and midden deposits.
Historic-Era Artifacts Historic-era artifacts may include various items manufactured from metal,
glass, or wood. If an individual identifiable historic artifact is encountered, the above protocol
should be followed. “Historic-era artifacts” does not include “recent” items such as chip bags,
styrofoam, modern beverage cans and bottles, or other typical roadside debris.
Historic-Era Features Any identifiable remains of buildings, foundations, rock alignments, or rock
mounds might be historic-era features.
Human Remains Human remains, suspected human remains, burials, funerary objects, sacred
objects, or items of cultural patrimony are to be treated in the manner outlined above.
Additionally, Plateau is to be notified by phone immediately.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Emergency Dispatch in Spokane County
Emergency Dispatch 911
Spokane Valley Police Department 509-477-3300
Sheriff, non-emergency 509-477-2240
Spokane County Coroner 509-477-2296
509-447-0235 (fax)
Spokane Tribe of Indians
Randy Abrahamson, THPO 509-258-4315
509-258-6965 (fax)
randya@spokanetribe.com
Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Jill Wagner, THPO 208-686-1572
208-686-1901 (fax)
jwagner@cdatribe-nsn-gov
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
DAHP Reception 360-586-3065
DAHP fax 360-586-3067
Guy Tasa, State Physical Anthropologist
360-586-3534
Guy.Tasa@dahp.wa.gov
Rob Whitlam, State Archaeologist 360-586-3080
Rob.Whitlam@dahp.wa.gov
Plateau Archaeological Investigations
Main Office/Fax 509-332-3830
David Harder, Archaeologist 509-336-1525 (cell)
dharder@plateau-crm.com
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
WORKS CITED
Andrefsky, William A., Jr.
1998 Lithics: Macroscopic Approaches to Analysis. Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology,
University Printing House, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
2022 WISAARD. Electronic document accessed at dahp.wa.gov on March 28, 2022.
Lyon, Joshua
2015 The Collector’s Ultimate Guide to Canning Jars. Electronic document, countryliving.com,
accessed February 7, 2017.
Sappington, Robert Lee
1994 The Prehistory of the Clearwater River Region, North Central Idaho. University of
Anthropological Reports, No. 95. Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology,
University of Idaho, Moscow.
Thompson, Jordan, Olivia Gagnon, Justin Fitzpatrick, and David A. Harder
2022 Cultural Resource Survey for the Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane
Washington. Plateau Archaeological Investigations, Pullman, Washington.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Figure 1. The Project Area on a portion of the Freeman USGS topographic map.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Figure 2. The Project Area on an aerial photograph.
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Figure 3. Reduction of a lithic blank to a tool (Andrefsky 1998:158)
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Painted Hills, Gustin Pipe Off-Site Survey, Spokane County, Washington
Unintentional Discovery Plan and Treatment of Archaeological Materials
Figure 4. An illustration of a housepit and the resulting
archaeological feature (Sappington 1994: 153).
Figure 5. An example of logo changes over time, which can aid
in determining the date of historic artifacts.
Plateau Archaeological Investigations ~ 2022
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