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Pinedale Online > News > June 2016 > Homestead archaeology

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

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



Moving equipment. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Moving equipment
The site is between the horse-drawn manure spreader and the sled.

The site. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
The site

Staking. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Staking
Blake Griffin pounds in a stake on the unit boundary.

Staking unit. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Staking unit

Measuring. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Measuring
Justin Vogias (L) and Dave Vlcek (R) take measurements.

Measurements. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Measurements

More measurements. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
More measurements

Starting to open it up. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Starting to open it up
Members of the Upper Green River Basin Chapter of the Wyoming Archaeological Society help open up the site.

Screening. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Screening
All the dirt removed from the unit is carefully screened.

Screening. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Screening
Pinedale BLM seasonal archaeologist Justin Vogias.

Dave Vlcek. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Dave Vlcek
Dave owns Bonneville Archaeology and also is the Vice President of the Upper Green River Basin Chapter of the Wyoming Archaeology Society.

BLM archaeologists. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
BLM archaeologists
BlM seasonal archaeologists Justin Vogias (L) and Blake Griffin (R) help at the excavation at the Homestead.

Screening. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Screening

Finding a chip. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Finding a chip
WAS member Mike Hawkins looks at a potential artifact. It turns out to be a chip that appears to have been worked from a piece of window glass.

Flake. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Flake
This piece appears to have been worked from window glass.

Taking measurements. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Taking measurements
Mike Hawkins (L) and Blake Griffin (R) take measurements of the feature.

Mano. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Mano
This stone was used as a tool to grind things. It has been ground smooth and fits very well into a hand.

Recording finds. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Recording finds

Exposed rocks. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Exposed rocks

Photographing. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Photographing
WAS member Clint Gilchrist photographs the progress of the dig.

Chunk. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Chunk
Some of the dirt appeared to possibly have an oily residue. The dig feature is near the old Homestead garage and the residue could have come from drips off of vehicles or equipment parked nearby or discarded oil. More tests would be needed to positively identify the substance.

Examining chunk. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Examining chunk
Pinedale BLM seasonal archaeologist Blake Griffin.

Old rocks. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Old rocks
Uncovering the hidden story...

Looking at what was found. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Looking at what was found
Albert Sommers (in yellow shirt) comes by to see what was found at the site.
Pinedale Online > News > June 2016 > Homestead archaeology

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