The Geologic and Archaeological Contexts for Lithic Resource Acquisition in Southeastern New Mexico

Between December 2012 and January 2013, archaeologists from Statistical Research, Inc. (SRI), conducted geologic and archaeological studies at 14 previously identified archaeological sites, 2 small survey parcels inspected for archaeological remains, and 3 locales visited solely for the geologic study, all located in Eddy, Lea, and Chaves Counties in southeastern New Mexico. The sites and survey areas occupy a range of geologic settings. All 19 areas were utilized prehistorically.
SRI conducted archaeological survey and site recording at 14 previously recorded sites and 2 survey areas. The survey and site recording were conducted using 15-by-15-m grid cells to allow for the implementation of National Register of Historic Places– (NRHP-) evaluation procedures and the development of eligibility recommendations for each archaeological resource in the project area. The grid-cells methodology required the creation of a custom program application that was used for collecting digital data each time a positive grid cell was encountered. Two primary aspects composed this data-collection method: the provenience designation system and the Field Information Digital Organizer system. A total of 4,717 grid cells were surveyed at the 14 sites and 2 survey areas, and 824 (17.4 percent) contained artifacts or features.
Of the 14 sites and 2 survey areas, 4 sites (LA 43423, LA 122842, LA 146857, and LA 155867) are recommended eligible for listing in the NRHP; the remaining 10 sites and 2 survey areas are recommended not eligible for listing in the NRHP. All sites dated to the prehistoric period. The prehistoric sites were primarily quarries and procurement sites; 1 campsite was also present.

2012年12月至2013年1月期间，统计研究公司（Statistical Research, Inc.，SRI）的考古学家对位于美国新墨西哥州东南部埃迪县、利县与查韦斯县的全部研究区域开展了地质与考古调查。上述区域涵盖14处已确认的考古遗址、2处用于排查考古遗存的小型调查地块，以及3处仅用于地质研究的点位。所有遗址与调查区域均覆盖多样的地质环境，且均在史前时期被人类利用。
SRI针对14处已建档的考古遗址与2处调查区域开展了考古调查与遗址建档工作。本次调查及建档工作采用15×15米的网格单元作为调查单元，以满足《国家历史遗迹名录》（National Register of Historic Places，NRHP）的评估流程要求，并为项目区域内的每一处考古资源制定收录资格推荐意见。网格单元调查方法需要开发定制程序，用于在每一处阳性网格单元被发现时采集数字化调查数据。该数据采集方法包含两大核心模块：出土地点标识系统（provenience designation system）与野外信息数字化组织系统（Field Information Digital Organizer system）。本次调查共在14处遗址与2处调查区域内完成了4717个网格单元的调查，其中824个（占比17.4%）包含人工制品或遗迹遗存。
在14处遗址与2处调查区域中，有4处遗址（LA 43423、LA 122842、LA 146857及LA 155867）被推荐列入《国家历史遗迹名录》；剩余10处遗址与2处调查区域则被推荐不具备名录收录资格。所有遗址的年代均属于史前时期，这些史前遗址以采石场与资源获取点为主，同时还包含1处营地遗址。