|
As part of the Stranwood Avenue to Sepulveda Boulevard Drain project in the community of Mission Hills, the services of Pacific Archaeological Sciences Team (PAST) were obtained to monitor trenching and grading operations during construction. Cultural resource monitoring was deemed necessary because archaeological records indicated that a historic structure existed prior to the year 1900 at the vicinity of the project. In summary, the project involved the removal of the old Stranwood Ave. bridge and existing inlet drain structure near Sepulveda Blvd., the minor excavation of a drainage area, the importing and compaction of fill from the San Fernando Mission Cemetery, the re-excavation of the compacted fill, placement of 48-inch diameter pipe and the development of two underground junction structures, the placement of fill over the installations, and the repavement of the Stranwood Ave. crossing. Contacted after the removal of the old Stranwood bridge and the existing winged drain inlet structure near Sepulveda Blvd., archaeologists from PAST examined the project site for the exposure of cultural resources on the 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 21st, and 24th day of January 1997. During the project, observations made in the field were written down as field notes and photographs were taken. Archaeological monitoring failed to reveal any materials or features associated with prehistoric or early historic use of the area. Overall, the subject area was found to be highly altered by the previous development of a winged drainage structure system near Sepulveda Blvd. inlet, construction of the wooden Stranwood Ave. bridge, and long term use of the property as an open drainage area. The oldest cultural material noted during the investigation consisted of aluminum pull-top, steel body beverage cans which date to the mid-1960s. Other cultural materials noted in the study area included modern trash and debris in the form of glass bottle fragments, red brick and Spanish tile roof fragments, various automobile parts, and assorted small fragments of metal and wood all of which are less than 30 years old. The oldest feature noted during the monitoring program were a buried concrete foundation and wooden supports for the Stranwood Ave. bridge. Information on the old structure noted on the 1900 edition of the USGS San Fernando, Calif. 15' series topographic quadrangle came primarily from Mrs. Barbara Wood, a 67 year resident and property owner. According to Ms. Wood (1997), the structure consisted of a small, deteriorating adobe building with no electricity or running water. She believes that the building once served as an Indian dwelling, which may have been built before the mission. Additionally, she related that the structure may also have been associated with the Butterfield Stage line. Sometime in the early 1960s, the City of Los Angeles deemed the building unsafe and required the Woods to remove it against their wishes. Since no prehistoric or early historic cultural resources could be identified within the boundaries of the project area, no further archaeological studies are recommended at this time. There is very little doubt that buried cultural resources exist in the area; however, the current project had no direct impact on any archaeological resource. Because archaeological resources are known or suspected in the immediate area, future projects undertaken by both governmental and private concerns should be evaluated by a qualified archaeologist. |
