|
Pacific Archaeological Sciences Team (PAST), conducted an archaeological survey of a 200-acre property in the City of Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, California. This archaeological study was deemed necessary because cultural resources are known to exist in the surrounding area, and because any future development of the subject property could have a direct impact on resources located there or an indirect impact on resources located nearby. At the time of the investigation, the City of Paso Robles is in escrow to purchase the property from the current land owner. An archaeological records search for the project revealed that within a one mile radius of the subject property there have been (1) 25 previous archaeological investigations; (2) of these 25 previous investigations, six of them include portions of the subject property; (3) 12 prehistoric or historic cultural resources recorded; (4) of these 12 sites, only one site, has been recorded just within, or adjacent to, the subject property; and (5) there have been two isolated finds recorded. The field inspection of the subject property was conducted on November 20, 21, and 22, 1998, by Barbie S. Getchell, John E. Atwood, and Tarquin D. Preziosi of PAST. Overall, the field examination of the property found that nearly all of the lands above the river bottom had been affected by previous use of the area. Despite the poor ground surface visibility, the investigators were able to locate and record three prehistoric archaeological sites on the subject property. Descriptive information on the location, size and nature of these archaeological resources has been recorded on the appropriate site record forms. Although recorded as three separated deposits, each site contained identifiable areas of heavier artifact concentrations within. Grouping these concentrations into three sites is somewhat arbitrary and is based on their close proximity to each other and because poor ground surface visibility may have obscured other artifacts. Regardless of the planned or contemplated projects at present, nearly any development within the site areas would have a negative impact on the resources. Unfortunately, very little is presently known about the sites and their importance to the prehistory of the Paso Robles area. Therefore, it is recommended that prior to the development of any plans, a Phase II subsurface archaeological testing program be performed on each of the three sites to determine their extent, depth, type, contents, and, of course, their importance. |
