Archaeological Survey At Piper Creek Restoration Project Lane County Oregon PDF Download

An archaeological survey along Spores Creek, a small tributary of the Mohawk River near Springfield, Oregon, resulted in the recording of one extensive aboriginal site (35LA642) and two concentrations of historic debris. Surface collections along the route of a proposed pipeline yielded 25 tools and 106 pieces of debitage. The archaeological remains suggest that hunting and maintenance or light manufacturing of chipped stone tools were the principal activities carried out by aboriginal peoples at this site. The site appears to have been part of an aboriginal trail across Coburg Ridge, linking the Mohawk Valley and the McKenzie River floodplain near Coburg. The historic material within the project area appears to be related both to an historic homesite reportedly occupied by the Spores family, who were early settlers in the Mohawk Valley, and to logging camp activities which begin in the 1920s. Given the present project plans, additional work is not recommended for 35LA642 or for the logging camp. Because the Spores homesite bay be over 100 years old, however, further historical and archaeological research is recommended in the even that hydropower plant construction will affect this historic locality.