Mining in the Southern California Deserts: A Historic Context Statement and Research Design

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Since the 1970s, the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has recognized significant historical and archaeological values associated with mining sites on public lands in the southern California deserts. Mining has played an integral role in western American history, and the archaeological record presents an opportunity to understand and interpret mining history in a manner that is not accessible through historical documentation alone. This study provides a landscape-scale approach to the identification, evaluation, and management of these values, balanced with the need for BLM management of the growing demands for public land use in the California Desert District and Bishop Field Office (Study Area).

The study is concerned with cultural resources containing evidence of hard-rock mining, and the period considered extends from 1848 to approximately 1960. The objective of the study was twofold, including a historic context statement and archaeological research design consisting of guidance for the BLM in the identification of significant historical and archaeological values associated with mining sites on BLM-administered lands in the southern California deserts. Statistical Research, Inc. (SRI), prepared this historic context and archaeological research design at the request of Sterling White, BLM Desert District Abandoned Mine Lands and Hazardous Materials Program Lead, California Desert District. It was prepared for James Barnes, Associate State Archaeologist, BLM California State Office, and Tiffany Arend, Desert District Archaeologist, BLM California Desert District.

This guidance supports the BLM by helping the agency identify significant historical-period hard-rock mining sites on public lands in the southern California deserts. It will be applied most often to help the BLM comply with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The document will also be used by the BLM to proactively identify and manage significant mining-related sites under Section 110 of the NHPA and to protect the quality of archaeological and historical values under Section 102 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The BLM also has responsibilities to protect mining sites that qualify as archaeological resources under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act.

After an introductory chapter, the document contains a historic context for mining in the Study Area, which encompasses the southern California deserts. Next, the report presents a list and description of important property types associated with the historic context and a research design specific to the Study Area. Later sections of the report contain procedures for evaluating the mining sites; a discussion of preservation goals and priorities, including recommendations for the treatment of mining-related historic properties and the resolution of adverse effects; a list of references cited; and a glossary of mining terms.

Publication Date

    Fri, 11/09/2018 - 11:44am

Region

    National Office

Organization

Collection:    BLM Library
Category:     Report

Keywords

    BLM-Library, Cultural-Heritage-and-Paleontology