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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 99-13; Steiner Property; Tentative Map (CT) (18)-UU o May 17, 1999 Ms. Sondra Harris Development and Forward Planning Western Pacific Housing 2385 Camino Vida Roble, Suite 107 Carlsbad, CA 92009 Reference: Steiner Property Archaeological Survey (RECON Number 3163A) 4241 Jutland Drive, Suite 201 San Diego, CA 92117-3653 619/270-5066 fax 270-5414 Dear Ms. Harris: This letter presents the preliminary results of a cultural resource constraint survey for the Steiner property in the city of Carlsbad, California (Figures 1 and 2). This investigation was undertaken in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Cultural Resource Guidelines (CRG) of the City of Carlsbad. The field portion of this investigation was conducted on April 8, 1999 by RECON staff archaeologists Russell O. Collett and John L R Whitehouse under the direction of Dayle M. Cheever. Ms. Cheever is certified by the Register of Professional Archaeolo- gists (ROPA) in field archaeology and teaching. The investigation includes both field and archival research. Archival information has been requested from the South Coastal Information Center (SCIC) and the San Diego Museum of Man (SDMM). Additional research is being undertaken to review historic maps and photographs of the project area. The results of the archival review were not available at the time of the field survey and will be included in the final version of a report. A portion of previously recorded site CA-SDI-8195 was found on the Steiner property. This portion of the site must be evaluated for significance per criteria of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Cultural Resource Guidelines of the City of Carlsbad (CRG) before mitigation measures can be developed. The field inspection consisted of a pedestrian survey of the 2.88-acre project property. As indicated in documents provided by your office, the Steiner property abuts the Desaska property at the western and southern margins. The project area was accessed from the east, off El Camino Real. The central ridge and adjacent slopes are composed of well-developed soils, mostly Huerhuero loam and loamy alluvial land-Huerhuero complex. These soils are principally derived from underlying Pleistocene sandstone and conglomerate beds (Lusardi Formation) or from the Eocene sandstone and siltstone beds (Torrey and Delmar Formations). These are sandy marine sediments with clay subsoil (U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] 1973). These sediments are classified as subsets of the Santiago Formation, which is known to be paleontologically sensitive, containing vertebrate and invertebrate fossils in some locations. The basement Santiago Peak Volcanics are metamorphic rocks of Jurassic age. A search of site records at the SCIC and SDMM is pending. Information on file for an adjacent property provided some background information of value in directing the pedestrian survey. There are a number of archaeological sites recorded within one mile of the subject property, according to site records on file at RECON. One of these sites (CA-SDI-8195) is recorded on the Steiner property. The recorded history of this site is complex as the site was recorded at two institutions with different numbering systems. Complicating this is the presence of several discrete concentrations of cultural debris within the larger, original site boundary, which covers the project property. The site will be identified by SCIC designation as CA-SDI-8195. This number reflects the largest footprint of the resource, and encompasses subsequent discoveries. PROJECT LOCATION 101 Map Source: U.S.G.S. 7.5 Minute topographic maps, Encinitas and San Luis Rey quadrangles FIGURE 2 Project Location 2 MILES 0 OCEANSIDE AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOONCARLSBAD MARCOSi f.f LAKE SAN MARCO PROJECT LOCATION LEUCADIA ENCINITAS SOLANA BEACH FIGURE 1 Regional Location of the Project o Ms. Sondra Harris Page 2 May 17,1999 Malcolm Rogers originally recorded CA-SDI-8195 perhaps as early as the 1920s. The earliest date indicated on the site record is 1976, although this represents the time that Rogers' notes were compiled as site record forms and not the actual date of discovery. Rogers described the site as a "highland accretion midden" (site record for SDM-W-108) resting on gray and red sandstone. Additionally, the record indicates that the site was covered with chaparral and had been visited by relic hunters. Inhumations and hearths were reported for the site, as well as stone tools, stone tool manufacturing debris, and ceramic sherds. These items indicated to Rogers, San Dieguito, La Jollan, and Yuman periods of occupation. The overall impression from the site record is that the stone artifact representation was low compared with the large area mapped. In summary, CA-SDI-8195 is an encampment occupied in Early Archaic times based on the presence of certain stone tools. It was visited more often during the Middle Archaic as indicated by a devel- oped midden of marine shell and the presence of ground stone milling implements. It was also visited during the Late Period as indicated by the presence of ceramics, which are an indication of Native American activity dating after circa 2000 B.P. Previous investigations of portions of CA-SDI-8195 have demonstrated that the cultural material is inconsistently distributed over the landscape and that the site has been impacted by agricultural activity and residential development occurring over the past few decades. The contents of the site loci vary and reflect the different activities that took place during specific periods. In other words, where Rogers saw a ridge occupied over a broad span of time, later investigators recognized discrete activity areas with refuse profiles indicative of culture change. The Steiner property is situated at the northern end of the site slightly south of the recorded limit. The project property supports a private residence and associated yardscape and an access drive. The remaining portion has been cleared of native vegetation for cultivation of ornamental eucalyptus. This has resulted in some changes to the soil as well as the introduction of ruderal grasses, which cover most of the western area of the property. Agricultural activity has altered the natural profile of the soil with soil amendments, trash, and broken pieces of the underlying sandstone substrate. Within CA-SDI-8195 the naturally developed and bioturbated midden is mixed. Currently, there are two principal soil types present in the project area. The upper stratum is a loose and friable, poorly sorted sandy loam with pebble-sized stones. The underlying stratum is consolidated sandstone with occasional weathered areas. The eastern end of the property is also cultivated for ornamental eucalyptus but does not support the dense growth of ruderal grasses observed to the west. Areas of driveway and the residential yard were highly disturbed and were not closely inspected for cultural materials due to the level of disturbance. All of the areas outside the yard were carefully inspected for indications of cultural activity. An area of prehistoric cultural activity was identified during the pedestrian survey of the subject property; a deposit of marine shell, south of the Steiner residence. The deposit is part of CA-SDI- 8195. The identified materials include Chione and Pecten shellfish. No artifacts were identified within the scatter of shell. The margins of the scatter were distinct and visible even through the grass cover. The portion of CA-SDI-8195 on the project parcel requires evaluation under CEQA and Carlsbad's CRG. The shell scatter on the Steiner property should be evaluated to determine its research value within the larger range of activities undertaken on-site over time. While the scatter is within the recorded footprint of CA-SDI-8195 it consists of a concentration of material that appears different from the surrounding area. Ms. Sondra Harris Page 3 May 17, 1999 A draft scope of work to accomplish the significance evaluation effort under the CRG is being compiled. The scope of work will include a breakdown of additional field investigation time to conduct excavation and recording efforts, research, writing, and analysis time, as well as expense estimates for submitting samples for radiocarbon dates and placing the collection into an appropriate curatorial facility. The results of the evaluation investigation will be included in a summary document in accordance with Carlsbad's CRG. If you have questions regarding the preliminary results of this investigation or the recommendations indicated herein, please contact Dayle Cheever or me at RECON. Sino Russell O. Collett Project Archaeologist ROC:sh