The 2010 Class III Archaeological Investigations of the Sheepeater Cliff Site (48YE29), Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The University of Montana conducted a full inventory of archaeological resources at the Sheepeater Cliff site (48YE29) in 2009-2010. Yellowstone National Park (YNP) proposes road widening and parking lot additions at the popular visitor attraction. The Sheepeater Cliff site (48YE29) is a prehistoric lithic scatter located near a popular rest stop and parking lot along the Norris to Mammoth Hot Springs Highway in the northern portion of YNP. The site is bounded by the Gardner River to the southeast and the columnar basalt cliffs from which it derives its name. 48YE29 was originally recorded in 1989. The University of Montana conducted Class III subsurface testing during the 2009 UM field season as part of inspired proactive management funded by YNP. Shovel testing was located on both sides of the parking lot access road, beginning just north of the parking lot and continuing on a linear axis, southwest, to a point in which the Gardner River creates a bend, approximately 10 meters from the access road. Further Class III testing of the site was completed during the UM 2010 field season, in response to a new proposed undertaking for Section 106 evaluation. The proposed project consists of a parking lot expansion of the rest stop. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) is 35 m wide by 92 m long. Twelve 1x1 m test units were placed within the APE and within the site’s boundaries in order to determine the depth and significance of archaeological deposits. The total acreage of the APE is approximately 0.5 acres. This report details the findings of the fieldwork from 2009-2010 excavations, in addition to providing a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility recommendation in fulfillment of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) provided for the National Park Service and submitted to the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Maps and other location data has been removed under the requirements of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA).