Theses and Dissertations Collection

In 2009 the Adams County Historic Preservation Commission and the Idaho State Historical Society developed a program to survey archaeological sites located on private lands in Adams County. The program has continued every year between 2009 and 2015 and will continue further. In 2014 the program expanded to include Washington County, effectively creating a system of surveying private lands throughout the Weiser River Basin. Since the project’s initiation 43 archaeological sites have been recorded. No absolute dates have been acquired, but the material culture likely represents habitation from ca. 12,000 years before present through historic times. Obsidian artifacts found at the sites were collected and 42 have been successfully sourced. The majority (81%) come from Timber Butte, and 19% represent five sources in central and eastern Oregon. Collaboration with local landowners and the interested public to identify sites has led to an effective and educational cultural resources program worth expanding.