THE SITES
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AZ AA:10:8(ASM)
Although this site was tentatively identified as Atlas Camp during
initial archaeological survey, project archaeologists later concluded
that it was an as yet unidentified mining camp. The site crossed
ASARCO and BLM property. This multi-component locale served as an
encampment and trash dump. The remains of several rock structures
that likely bordered tents or temporary shelters were extant. Artifacts
in and around these features were determined to be secondary domestic
trash dumped there by Silver Bell residents after 1904. The rock
alignments themselves probably dated to earlier camp habitation,
perhaps as far back as the 1880s.
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| Mine shaft with
wooden superstructure. »Enlarge
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A short trail connected this encampment to a mineshaft, building
foundation, and corral. The timbers supporting the shaft were present
at the time of fieldwork. The shaft was divided into two compartments,
one of which was a passageway for miners. The other was for moving
ore. Field archaeologists encountered a wooden ladder extending
across the length of the shaft. Some mining equipment was located
on the surface near the shaft, and a work platform was created by
a long retaining wall comprised of boulders. A metal chute and pulley
were present. North of the wall, a building foundation and some
boards were identified. South of the shaft, a collapsed corral was
marked by fallen posts and barbed wire.
Interestingly, almost no artifacts were present at this mining
locus; some fragments of bottle glass and a few tin cans were noted.
Although it was not considered to be a feature, archaeologists
examined an extensive trash scatter just to the west of the Arizona
Southern Railroad grade. Most of the artifacts represented domestic
trash dating from about 1900 to 1919. The deposition of at least
some of the trash by Silver Bell residents was confirmed by the
presence of a frying pan that fit a handle found in a structure
at Silver Bell (feature 1).
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