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THE SITES (p 4)
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Another adobe structure was marked by a mound of melted adobe atop
a dirt, gravel, and timber platform held together by metal pipes
(feature 4). This building stood at the north end of a path or driveway
that diverged from the main town road. The structure appeared to
have an inner pine frame and packed dirt floor or sub-floor. Window
parts, wallpaper, wall plaster, water collection and distribution
parts, and electrical conduit and wiring indicated that this was
probably a residence. Evidence for electricity confirmed that this
structure was in the Euro-American portion of the community. The
occupants apparently owned a vehicle, based on the presence of a
leveled outdoor area that yielded automotive artifacts. The structure
itself contained architectural, food-related, and personal artifacts.
Several personal items that likely belonged to a woman were found
among the artifacts. One of the ceramics was a Homer Laughlin berry
dish, again suggesting the presence of a woman or a well-appointed
family. Hardware was abundant. Most of the items date between 1900
and 1920. Several lines of evidence, particularly the proximity
to the saloon complex and the evidence of automobile ownership,
led researchers to believe that this may have been the residence
of E. Glen Baker.
Other structural remains containing domestic debris included features
7, 8, 10, and 11. Each was interpreted as a residence, and some
showed evidence of family life. Feature 7 was unique in that it
contained the remains of a flush toilet and associated pipe. It
also had a corrugated metal roof. Unfortunately, this building had
been looted by collectors, probably because it was close to the
modern road. The other three more modest structures probably represented
miner’s residences. Features 7 and 8 dated to the ASARCO period;
feature 10 was likely occupied during the Imperial and ASARCO eras.
In contrast to the previous structures, feature 5 was comprised
of a related series of rock alignments that likely marked the locations
of tents, temporary structures, and associated outdoor workspaces.
The ground surface was rich in artifacts, especially food-related
items and hardware. Field researchers also recovered buttons, buckles,
and rivets from men’s pants. Significantly, the datable items
clustered into two groups, suggesting earlier (1890–1900)
and later (1904–1918) use of this area. The nature of the
items further suggested that the spot was initially used for habitation,
and later served as an informal trash dump. This is consistent with
historical sources that state that the area had been a mining encampment
before the town was established by Imperial.
A similar tent platform (feature 6) was discovered not far south
of feature 5. The L-shaped rock alignment probably marked the location
of a single dwelling. A beer bottle, food serving ware sherds, hardware,
and a tin can fragment were identified. This area also appeared
to date to the earlier camp (1890–1900).
Archaeologists examined two major trash deposits at the camp, features
9 and 14. The former—originally recorded as a possible privy—turned
out to be a prospect hole filled with trash. It was probably used
by the residents of nearby feature 8. Feature 14 was a small, high-density
dump near features 8, 9, and 10. Broken glass bottles comprised
most of the trash. Analysts felt that only some of the trash was
associated with the residents of feature 10; likely most of it was
deposited after abandonment of the community.
Attesting to the level of violence in the community, a shrine (feature
12) found atop a hill at the southern end of the site may have commemorated
the death of Carlos Gastelum. Gastelum was accidentally shot in
the heart after a dance in Silver Bell; the shot was purportedly
intended for another man in his party. His family erected a shrine
at the place of his death. Archaeologists tentatively identified
this small rock pile and pine board cross as that shrine.
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