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A Guide to the Papers of the
Nevada Archeological Survey
Collection No. NC1243

Nevada Archeological Survey

The Nevada Archeological Survey (NAS) began with a 1965 proposal by Robert L. Stephenson. The goals of the survey were to coordinate all of the archeological work in Nevada into a systematic approach to problems in the state's prehistory and to serve as a means of communication, cooperation, and coordination among all of the individuals and institutions working in Nevada archeology.

The first coordinating meeting was held in Reno in May, 1966; Stephenson was appointed the first coordinator in September of that year. The Survey was initially part of the Desert Research Institute and had its own staff, budget, and space facilities for Survey staff and archeologists from other institutions. The Survey created its own archives of all the archeological records of any work ever done in Nevada, and began publication of The Nevada Archeological Survey Reporter in January, 1967.

Before the Survey went out of existance in about 1983, it had become part of the University of Nevada-Reno Anthropology Department. Its primary function at that time was to survey cultural resources and conduct archeological investigations of historic and prehistoric sites in northern Nevada and northeastern California, usually in conjunction with public works projects such as highway construction. Individual reports similar to those listed below and the NAS Reporter may also be found by author or title in the Special Collection's catalog of monographs.

Scope and Contents

The reports of the Nevada Archeological Survey were donated to the Department of Special Collections in 1980 by Robert Elston of the NAS. The collection consists of two cubic feet of reports by a number of principal authors/investigators, and date from 1973 to 1981.

The reports are in three formats: letters, short reports, and full length reports. Each concerns an individual site, either as a proposal for archeological investigation or as a preliminary or final report of investigation by one or more NAS researchers. Reports generally provide the specific location of the site, names of investigators, plan of work, report of findings, and bibliography. They often refer to previous reports which have a bearing on the current archeological investigation and provide a great deal of information on the history and prehistory of that location.

These reports are arranged in two major groupings: short reports (which include letters) and [long] reports. Short reports are arranged chronologically by the date on the report; the other reports have no specific arrangement. When using this guide, the researcher should check to ensure that all of the reports for a single site have been located; the chronological arrangement means that reports for a single site may not be filed together.

Processed by: Susan Searcy
Date: May 26, 1988Nevada Archeological Survey

The papers of the Nevada Archeological Survey have been divided into the following series:

  1. Short Reports, 1973.
  2. Short Reports, 1974.
  3. Short Reports, 1975.
  4. Short Reports, 1976.
  5. Short Reports, 1977.
  6. Short Reports, 1978.
  7. Reports, 1974-1981.

 

BOX 1

Series I. Short Reports, 1973.

I/1 - Letter, Jan. 19, 1973, from Robert Elston to the Storey County Planning Commission on the Virginia City Highlands development and the Sierra Recreational Park.
Letter, Mar. 9, 1973, from Robert Elston to the Storey County Commission on the Virginia City Highlands Development Unit No. 2 and the Sierra Recreational Park.
Letter, Oct. 24, 1973, from Robert Elston to Ray Peterson of Madrone Associates on the Sierra County landfill site #10.
Report, Fall, 1973 (?), by Robert Elston. An Intensive Archeological Investigation and Evaluation of the Goodyear's Bar Site (FS-05-17-53-15) in Sierra County, Calif. (U.S. Forest Service purchase order no. 1273-17-73).

Series II. Short Reports, 1974.

II/1 - Preliminary Report, Feb. 8, 1974, by Robert Elston. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Goodyear's Bar and Indian Valley, Sierra County, California (U.S. Forest Service, purchase order no. 1081-17-73).

II/2 - Report, April 15, 1974, by Mary Rusco. Archeological Reconnaissance of the R/W of the Proposed Elko Bypass (Project No. I-080-4(11) 277 E.A. no. 70280-0).
Preliminary Report, June 17, 1974, by Mary Rusco. Archeological Reconnaissance of the R/W of the proposed Elko Bypass (Project No. I-080-4(11) 277 E.A. no. 70280-0).
Letter, June 19, 1974, from Gail Townsend to Dr. Michael Pontrelli of Walters Engineering on the proposed dump site north of Quincy, Calif.

II/3 - Preliminary report, June 21, 1974, by Robert Elston and Gail Townsend. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Silver Basin Area (U.S. Forest Service purchase order no. 102-66-73).

II/4 - Report, July 17, 1974, by Robert Elston and Gail Townsend. An Intensive Archeological Site Examination of Project No. DP-RF-003-2(26) E.A. no. 70539-0.

II/5 - Preliminary report, July 31, 1974, by Jonathan O. Davis, Robert Elston and Gail Townsend. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Fallen Leaf Lake (U.S. Forest Service contract no. 39-4640).

II/6 - Report, August 16, 1974, by Gail Townsend. An Intensive Archeological Survey of the El Rancho Buena Vista Subdivision.
Report, Sept. 3, 1974, by Mary Rusco. Report of Archeological Reconnaissance for the Elko, Nevada Railroad Relocation Demonstration Project, and Statement of Environmental Impact of the Relocation Project on Archeological Resources with Recommendations.
Preliminary report, Sept. 20, 1974, by Gail Townsend. Archeological Reconnaissance for NDH Project BR-RS-624 (19), SP-S-643(1), SP-S-642 (1).
Report, Oct. 2, 1974, by Gail Townsend. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Slide Mountain Ski Area.
Report, Oct. 31, 1974, by Gail Townsend. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Buried Cable R/W from the "K" Repeater Station to the Saval Buffalo Ranch.
Report, Oct. 31, 1974, by Gail Townsend. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Shadow Hills Subdivision.
Report, Dec. 13, 1974, by Gail Townsend. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Buckeye-Round Hill 120 KV Power line (SPPC purchase order #73446).

II/7 - Report, 1974, by Robert Elston. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Proposed Relocation of Highway 395 from Washoe Valley through Reno.

Series III. Short Reports, 1975.

III/1 - Report, Mar. 13, 1975, by Gail Townsend and Robert Elston. An Archeological Reconnaissance-Intensive Site Evaluation of Upper Terrace (site - NSM - 37).

III/2 - Report, Mar. 20, 1975, by Robert Elston. Archeological Reconnaissance Report of Preliminary Site Investigation Assessment of Impacts on Archeological Sites by Donner Springs, Unit 2.
Preliminary report, May 6, 1975, by H. B. Phillips. Construction Impact Assessment on the Archaeology of the Short Ranch Area, Reno, Nevada.
Letter, May 12, 1975, from Robert Elston to Roy H. Hibdon, Walters Engineering. Archeological resources possibly affected by the construction of wastewater facilities for Sun Valley, Nevada.
Preliminary report, May 14, 1975, by H.B. Phillips. Construction Impact Assessment on the Archeology of Cold Springs Valley, Nevada.
Report, May 14, 1975, unknown author. Archeological Reconnaissance Intensive Site Evaluation of the Evans Site (26WA1676) project no. DP-RF-003-2(26) E.A. No. 70539-9.
Letter, May 23, 1975, from Gail Townsend to Laurnal H. Gubler, Nevada Dept. of Highways. On a reconnaissance survey of the Raleigh Heights materials site.
Preliminary report, May 30, 1975, by H. Blaine Phillips, II. Archeological Reconnaissance of the Crystal Bay Improvement District.
Letter, May 30, 1975, from Robert Elston to Russ Faure-brac, Environmental Impact Planning Corp. Archeological sites discovered during the reconnaissance of the proposed realignments of U.S. 395 through Reno, Nevada.

III/3 - Preliminary report, June 6, 1956, by Gail Townsend. Preliminary Survey of Bell-Tel R/W from Empire to the Canapa Ranch (Rodeo Creek), Bel-Tel Estimate #011037U.
Con't Report, July 7, 1975, by H. Blaine Phillips. An Intensive Archeological Site Survey of Raleigh Heights Area, Reno, Nevada (E.A. 70596-0).
Report, July 8, 1975, by H. Blaine Phillips. Construction Impact Assessment on the Archeology Burrow Source WA 07-16, Coldsprings, Nevada.

III/4 - Report, Sept. 5, 1975, by Gail Townsend and Robert Elston. Evaluation of Impacts on Archeological Resources for Proposed Realignment of U.S. 395 from Washoe Valley North to Panther Siding.

III/5 - Preliminary report, Oct. 30, 1975, by Gail Townsend. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Reno-Verdi Interceptor.
Preliminary report, Nov. 10, 1975, by Alan Leventhal. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Squaw Valley Interceptor.
Report, Nov. 12, 1975, by Jonathan O. Davis. Archaeological Reconnaissance Along Proposed Sanitary Sewer Alignments State Line to Incline Village, Nevada.

III/6 - Report, Dec. 5, 1975, by Robert Elston. A Proposal for Completion of Work Necessary to Mitigate the Impacts of Highway Construction on Archeological Sites between the California-Nevada Border and Hallelujah Junction.
Preliminary report, Dec. 17, 1975, by Robert Elston. A Preliminary Report on Field Work Accomplished on Archeological Sites in and Adjacent to the Tahoe-Truckee Interceptor Line from Tahoe City to Truckee, California.
Report, no date, no author. Archeological Impact Study of Highway 395 Expansion Between Carson City and Panther Valley (in 1st revised-final report E.I.P. report file).
Report, 1975(?), by R.G. Elston and Mary Rusco. Review of Tentative Subdivision (Virginia City Highlands and Sierra Recreation Park).

Series IV. Short Reports, 1976.

IV/1 - Letter, Jan. 26, 1976, from Robert Elston to John Brown, John Webster Brown Civil & Structural Engineers, Inc. On the archive search and preliminary reconnaissance for the proposed Reno-Sparks Joint Water Pollution Control Plant expansion.
Letter, Jan. 26, 1976, from Robert Elston to L.H. Gubler, Nevada Dept. of Highways. On archeological reconnaissance of the proposed Lockwood Bridge area.
Preliminary report, April 14, 1976, by C. Covington. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Lemmon Valley Drive project no. OS 31 (1).
Preliminary report, May 28, 1976, by Gail Townsend. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Ring Road in North Sparks RS-SU 820(10) EA#70509-2, Nevada Highway Dept., NSM #120N.
Preliminary report, May 28, 1976, by Gail Townsend and Cam Covington. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Ring Road from U.S. 40 N & E to U.S. 395, Nevada Highway Dept. RS-SU-821 (5) EA# 70473, (NSM 119N).
Preliminary report, June 3, 1976, by Gail Townsend. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance Nevada Bell Buried Cable R/W from Reno to Incline; estimate #p113827; Nevada State Museum contract #138.
Preliminary report, June 9, 1976, by Alan Leventhal. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Bureau of Indian Affairs.

IV/2 - Preliminary report, June 24, 1976, by Jonathan O. Davis. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Gummow Drive, Fallon, Nevada. Nevada Dept. of Highways OS-01(1), 70753.
Report, July 12, 1976, by Cameron Covington. An Archeological Reconnaissance of Miller Lane Bridge on Walker River Near Yerington, Lyon County. Nevada Dept. of Highways OS-19(1), #E.A. 70761.

IV/3 - Report, July 30, 1976, by Robert Elston, Jonathan O. Davis, and Gail Townsend. An Intensive Archeological Investigation of the Hawkins Land Exchange Site (FS-05-17-57-33), 4 NEV 184.

IV/4 - Preliminary report, Aug. 6, 1976 by Alan Leventhal. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance for Clearance on San Emidio Road Project, NAS project #164N. Contractor: Phillips Petroleum Co.
Preliminary report, Aug. 27, 1976 by Alan Leventhal. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance for Clearance on the Proposed Areas of Land to be Acquired by the Reno International Airport.
Preliminary report, Sept. 28, 1976 by Cameron Covington. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Rough Creek Structure on the Nine Mile Ranch Road, Nevada Dept. of Highways, E.A. 70775.
Preliminary report, Sept. 28, 1976, by Cameron Covington. An Archeological Reconnaissance of the 20 Mile Beach Access Road on Walker Lake in Mineral County, Nevada. Nevada Highway Dept. E.A. 70775.
Preliminary report, Nov. 17, 1976, by Alan Leventhal. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of U.S. 50 from Junction U.S. 95A, East to Main Street in Fallon.
Report, Nov. 19, 1976, by Robert Elston and Cameron Covington. Archeological Reconnaissance of Sunrise Basin Timber Sale Area, U.S.D.A., Forest Service, Toyiabe National Forest.
Preliminary report, Nov. 23, 1976 by Robert Elston and Cameron Covington. Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Proposed Spooner Lake Day Use Area, Lake Tahoe, Nevada State Park System.

IV/5 - Report, Dec. 3, 1976, by Robert Elston and Cameron Covington. Archeological and Historical Reconnaissance of the Proposed Panther Valley Sewer Line, City of Reno, purchase order no. 12100.
Report, Dec. 9, 1976 by Alan Leventhal and Robert Elston. A Preliminary Archeological and Historical Reconnaissance for the Proposed Sewer Line for the Fallen Leaf Lake Area.
Letter, Dec. 13, 1976 from Margaret Miller to L.H. Gubler, Nevada Dept. of Highways on archeological site at the material site 3 miles s. on Denio Junction (E.A. 70799).
Preliminary report, Dec. 14, 1976, by Robert Elston and Cameron Covington. A Preliminary Archeological Investigation of Onion Valley Reservoir (B.L.M. purchase order #YA-510-PH6-120).

Box 2

Series V. Short Reports, 1977.

V/1 - Report, Feb. 24, 1977, by Jonathan O. Davis. Report of Test Excavation of 26WA1697 (Nev. Highway Dept. contract RS-SU-821(5) EA#70473).

V/2 - Report, June 30, 1977, by Robert Elston, Jonathan O. Davis, Alan Leventhal, and Cameron Covington. The Archeology of the Tahoe Reach of the Truckee River.

V/3 - Letter, Aug. 8, 1977, from Robert Elston to Robert B. Churn, Sparks Public Works Department. On an archeological reconnaissance of the proposed extension of South 21st Street from Hymer to Glendale Ave.
Preliminary report, Aug. 18, 1977, by Alan Leventhal and Robert Elston. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance for Clearance on the Proposed Land Acquisition by the Reno International Airport.
Letter, Sept. 23, 1977, from Jonathan O. Davis to United Geophysical Corporation. On an archeological survey along the seismic line, Frenchie Creek Quadrangle, Crescent Valley, Nevada.
Letter, Oct. 5, 1977 from Robert Elston to the United Geophysical Corporation. On an archeological reconnaissance of the Crescent Fault seismic lines on the east side of the San Emidio Desert (Chevron Resources Co. service order S26797).
Letter, Oct. 20, 1977 from Robert Elston to F.G. Gibson on an archeological reconnaissance of geophysical instruments sites near Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada.
Preliminary report, Nov. 29, 1977, by Cameron Covington. A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Eleven Drill Sites, Allen Spring, Nevada.

Series VI. Short Reports, 1978.

VI/1 - Report, Jan. 20, 1978 by Robert Elston, Todd Bostwick, Phil Keairns, and John Madsen. Preliminary Reconnaissance of the Dayton State Park Area, for Richard Wood.
Report, Feb. 3, 1978, by Robert Elston, Alan Leventhal, and John Madsen. Preliminary Reconnaissance of Six Drill Sites (200 Ft. Radius from Center). The sites are located between the Rye Patch Reservoir and the western foothills of the Humboldt Mountain Range, approximately 27-29 miles north of Lovelock, Nevada, in the vicinity of Humboldt House. Contractor: Phillips Petroleum Company, P.O. Box 10566, Reno, Nevada 89510.
Report, Mar. 30, 1978, by Robert Elston and Jonathan O. Davis. Archeological Examination of Five Drill Sites in the Bradys Hot Springs Area, Churchill County.
Report, July 17, 1978, by Robert Elston and Margaret Miller. Archeological Examination of Two Drill Sites, Brady Hazen KGRA, Bradys Hot Springs Area, Churchill County, Nevada.
Report, Aug. 10, 1978, by Robert Elston and Margaret Miller. Archeological Examination of a Geothermal Observation Well, Fallon Auxiliary Naval Air Station, Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada.

Series VII. Reports, 1974-1981.

VII/1 - An Archeological Reconnaissance of the Southern Truckee Meadows, Washoe County, Nevada, by Robert Elston and David Turner. 1978.

VII/2 - An Overview of Cultural Resources in the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Study Area, Black Rock Range, Humboldt County, Nevada, by Robert Elston and Jonathan O. Davis. 1979.

VII/3 - The Archeology of the Onion Reservoir, Pine Forest Range, Humboldt County, Nevada by Robert Elston, Cameron Covington, and Jonathan O. Davis. 1978.

VII/4 - A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Fallen Leaf Lake By Jonathan O. Davis, Robert Elston, and Gail Townsend. 1974.

VII/5 - Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of Goodyear's Bar and Indian Valley, Sierra County, California by Robert Elston.

VII/6 - A Preliminary Archeological Reconnaissance of the Silver Basin Area by Robert Elston and Gail Townsend.

VII/7 - A Preliminary Archeological Investigation of the Onion Valley Reservoir by Robert Elston and Cameron Covington. 1976.

VII/8 - 1-2 A Cultural Resources Overview for the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, by Robert Elston and Phillip I. Earl. 1979.

VII/9 - Recovery of Historical Archeological Data: Bullfrog Claim and Mining Sites, Nye County, Nevada, Death Valley National Monument, by Donald L. Hardesty. 1980.

VII/10 - Evaluation of Historical Archeological Resources in Bullfrog Claim and Mining Sites: Nye County, Nevada, Death Valley National Monument, by Donald L. Hardesty. 1980.

VII/11 - A Cultural Resources Reconnaissance of the Marlette Lake - Hobart Watershed, by Donald L. Hardesty and Robert Elston. April 31, 1979.

Box 4

VII/12 - 1-15 The Archeology of the Glendale Site (26WA2065). A Report to the Nevada Department of Highways by Margaret M. Miller and Robert G. Elston. 1979.

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