Plateau Archaeological Investigations conducted a cultural resource survey for the City of Tekoa’s Sewer System Installations and Upgrades. The City of Tekoa intends to reroute and link a portion of their sewer system. This will be accomplished by excavating over 1,100 ft for the placement of new sewer line and manholes, part of which will pass under Little Hangman Creek.
The Project Area encompasses a historic railroad site that has been abandoned since 1960 and was de-constructed in the 1980s. The Union Pacific rail yard once included a roundhouse, turntable, a structure identified as the W. Ho. building, affiliated structures, and rail lines. A Washington State Historic Archaeological Inventory Form was updated for this site. Construction activities are expected to minimally impact and disturb remaining ballast rail beds, composed primarily of cinder, within the Project Area. Associated rail yard remnants, such as brick and glass were found throughout the Project Area during surface survey. Probe excavations uncovered melted glass, clinkers, a bolt, cinders, flat glass, tack nails, ten penny nails, and wire to depths of 70 cm below ground. Sub ballast fill episodes of cinder and slag are expected to cover a good portion of the Project Area.
Location: Whitman County, Washington
