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This report is a descriptive summary of the field work completed in 1987 and 1988 in the reservoir basin of Jackson Lake, Wyoming, in Grand Teton National Park. The work was funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and performed by the National Park Service.

During the 1987 and 1988 field seasons, a combination of drought and drawdown lowered the water level of the lake to historic levels. Inventory of these additional areas resulted in recording 40 previously unknown sites. The majority of these sites were utilized by cultures from the Middle Archaic to the Late Prehistoric periods. Functionally, these sites include base camps, hunting stands, short-term camps, and quarries. Indications of seasonality suggest that sites on the Snake River delta were occupied minimally from spring through late fall. Testing was conducted at 48TE509, 48TE1053, 48TE1067, 48TE1100, 48TE1101, 48TE1102, 48TE1103, 48TE1104, 48TE1106, 48TE1107, 48TE1111, 48TE1114, 48TTE1119, and 48TE1120.

Of paleoenvironmental importance is the progradation of the Snake River to the south, from near Berry Creek during the early Holocene, to its present location during historic times. The beach ridge sequence on the southern end of the delta provides important chronological information for sites encompassing the ridges (particularly 48TE509 and 48TE1067). Detailed information on the geomorphology of individual sites can be found in the report by Pierce and others in Section II. Barnoski's report, also in Section II, summarizes the current knowledge of the general paleoenvironmental sequence in the area.

Information on chronology, resulting from cross-dating the projectile point styles and from the radiocarbon dates, suggests that the study area was occupied from the Paleoindian through the Late Prehistoric period with no major hiatus. There is an indication at 48TE509 of early Paleoindian material, but it apparently reflects a relatively ephemeral occupation. However, many projectile points related to late Paleoindian cultures were recovered. The Early Archaic Period is represented by large side-notched projectile points and the earliest radiocarbon date from the study area, from Feature 232 on 48TE509, 5850 ±90 B.P. Grass and sedge seeds, as well as berries, are found fairly consistently within later feature deposits. They are never found in large quantities, but the quantities found do suggest utilization. The identifiable faunal remains are associated with Late Archaic and Late Prehistoric sites and represent a variety of species. These include bison, elk, deer or antelope, medium-sized mammals, rodents, fish, and birds.

The sites located and tested during these two field seasons are only a portion of the pattern of settlement utilized by the prehistoric occupants. However, it appears important to the prehistoric people to settle near the lake. As the river prograded southward, the prehistoric occupants moved their sites south taking advantage of the newly created landforms.

All areas of the lakeshore were utilized, but the Snake River delta was the most densely settled. Geomorphological and palynological information suggests that some sites (48TE1099, 48TE1101) were near abandoned meanders of the Snake River. These wet and marshy meanders were utilized as trash dumps. Vegetation near the meanders would include some of the grasses and sedges found in the features.

The sources of the vast majority of the lithic raw material recovered from Jackson Lake are between Obsidian Cliffs and Teton Pass, suggesting very little trade, or mostly local trade, among prehistoric inhabitants. A shell gorget, made from an unidentified marine species, was found surficially between 48TE509 and 48TE1067. This piece suggests participation in larger trade networks. Chyi's work, in Section II, examines the clay in the ceramics at 48TE1090 and clay balls at various hearths to see if they match a sample of local clay. None does match; however, the material in the clay was similar enough to suggest that the source could be nearby. This again emphasizes the local origin of most raw materials.

The effects of inundation on the sites varies from inconsequential to vast. An inundation destruction ratio was developed to compare deterioration due to inundation between features and between sites. It is presented in the section on inundation. At some sites, such as 48TE1111 and 48TE1114, features were first eroded from the side by the Snake River as it changed its meander pattern. After the reservoir, the same areas were eroded from the top down by wave action. At other sites (i.e., 48TE1099, 48TE1101) cultural materials were deposited in an abandoned meander, after which the meander was filled, helping to preserve the materials. The single force produced by the reservoir which is most detrimental to cultural resources, appears to be the energy of wave action. wave action causes erosion and redeposition of cultural material, thus destroying the integrity of many archeological sites.

This is the last in a series of descriptive reports of the Jackson Lake Archeological Project. These reports contain data from the inventory and testing during this project. The final report, due in 1991, is a synthetic report, discussing the research questions addressed above in greater detail.

Due to the sensitive nature of this subject this report is available to professional archeologists only. If you order this manuscript we may contact you for verification of your profession.