NO. 2 SALVAGE PROGRAM, I95O-I95I — COOPER 3I 



On typological grounds, the lower occupation of 24TL26 appears 

 to be relatively late and thus attests to the recency of the considerable 

 deposits above it. A study of the site by a geologist would be desirable. 



Triangle Park Reservoir site. — This will be a very small reservoir 

 on the South Fork of Rock Creek, high in the Bighorn Mountains in 

 Johnson County, Wyo. No archeological sites were found during the 

 reconnaissance, in June 195 1, of this area, which lies at an altitude 

 of approximately 8,800 feet above sea level. 



Willow Park Reservoir site. — Within a few miles of the Triangle 

 Park Reservoir area is the site of the proposed Willow Park Reser- 

 voir, on the South Fork of Piney Creek, in Johnson County, Wyo., 

 in the Bighorn Mountains. It is more than 8,500 feet above sea level. 

 The reconnaissance, accomplished in June 1951, revealed no evidence 

 of aboriginal occupation. 



Yellowtail Reservoir site. — The site of the Yellowtail Dam is on 

 the Bighorn River in Big Horn County, Mont., approximately 40 

 miles southeast of Billings. The water to be impounded by the 500- 

 foot-high concrete structure will flood the full length of the spec- 

 tacular Bighorn Canyon and will back up to a point some miles above 

 Kane, Wyo. The river here is flanked by the Bighorn Mountains on 

 the east and the Pryor Mountains on the west. These ranges are 

 forested, in contrast to the sparsely sagebrush-covered lower surfaces 

 bordering the river valley. In the upper end of the reservoir area 

 the valley is broad and shallow, with cottonwoods and smaller growth 

 on the flood plain and sagebrush on the terraces. About 8 miles below 

 the mouth of the Shoshone River, the only major tributary in the 

 reservoir area, the Bighorn River enters the Bighorn Canyon, 

 through which it flows to a point below the dam site. In its course 

 through the predominantly narrow, sheer-walled canyon, the river is 

 frequently characterized by impressive rapids. 



The reservoir area has been the object of attention by archeologists 

 of the Missouri Basin Project at three different times, in 1946, 1950, 

 and 1 95 1. A 4-day reconnaissance in 1946 amounted to little more 

 than a spot check of the most accessible places, but during a 3-week 

 period in 1950 the entire area outside the canyon was examined. 

 Finally, in July 1951, an ii-day boat trip through the canyon was 

 accomplished with the aid of local guides and boatmen, and all terrain 

 suitable for aboriginal occupation within the canyon was inspected. 

 Forty-nine sites of various kinds have been recorded, but only about 

 half of them are likely to be destroyed. "Tipi-ring" sites and other 

 open camp sites account for more than two-thirds of the locations of 

 archeological interest, which include also rock shelters, petroglyphs, 



