This thesis is a preliminary archaeological predictive model and project-planning
tool created for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) as part
of a statewide planning effort to enhance the agency's ability to assess the potential
impacts of highway projects on archaeological resources. This model addresses the
archaeological sensitivity of the US 30 highway corridor from Portland, Oregon to
Astoria, Oregon. The highway corridor is divided into 7 separate segments for
management purposes and each segment is given a low, medium, or high
probability rating for its potential to yield archaeological resources in this model.
The ratings are accompanied by planning and maintenance recommendations to be
integrated into a comprehensive planning document for the corridor.
Probability determinations are based on State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO) archaeological records, physiographic data, dominant vegetation zones,
General Land Office maps, ethnographic accounts, and historical records. The
precise utility of this model is unknown because cross-tabulations that compare
actual and model assigned presence or absence of resources have not been made.
Low probability ratings are assigned to 27% of the corridor. Medium probability
segments comprise 15% of the corridor. High probability rating account for 58%
of the total length of the corridor. The segment with the highest site density is
segment 2, averaging .63 archaeological sites per mile.
The archaeological probability ratings were initially omitted from the Draft
Corridor Management Plan of 1998, but have been included in the Final Corridor
Management Plan of 1999. The predictive model results were incorrectly added to
the document and consequently create false impressions. In the Final Corridor
Management Plan the number of sites listed for segment 2 is incorrect. It is
indicated that seven archaeological sites are present within the corridor, but the
actual number is fourteen. Furthermore, the percentage ratings of low, medium,
and high archaeological probability are erroneously provided for segments 3, 4, and
7 in the final plan. Ultimately this report has proven useful to ODOT
archaeological staff, however signs indicate that the data provided to planning
personnel has had little impact on project planning and design. / Graduation date: 2003
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/31589 |
| Date | 04 February 2003 |
| Creators | Kachadoorian, Lydia A. |
| Contributors | Brauner, David R. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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