Idaho National Laboratory Cultural Resource Management Plan

Research Question—Does the dramatic increase in the number of Late Archaic sites over earlier
sites indicate greater population density?
Under the settlement and subsistence problem domain, Late Archaic sites are examined for a shift in
subsistence organization. If it is determined that subsistence is essentially the same during that period as
in previous periods, then a regional increase in population size or a concentration of regional population
in the desert areas of the Snake River Basin might be an acceptable interpretation. Survey and excavation
data from INL could make a significant contribution to answering this question.
Data Requirements: Any Archaic site, especially those with buried cultural deposits so that an
estimate of length, occupation, and size of group can be made.
Research Topic: Late Prehistoric Population Density. Based on the number of known sites that
date to the late prehistoric, it would appear that population size decreased in the upper Snake River Basin
after the Late Archaic. As with the previous research topic, this may reflect a changing subsistence
organization rather than a population decrease. INL excavation and survey data will help address this
topic.
Research Question—Did the population of the upper Snake River Basin decrease during the late
prehistoric?
The answer to this question relies heavily on the interpreted subsistence organization covered under
the subsistence and settlement research domain. If group size is not increasing and if there is no shift
toward greater logistical complexity, an acceptable interpretation would be decreasing population
concentration in the Snake River Basin.
Data Requirements: Sites with late prehistoric occupation, especially if subsurface deposits are
present that may have information concerning group size and length of site occupation.
Research Topic: Overall Site Density. Based on the current level of survey of INL lands, there is
approximately one site for every 15 acres of land. Although most of these (85%) are small sites consisting
of fewer than 100 stone flakes and tools, this site density rivals culture areas like the Southwest (Arizona
and New Mexico) and the Mississippi River area where complex agriculture-based cultures emerged.
Research Question—Why are there so many sites at INL?
An answer to this question may arise through subsistence research, but it may also be answered
through demographic studies. It is feasible that there were so many people living in the upper Snake River
Basin that the resources on INL had to be relied upon. It is equally feasible that the resources on INL
were so desirable that they attracted heavy use of the area.
Data Requirements: All sites that have temporally diagnostic artifacts, especially if accompanied by
subsurface deposits that may yield information concerning group size, subsistence activity, and length of
stay.
Research Topic: Volcanic Activity and Human Behavior. Numerous volcanic events occurred in
and around INL during the late Pleistocene and Holocene that should have affected human adaptation.
The Great Rift area, Hells Half Acre field, Cerro Grande area, and more distant Picabo Vent complex
must have diverted animals and hunters to adjoining areas, or may have even attracted both with an
assortment of geothermal resources and spectacular visual effects. The effect of the flows on human
demography is an especially intriguing question that could be answered through research on INL.
Research Question—What effect have periods of volcanic activity had on regional populations?
It is logical to conclude that volcanic activity would at least temporarily alter the human use of the
affected area, and at most, permanently change the use of the area. Excavations of both pre- and
post-eruption sites could provide insights into this problem.
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