5900 36TH AVE W SEPA 015 - 034 - SOUNDVIEW BUSINESS CAMPUS - VERITAS Land Use Decision Documents 2025-04-22

although wood or plant fibers might be present in the wetland soils, preserved bone would be unlikely. As ephemeral as early upland camp sites would have been, and given the general acidity of evergreen forest soils, it is unlikely that anything other than Ethic tools or flakes would have survived. Land Use Patterns While there is extensive evidence of use of the nearby shoreline and presumed use of the riverine environments for a wide variety of resources (e.g., marine and freshwater fish, rushes, shellfish, and transportation) in the precontact and ethnohistoric eras, precontact use of the forested uplands tended to be limited to resource gathering (cedar bark, cambium, root gathering), hunting, and travel, all of which left few or no archaeological footprints. No known trails were evident on the 1860 GLO map, and the gravelly glacial till topped by thin forest topsoil presents a low probability for preservation. The parcel was again logged and mechanically cleared of vegetation sometime around 2005, when a grading permit was obtained prior to the development of the parcel (which never took place). The history of Settlement and post -Settlement land use in the wider region indicates that the surface and near -surface environment within the project area is likely to have been profoundly affected by timber and stump removal. Conclusions While there is ample archaeological evidence for human activity in the region dating to 10,000 years B.P. and an ethnographically recorded village site less than 1.6 km (1.0 mile) west at Point Elliott, the APE was not likely to have been used for long-term habitation until the early Historic era. The geomorphological context (e.g., wetland and glacial till terrace above a steep gulch and fish -bearing Japanese Creek) and understood patterns of land use indicate that evidence of late precontact use of the project area could include surface or near -surface expressions of episodes of resource gathering and/or processing or travel or short-term/single-use camp sites represented by lithic scatters and/or small concentrations of FMR and charcoal. Given the relatively thin layer of potentially artifact - bearing soil (6-45 cm [2-18 inches]) above glacial till in the central wetland portion of the site (which is proposed to be filled), and historic logging and grubbing activities, disturbance may extend well into the upper, potentially artifact -bearing soils. The result would be moderately to highly disturbed surficial or near -surface deposits atop Pleistocene (culturally sterile) glacial till. Post -Settlement land use is generally represented in the local archaeological record by structural foundations; fence posts; metal tools and/or hardware; refuse such as ceramic, can, and/or glass fragments; and evidence of slashpile or trash burning. If field use required drainage, terra cotta tiles, pipes, and other drainage features would also be expected. No structures, fence lines, or drainage features are evidenced on any historic or modern map. It is unlikely that any historic cultural resources located would be considered eligible for listing on Federal or local historic registers. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS Field investigation was conducted by Jenifer Hushour, Melanie Diedrich, and Keith Solmo on May 13, 14, 27, and 28, 2014, in clear, warm weather. Tierra archaeologists conducted shovel testing along the existing trails (n=14) on the first 2 dates, and then again following vegetation removal (n=7) on May 27t' and 28`h, for a total of 21 shovel test probes (STPs). Additionally, the excavations of four mechanized soil test pits (SPs) were observed by Tierra archaeologists. No other shovel testing was possible at this time since the permit obtained for the vegetation removal and soil test Tierra Archaeological Report No. 2014-077 18