Archaeological Studies in the Cortez Mining District, 1981

Nevada Cultural Resource Series Technical Report #8

The Cortez Mining District in the Cortez Mountains of central Nevada (Figure 1) was established in 1863 and continues to be mined today. Nevada a large producer by Canstock District standards, Cortez is unusual, nevertheless, for its continuity. Archaeologically, the district is also unusual for the relatively gold preservation of its mines, mills and settlements and for its rather long record of mining activities. Both vandalism and current mining are, however, accelerating the rate at which cultural resources in the district are being destroyed. The site of "Old" or "Lower" Cortez is especially threatened because of its visibility - it is alongside the main road through Grass Valley and includes easily seen stone and adobe foundations, many of which are associated with "pretty" Chinese artifacts. For that reason, the Bureau of Land Management contracted with the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1981 to begin an archaeological study of the district. Donald L. Hardesty is the Principal Investigator. The Scope of Work. stipulated that the study is to include design and implementation of a mapping, excavation, and evaluation strategy for Old Cortez and a site survey strategy for the entire district. In this progress report, current development of a ''management strategy" for the district is described, along with results of the 1981 survey and excavations at Old Cortez - OCM recognized as the settlement of Shoshone Wells.