Golden Spike Cultural Landscape Report

Archaeological Sites

Many of the historical land uses and activity areas originally associated with the construction and operation of the transcontinental railroad are currently manifested as archaeological sites. These include the Last Spike Site; Promontory Station; the town of Dead Fall; workers campsites; Hall's camp; and a number of smaller, isolated features including what may be the remains of blacksmithing areas.

The locations of most of the archaeological sites have been identified and over half have been intensively investigated and mapped. It is estimated that each of the campsites contains between 40 and 50 features, including the remains of pit houses, dugouts, lean-to shelters, rock chimneys, trash pits and middens. Additional research is needed to aid in the interpretation of variability within and among the sites. It is anticipated that the information derived from archaeological investigations will contribute to our understanding of the cultural traditions of the railroad workers and of the gender of the sites' occupants. For example, the historical documentary record indicates that the primary ethnic and cultural groups working on the construction of the railroad were Mormons, as well as numerous Irish and Chinese laborers from the east and west coasts, respectively. The information obtained during archaeological research will assist in the interpretation of the role of cultural traditions in the design of the campsites, as well as the interpretation of land use patterns and cluster arrangement as it related to the overall spatial organization of the historic railroad landscape. Research may also reveal information concerning the involvement of other ethnic groups, such as African Americans and American Indians, which is not well documented in the historical record.

In addition to the archaeological remains of the human activity centers discussed above, the historic telegraph line also occurs as an archaeological manifestation within the landscape. Construction of the telegraph line proceeded apace with the railroad grade and was important to the communications among the workforce. Today, the only remains of this mechanical engineering system are the rock piles that mark the former locations of poles and, in some instances, the remains of the base of the poles themselves.

Summary

The archaeological sites associated with this cultural landscape are principally significant for their potential to yield information regarding the character and composition of the activity areas associated with the construction and upgrading of the transcontinental railroad grade and with the growth of the town of Promontory. In addition, the historical telegraph system is also represented archaeologically (Figure 49).

Figure 49. Detail of the remains of a square telegraph pole — east slope of the Promontories. Source: HRA 2000.