DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah -- More than 40 people participated in a Native American Heritage Month tour in the test center area, Nov. 6, learning about efforts to document archeological areas on Dugway.
The tour was arranged by Rachel Quist, the Garrison cultural resource manager, who took attendees to a Cedar Mountain Training Range archeological site to show the value of identifying and preserving ancient artifacts.
"It's important that we identify and mark these sites," Quist said. "These artifacts help us preserve the history and better understand the culture of the hunter-gatherers, the earliest Americans, of the Bonneville Basin."
The participants were split into two groups, lead by Quist and Jennifer Degraffenried (an archeologist with the office), allowing everyone plenty of time see the flagged sites and ask questions.
"The smaller chipped stones you see are broken spear points used by hunters to hurl handheld spears at smaller game or reptiles," Degraffenried said.
She also pointed out several large slightly spooned rocks, which she said indicated the surfaces may have been used for preparing food, cooking or as a small hearth during cold weather.
Tour participants liked the idea of celebrating this year's Native American Heritage observance by going to the field to see an archeological site.
"This was a very visual tour and I enjoyed the presentation," said Jared Mathis, a geographic information specialist at West Desert Test Center. "I learned a lot about how the native people here created tools they needed to survive."
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