What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to assess the condition of cultural resources at selected archaeological sites on Vandenberg Air Force Base and to evaluate their eligibility for preservation under federal regulations.

January 18, 2026Open Access

VAFB-1998-02: Archaeological Investigations at CA-SBA-671, -677, and -2961 Vandenberg Air Force Base Santa Barbara County, California

Key Points

The research aims to assess the condition of cultural resources at selected archaeological sites on Vandenberg Air Force Base and to evaluate their eligibility for preservation under federal regulations.
Conducted condition assessments at CA-SBA-671, -677, and -2961 sites.
Identified erosional impacts from wind and sea cliff retreat.
Proposed subsurface testing to define site boundaries and recover lost data.
Site CA-SBA-671 faced significant erosion, including the complete loss of a hearth feature.
Assessment showed CA-SBA-677's cultural deposits and lithic workshops were degrading due to erosion.
CA-SBA-2961 exhibited loss of archaeological remains, threatening the integrity of its lithic reduction station.

Abstract

During recent assessment of the condition of cultural resources on selected portions of Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), Applied EarthWorks, Inc. (Æ) discovered that data potentials at three sites are being lost to erosional and other environmental processes (Lebow 1997a). To comply with Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 5 of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Air Force Instruction 32-7065, and other relevant authorities governing cultural resources, Vandenberg AFB proposed subsurface testing at sites CA-SBA-671, -677, and -2961 to define site boundaries, evaluate each site’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and recover data being lost to erosion (Minas 1997). Site locations are shown in Figure 1-1. CA-SBA-671 is a prehistoric shell and lithic scatter that formerly included a possible hearth. The recent condition assessment documented that archaeological remains along the cliff edge are being lost because of sea cliff retreat and wind erosion. Remnants of a hearth feature identified in the sea cliff wall had completely eroded when the site was revisited six days later. Cultural deposits will likely continue to erode from the sea cliff. Collection of surface artifacts by fishermen and other visitors to the site may constitute an additional source of data loss. CA-SBA-677 is a prehistoric shell and lithic scatter. During the recent condition assessment, Æ archaeologists noted that remains along the cliff edge were being lost because of sea cliff retreat, and wind deflation is impacting the integrity of the cultural deposit in other site areas. Examination of the sea cliff revealed midden deposits to a depth of 120 centimeters, and deflated site areas revealed a lithic workshop locus. The integrity of these intact cultural deposits was being degraded as site areas continued to erode and deflate. CA-SBA-2961 is a lithic scatter with a discrete prehistoric lithic reduction station. Condition assessment revealed that site soils and archaeological remains are being lost to wind and water erosion. The integrity of intact cultural deposits, including the discrete lithic reduction station, would suffer from continued erosion.

Read Full Paperexternally

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay

View Full Paper