Rancher, NRCS Protect East Idaho Archaeological Site

Situated in rolling hills of privately owned range grass about 20 miles west of Idaho Falls, are caves on rancher Steve Croft’s land containing one of the most complete records of the people occupying the region over 10,000 years ago. Steve knew he had a ranch to run but was concerned over the risk the caves posed to his cattle as well as the negative toll that trespassing and looting were taking on the sites.  So last year he contacted NRCS district conservationist Dennis Hadley at the Idaho Falls NRCS office and signed up for an EQIP contract.

Croft wanted to construct a fence around the caves and he also wanted to have better control over his grazing management by installing additional fencing on adjacent pasturelands. Croft and Hadley worked together along with Tom Burnham, (then) Idaho NRCS cultural resource coordinator and Darin Vrem, NRCS archaeologist. “Any time that a conservation activity has the potential to effect a cultural resource, we are called in do research, a field review, and see that the design of the project will not interfere with the site,” Burnham said. What caught Burnham’s attention was the fact that, despite past lootings and scientific excavations, the caves still contain intact deposits with the potential to yield more information on Idaho’s past cultures and climates. “Cultural resources are important because they are a window to our past,” Burnham says. “We can learn a lot about managing our land today by looking at the past.”

Croft’s plan was approved and cost-share provided for the construction of a jack-fence around the caves and more barbwire fencing in his pastures. “Think about your child, your home, something real important to you. That’s how I feel about this piece of ground,” Croft said. To Croft, proper grazing of his land is just a matter-of-course. He also wants to continue his good stewardship of these important archaeological resources and the hopes that in the future scientific research will continue at the site.

The Wasden Cave Complex is comprised of three large collapsed lava-tube caves. The largest of these caves, called Big Owl, has been studied by Idaho State University archaeologists since the 1960s. Their excavations uncovered the remains of butchered animals such as pronghorn antelope and wolf. However, at the lowest levels, where the oldest soils and artifacts are found, archeologists located the scattered bones of elephants (Mammuthus sp.), camel (Camelops sp.) and a larger extinct relative of the modern bison (Bison antiquus).

Spear points, and other stone and bone tools, were also found among these remains giving insight into how these massive animals were killed and how they were processed for food and other uses. One theory suggests that the animals were driven into the caves where they were either injured from a fall or trapped allowing hunters to kill their prey by spearing, dropping rocks, or flinging darts from an atlatl (throwing-stick).

Although Idaho has numerous archaeological sites, the Wasden site is unique in its age, size, and diversity of animal remains.  Many of Idaho's most important archeological sites are now on private lands making them vulnerable to looting, construction, and erosion that have destroyed much of the State’s archeological record.  Through education and with some assistance, however, landowners like Croft can be the best stewards of Idaho’s archeological heritage.
Your contact is Jody Fagan, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 208-685-6978.