Soapstone Research In Memory of J.D. Love, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Abstract

Operating under a grant from the University of Wyoming-National Park Service Research Station, personnel from the Office of the Wyoming State Archaeologist and volunteers located andre-recorded two soapstone sources in Grand Teton National Park: 48TE1255 B Slim Lawrence's Asbestos Mine B and 48TE529. Over on the west side of the Tetons, in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, we located and recorded a historic mine, three new prehistoric sites, and a previously unrecorded soapstone source: 48TE1646 - the Rammel Mountain talc mine. Among the six newly discovered sites is 48TE1647, which contains two broken soapstone bowl preforms and a broken vessel associated with other prehistoric artifacts. This is interpreted to be evidence of prehistoric manufacture of soapstone bowls in Wyoming. More work needs to be done at this site as well as other in the Tetons.