5.2 FS-2 (El Diablito Site)

UTM: Zone 13R, E202XXX N3520XXX (NAD 27) [Redacted]

USGS Quadrangle: Victorio Ranch, NM

PLSS: NE ¼, NE ¼, NW ¼, Section 2, T29.5S R13W

Cultural Affiliation: Historic

Site Type: Hand-dug Well

Nearest Water Source: Unnamed tributary to Wamels Draw, 600 m NE

Environmental Setting: Flat/Pavement

Soil type: Molniya silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes

Elevation: 1410 m (4625 ft) amsl

Site Size: 5-meter diameter

NRHP Eligibility Recommendation: Unknown

Field Site-2 was likely first identified within visual inspection of the NW ¼ of Section 2 (T29.5S R13W) which MCD incorporates in this area.[1] Survey transects at 30-m increments were traversed north (0°), perpendicular to the northern MCD perimeter fence. The site was first identified as an open 0.3 m shaft in the desert floor approximately 350 m north of the abandoned settlement of Sierra Rica (Figures 5.3 and 5.4; Table 5.2).  Other than this shaft, presumed to be a hand-dug water well, no evidence of this former Sierra Rica community was identified in the field. Presumably all trace evidence has been obliterated by the construction of the Naphtha fueling station in this area.

Although several foot paths radiate from the former site of Sierra Rica to the mountains to the southwest, the abandoned village of El Cinco De Mayo to the southeast, and the creek to the east, FS-2 lies at some distance from any visible human or game trail.  The local, seasonal tributary to Wamels Draw lies 600 m to the northeast of FS-1. Notably, the only vegetation noted in this portion of the base is the occasional devil’s claw cactus (Echinocactus texensis.).[2]

Figure 5.3. FS-2 shown in NW ¼, Section 2, T29.5S R13W.

Although identified on the surface, a shovel tests were excavated at 10-m and 20-m increments in four cardinal directions surrounding the well. No tests, of course, was possible at the feature itself, however the shaft its self was investigated via reel tapes, plumb lines, and all other means available.

Soils in the well shaft were comparable to the expected NRCS designation for this area, Molniya silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes:

• Stratum I – 10 cm of dark brown (10YR 3/3) silty loam (A1 Horizon)
• Stratum II – 10-40 cm of dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) silty loam (A2 Horizon).
• Stratum III – 40-110 cm of light olive brown (2.5YR 5/3) loam (E Horizon)
• Stratum IV – 110-205 cm of pale olive (5YR 6/4) silty clay loam (EB Horizon)
• Stratum V – 205-365 cm of strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay loam (Bw1 Horizon)
• Stratum VI – 365-515 cm of weak red (5YR 5/2) clay loam (Bw2 Horizon)
• Stratum VII – 515-735 cm of red (2.5YR 4/8) clay loam (2Bw3 Horizon)
• Stratum VIII – 735-810 cm of reddish yellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay and fine gravels (2Btx1 Horizon)
• Stratum IX – 810-1165 cm of very pale brown (10YR 7/4) sandy clay loam and unsorted gravel (2Btx2 Horizon)
• Stratum X– 1165-1375 cm of brown (10YR 4/3) sand (C1 Horizon)
• Stratum XI – 1375-1885 cm of dark gray (10YR 4/1) sand (C2 Horizon)
• Stratum XII – 1885-2905 cm of black (10YR 2/2) sand (C3 Horizon)
• Stratum XIII – 2905-43365 cm of banded gray (10YR 5/1) and pink (5YR 7/3) migmatite (R Horizon)
• Stratum XIV – 43365-50000+ cm of olive gray (5YR 4/2) limestone (R Horizon)

Field Technicians were unable to map the wall of the shaft beyond Stratum XIV, and were not able to probe the bottom of the well, which was not conclusively reached, for cultural materials which may have fallen during excavation or in an provide a date for the well’s construction.

Notably the shaft remains at approximately 0.3 m wide for only the first meter deep; upon reaching clayey substrata excavations seem to have broken through much wider (approximately 1.3 m diameter) as perhaps hitting a void of some kind. Upon reaching rocky strata the smoothed southern profile of the pit was retained (and was mapped), however the width of the shaft could no longer be estimated, having the excavation perhaps having broken through into a more cavernous chamber.  Given the penchant for flash flooding, sink holes, and other non-intuitive, rapid sedimentation to the desert southwest, such voids have been reported in the area, with local folktales of livestock or security patrol helicopters being swallowed by the earth in the night. Also notably is the amount of geothermal heat given off by the shaft, typically 15 degrees warmer than the surrounding air temperature, as is the unique acoustic effects incurred if one places his ear by the shaft. The “drumbeats and screeching tones” heard are likely reverberations from one’s blood pumping in one’s ears not unlike the effect f a seashell to the ear.

Regardless, 0.3 m eight shovel probes were excavated to an average depth of 1 m before being refused by clayey subsoil.  And as, all tests were sterile of additional cultural material, FS-2 was initially defined as only the well-shaft itself. The well has no aboveground brick or adobe construction and it is presumed this has been lost over time, as for both convenience and safety it is unlikely that such a dangerous shaft would have been left unclearly marked. However, the Principal Investigator, upon a later field visit, collected some artifacts were collected near the mouth of the shaft which hadn’t been previously noted (see Table 5.2).  Perhaps these attribute some additional interpretation of the feature.

Table 5.2. Artifacts from surface collection of FS-2, El Diablito Site.

Prehistoric wells have been recorded to up to 75 m deep by the first white settlers to the New Mexican desert and it is only by ethnocentric modern drilled well standards that we conceive of their hand-dug counterparts as primitive, shallow and of low yield. Still, this well appears much deeper than even the deepest recorded prehistoric/aboriginal wells. Further, the scoring and gouging marks on the shaft having been surprisingly well-preserved, the historic tools recovered near the mouth of the shaft appear to have been those (i.e. shovel and trowel) that were used to excavate the initial shaft. Therefore, although such oases have been crucial to survival in the southwest for millennia, we interpret this feature to have to have been excavated in the recent historic period. Indeed, it is likely this was an exploratory probe which was able to breach a subterranean aperture in the aquifer. Likely the last of a series of such probes started much closer to the surficial run-off from the Sierra Ricas.

Figure 5.4. Detail of FS-2, looking northeast.

Well placement techniques have a long and varied history ranging from close consideration of the terrain for indicators of a shallow aquifer to so-called “water-witching.” Regardless of technique the ability to site a good well is a point of honor in most arid communities, prehistoric, historic or otherwise, as the thirsty labor to dig a deep shaft and conversely have no pay off could spell disaster in such a community. One wonders the opinion of the “water witch” who chose the site of FS-2.  That is, although excavations on some level appear to have been fairly easy, given the apparent subterranean voids, not having reached the bottom ourselves, it is not clear to us whether he/she was ultimately successful in reaching the fresh water. Whether the excavation tools left near the mouth of the shaft were abandoned out of disgust or forgotten during celebration is something we may never know.

In any case, as is, our investigations of FS-2 have pushed the envelope of the Safety protocols afforded us in the SOW[3].  Further investigations of FS-2 may provide valuable information on the lost town of Sierra Rica, of which to date this is the only evidence. Particularly examining the limits of the excavation for artifacts associates with the town may provide some insight to the former community.

Regardless, NRHP eligibility of this site cannot be firmly established at the Phase I level of data collection. Further Phase II investigations, including additional documentation, sampling and research in hydrology, and dowsing in the southwestern desert, is required to fully assess this site’s potential significance. Therefore pending additional study, FS-2 remains of unknown eligibility for the NRHP.

[1] Although this feature was ultimately flagged and recorded by survey crews, there appear to be no notes on its initial discovery. Notes for several transects in this area are missing; it is likely  a short term technician failed to return his field notebook. [fjt]

[2] Notable in so much that, I assume this “devilish” field site was named for the cactus; I see no other demonic aspect to this rather featureless pit into the bowels of the earth. [fjt]

[3] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, El Paso District. 2012. Memorandum of Agreement for National Historic Preservation Act Compliance  Regarding the Closure of Montweazel Chemical Depot, under the Recommendation of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission.