Belle Ayre Mine

The Belle Ayr Mine award was for the mitigation of what is knownas the Caballo Creek Rifle Pits. This historical site was eligible for the National Register of Historical Places. The Caballo Creek Rifle Pits site is important in the archaeological record because of the rarity of preserved rifle pit sites.

The mine went to great lengths to involve the community in the mitigation process. Public tours were conducted where the public not only observed the excavation process but also actively participated by sifting material excavated from one of the pits. A video was prepared to allow broader dissemination of the site information to classrooms in Campbell County.