UC Merced Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Title Fish Lake Valley in Great Basin Prehistory Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2gz6b3jf Journal Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 10(1) ISSN 0191-3557 Author Rafferty, Kevin Publication Date 1988-07-01 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Journal of Califomia and Great Basin Anthropology Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 88-99, (1988). Fish Lake Valley in Great Basin Prehistory KEVIN RAFFERTY, Division of Anthropological Studies, Environmental Research Center, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154. MJ ISH Lake Valley, situated in the western which provides the runoff for six permanent portion of the Great Basin (Fig. 1), is a streams that descend to the valley floor. region poorly known archaeologically, al­ Temperatures average 48.9° F. (9.4° C), though a fairly extensive ethnographic data with summer temperatures reaching 90-100° base is available (Steward 1933, 1938, 1941, F. (32-38° C), and winter temperatures often 1970). The paucity of archaeological detail below freezing (Eaken 1950; HaU 1982). became evident during several surveys in the Chiatovich Creek is the largest permanent valley, where 17 sites were recorded in a stream with the greatest annual runoff. Ad­ 240-acre area (Rafferty 1984a, 1984b). A ditional water resources include Fish Lake single cultural resource overview (Norwood Spring and Marsh in the eastern portion of et al. 1980) exists for comparative data, but the valley and a number of seeps and springs it is limited to the California portion of the in the nearby mountain ranges (Eaken 1950; valley. Site records and cultural resource Rush and Katzer 1973). management reports are on file at the Bu­ To an elevation of 6,500 ft. (981 m.), the reau of Land Management office in Tonopah, valley is dominated by a Desert Scrub or Nevada. Shadscale plant community (Billings 1951; This paper is an attempt to synthesize Lloyd and Mitchell 1973) consisting of big available data on the prehistory of Fish Lake sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), shadscale Valley in a coherent manner. The intent is (Artemisia confertifolia), rabbit brush (Chry- to create interest in an area containing sothamnus nauseosus), some salt grass (Dis- archaeological and ethnographic resources tichlis spicata), and rice grass (Oryzopsis that could yield valuable prehistoric settle­ hymenoides), the latter of which occurs in ment and subsistence data with potential for locally heavy stands. In the southern por­ comparison with those available in the tion of the valley, creosote bush (Larrea tri­ Owens Valley, to the west. dentata) and Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) are found; the latter was an important early NATURAL SETTING spring food resource (Steward 1938:64). Fish Lake Valley is typical of the basin- A Pinyon Woodland dominates elevations and-range province, consisting of a broad, between 6,500 and 9,500 feet (1,980-2,875 m.) deep, alluvial valley bordered on all sides by (Billings 1951; Lloyd and MitcheU 1973; HaU sharply rising, north-to-south-trending 1982). In addition to single-leaf pinyon mountain ranges (Fig. 2). This irregular (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juni- crescent-shaped area is 45 miles (75 km.) perus osteosperma), big sagebrush forms a long and 1 to 5 miles (1.6-8.4 km.) wide large portion of this community. The muced (Eaken 1950). understory includes several exploitable food The valley receives less than five inches resources, including gooseberry (Ribes of rain a year. To the west, the White cereum), snowberry (Symphoricarpos parishii), Mountains receive nearly 10 inches of pre­ rice grass, wild rye (Efymus cinereus), cipitation in the form of rain and snow. wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), squirreltail [88] FISH LAKE VALLEY 89 Fig. 1. The Great Basin and Fish Lake Valley. 90 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY Fig. 2. Sites referred to in the text. Fish Lake Valley and environs. (Sitanion hystrix), June grass (Koeleria food sources and limber pine nuts may also cristatd), and needlegrass (Stipa comata, S. have been used as food (Steward 1938:21-32). thurberiana) (cf. Steward 1938:21-32). Alpine Tundra dominates elevations Between 9,500 and 11,500 feet (2,895- above 11,500 feet (3,505 m.) to the summit 3,505 m.), the Subalpine Forest dominates of the White Mountains at 14,246 feet (4,342 (Lloyd and Mitchell 1973; Hall 1982). It is m.). This treeless area contains varieties of characterized by bristlecone pine (Pinus Ion- clover (Trifolium monoense), fleabane (Eri- gaeva) and Umber pine (Pinus flexilis). Other geron pygmaeus), buckwheat, squirreltail, and species include big sagebrush, Indian tea other grasses and forbs (Lloyd and MitcheU (Ephedra viridis), wild buckwheat (Eriogonum 1973). Steward (1938) believed this to be an ovalifolium), June grass, timberline bluegrass economicaUy unimportant area to the abori- (Poa mpicola), needlegrass, prickly phlox gind inhabitants except as a hunting area. (Leptodactylon pungens), and fleabane (Eri- Faunal species on the vaUey floor include geron clokeyi). Many of these plants were jackrabbits (Lepus califomicus), pocket go­ used by ethnographicaUy known peoples as phers (Thomomys spp.), and a variety of liz- nSH LAKE VALLEY 91 ards, snakes, and other reptUes. Pronghorn or 0.52%, of the Nevada portion of the val­ (Antilocapra americana) were traditionaUy ley has been inventoried in the last decade. hunted on the plains at the western base of The Nevada Department of Transporta­ the SUver Peak Range (Steward 1938). In tion has surveyed the rights-of-way for the woodlands, cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus three state highways (Brooks 1974; Bunch nuttalli), a variety of smaU rodents, avifau­ 1980; Bunch 1982) and a material pit (WaUof na, carnivores, Inyo mule deer (Odocoileus 1978). These studies resulted in the re­ hemionus inyoensis), and mountain sheep cording of 19 sites, most of which were iso­ (Ovis canadensis) were present. All were lated artifacts and smaU lithic scatters pursued in aboriginal times and Ukely were containing obsidian and chert. A survey of important components of prehistoric subsis­ an access route leading into the vaUey from tence systems (Steward 1938; HaU 1982). the Palmetto Mountains to the east resulted Additional important resources included in the recording of five lithic scatters, four obsidian, avaUable in the vaUey in the form isolated artifacts, one campsite, three rock- of smaU weathered nodules (Strong 1971). shelters, and one large petroglyph panel Andesite, basalt, vesicular basalt, and other (Bunch 1981). This road paraUels a major volcanics were also locaUy available due to prehistoric route through the mountains and the regional volcanic activity in recent geo­ provided access for the exploitation of logical times. This spectrum of avaUable resources there (Steward 1938). resources combined to make Fish Lake Val­ In the last decade, the Bureau of Land ley attractive to prehistoric populations. Management, Las Vegas District, conducted 18 surveys in the vaUey; aU were connected PREVIOUS RESEARCH with various land actions (Foley 1974; Wirtz Little formal archaeological research has 1975; Hatoff 1976; SaUani 1977, 1978; Lieb- been conducted in the study area. The re­ hauser 1979, 1981a, 1981b, 1981c; Rafferty sults of the overview (Norwood et al. 1980) 1980a, 1980b, 1981a, 1981b, 1981c, 1981d, were based on sample surveys that included 1982; Jamrog 1981; ChUdress and Rafferty the southern portion of the vaUey but not 1983). Twelve sites, including a large lithic the northern (Nevada) portion. The sites scatter containing Pinto and Rose Spring recorded in the sample survey were not de­ series projectUe points (Hatoff 1976) and a fined by type or area so it cannot be deter­ rockshelter in the SUver Peak Range (Raf­ mined how many sites are known in the ferty 1980b), were recorded. Isolated arti­ southern part of Fish Lake VaUey. Thus, facts, two smaU lithic scatters, a grinding those data are of little utiUty in the present stone locus, a roasting ring, a rock ring/ work. Uthic scatter association, a "fire pit" with The majority of the work conducted in associated prehistoric and historic artifacts, the vaUey consists of cultural resource sur­ and historic ranch buUdings were recorded veys conducted by the Bureau of Land Man­ during other surveys (MUler 1981; Reno agement or executed by other organizations 1983a, 1983b). satisfying environmental impact study re­ Academic research in the vaUey has been quirements. These agencies include the Ne­ conducted at only two sites, both located on vada Department of Transportation, the Des­ large washes in the northern part of the ert Research Institute, and the Division of vaUey. Both Steward (1929) and Heizer and Anthropological Studies of the University of Baumhoff (1962) recorded petroglyph panels, Nevada, Las Vegas. A total of 3,228 acres. bedrock mortars, and lithics at 26ES114, and 92 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY a vUlage at 26ES393 (Fig. 2). diagnostic artifacts for this period are Pinto The research that prompted this paper and Elko series projectUe points. Pinto was the survey of four areas of potential points have a general use span of approxi­ agricultural land that was to be sold by the mately 3000 B.C. to 700 B.C. (5,000-2,700 Bureau of Land Management (Rafferty 1984a, B.P.) (Heizer and Hester 1978). The dating 1984b). Seventeen sites, mostly isolates or of the Elko series is subject to debate, loci of fire-cracked rock, were recorded. however. Both Bettinger and Taylor (1974) One exception was a possible campsite, and Thomas (1981) estimated that the series 26ES715, 16.5 acres in size, located on the dated between 1300 B.C. and A.D. 600, whUe southern terrace of Chiatovich Creek. Chert Heizer and Hester (1978) accepted a range of and obsidian artifacts, including at least one 2000 B.C. to A.D. 1080 (4,000-870 B.P.).