NEVADA Archaeologist Volume 4, Number 1, 1983

Peter Ting, Sr. at the Spooner Summit site in 1967. Photograph by Norman Beesley.

Nevada Archaeological Association EDITORIAL BOARD nvvada Archavologlcal The editorial board of the Nevada Arclweologist is com­ Assodatlon prised of the Board of Directors of the Nevada Ar­ chaeological Association. The Board appoints the editor of the Nevada Archaeologist for a term of three years. The design for the NAA logo was Member Janelle Nixon taken from a Garfield Flat petroglyph ARCHAEO-NEV ADA SOCIETY by Robert Elston. Las Vegas, Nevada MEMBERSHIP Member Rex Fraizer The Nevada Archaeological Association is an incor­ ARCHAEO-NEV ADA SOCIETY porated, non-profit organization registered in the State of Las Vegas, Nevada Nevada, and has no paid employees. Membership is open to any person interested in archaeology and its allied Member Jonathan O. Davis sciences, and in the conservation of archaeological NEVADA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSN. Silver City, Nevada resources. Requests for membership and dues should be sent to the corresponding secretary whose address is listed Member Amy Dansie below. Make all checks and money orders payable to the NEV ADA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSN Nevada Archaeological Association. Membership cards Carson City, Nevada will be issued on payment of dues, and active members receive subscription to the Nevada Archaeologist. Subscription is by membership only, but individual or back issues may be purchased separately.

N .A.A. OFFICERS Editor Donald R. Tuohy NEVADA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASS'N President Robert Crabtree 482-6214 Carson City, Nevada Bureau of Land Management P.O. Box 911 * indicates ex-officio member Tonopah, NV 89049 BACK ISSUES Secretary Jean Stevens Back issues of the Nevada Archaeologist may be P.O. Box 341 ordered through Amy J. Dansie, Nevada State Museum, East Ely, NV 89315 Carson City, Nevada 89710. Checks or money orders should be made out to the Nevada Archaeological Associa­ Treasurer Sharon L. Edaburn 423-3677 tion. Volume 1 (one issue), and Volume 2, Numbers 1 and Churchill County Museum 2, are available at $3.00 each issue. Volume 3, Number 1, & Archive and following issues are $4.00. 1050 S. Maine Street Fallon, NV 89406

Editor Donald R. Tuohy 885-4812 FUTURE ISSUES Nevada State Museum Capitol Complex Manuscripts submitted to the Nevada Ar­ Carson City, NV 89710 clweoiogist should follow the style guide of the January, 1979 issue of Americarl Antiquity. Manuscripts should be typed and double spaced throughout, including notes and bibliography, and illustrations should be camera­ ready with a caption typed on a separate sheet of paper, DUES also double-spaced. Something less than these standards will be accepted reluctantly if what you have to say is Student ...... 5.00 more important than the format expressed above. Active ...... 10.OO A fu ture issue will be dedica ted to Peter Ting, Sr., Active Family ...... 12.00 and more manuscripts relating to Mr. Ting's activities Supporting ...... 25.00 or to Nevada archaeology and anthropology, in Sponsor ...... 50.00 general, are solicited. Patron ...... 100.00

All "Student" through "Patron" members receive subscrip­ ©Copyrighted by the Nevada Archaeological Associa­ tion to the Nevada Archaeologist, the biannual journal of tion, Winter 1983. the Association. NEVADA Archaeologist

Volume 4, Number 1 1983

DEDICATION This issue of the Nevada Archaeologist is dedicated to the memory of Peter C. Ting, Sf. Peter was an avid amateur archaeologist whose scientific training was in biology. His interest in archaeology reached fruition when he became acquainted with Dr. Robert Stephenson who carne to Nevada in 1967 to head the Nevada Archaeological Survey, then a unit of the Desert Research Institute of the University of Nevada, Reno. Peter Ting, Sf. was elected the first president of Am-Arcs of Nevada when that group was founded in 1967, and later, frequently served as a board member of that organization. Peter made a number of substantive contributions to professional archaeology in the form of several short papers most of which were published either in the Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter or in Chippings, the newsletter of Am-Arcs of Nevada. Thanks to the above organizations, these articles are reproduced together for the first time along with Peter's last address to the Nevada Archaeological Association, made March 21, 1977. Further details of Peter's many activities are given on page 1 of this issue. We are pleased to present this tribute to Peter, whose own modesty as an amateur archaeologist I belied the significance of his written endeavors.

I T ABLE OF CONTENTS I Peter C. Ting (1909-1980) by Donald R. Tuohy ...... 1 North American Fishing Sinkers (Western Collector, Vol. IV, No. 10, 1966) I by Peter C. Ting ...... 2 ! Publication Plans (Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter, Vol. 1, No.4, 1967) 1 by Peter C . Ting ...... 5 A Pyramid Lake Surface Artifact Assemblage Located At or Near the 3800 Foot Elevation (Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter, Vol. 1, No.8, 1967) by Peter C. Ting ...... 5 Bone Points from Pyramid Lake (Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter, Vol. 1, No.3, 1968) by Peter C. Ting ...... 10 How the Amateur Can Contribute to the Prehistory of Nevada (Chippings, Vol. 2, No. 2) by Peter C. Ting ...... 18 A Copper Pendant from Pyramid Lake (Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter, Vol. 2, Nos. 11, 12, 1968) by Peter C. Ting ...... 19 Note on the Analysis of the Pyramid Lake Metal Pendant (Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter, Vol. 3, No. I, 1969) by Peter C. Ting ...... 20 A Decorated Fishing Sinker from Pyramid Lake (Chippings, Vol. 3, No.2, 1969) by Peter C . Ting ...... , 20 Oldest Obsidian Point? (Chippings, Vol. 4, Nos. 3, 4, 1969) by Peter C . Ting ...... 21 Pyramid Lake Artifacts and Prehistory (Address to Nevada Archaeological Association, March 10, 1977) by Peter C. Ting ...... 22 Amateur Archaeologists Speak .. . First "Big" Game Hunters: A Preliminary Report by Raoul M. Dixon ...... 26

PETER C. TING, SR. (1909-1980) PUBLICATIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

by by Donald R. Tuohy Peter C. Tins Sr.

Peter was born July 8, 1909, a 1966 North American fishing sinkers native of Porterville, California. He Western Collector IV(10):8-9. lived in Reno for 28 years and was the San Francisco. owner and operator of Pied Piper Pest Control. He was a professional biolo- 1967a Publication plans. Nevada gist with bachelor's and master's de- Archaeological Survey Reporter grees from Stanford University. At l(4):8-9. Reno. various times in his career he was em- ployed by the U.S. National Museum and 1967b A Pyramid Lake surface artifact the California Department of Agriculture assemblage located at or near as a specialist in entomology. He was the 3800 foot elevation. Nevada voted into the American Men of Science Archaeological Survey Reporter at the age of 37 for his studies and 1(8): 4-1 2. Reno. publications on the microanatoiny of invertebrates including insects. He 1968a Bone points from Pyramid Lake. was a member of various professional Nevada Archaeological Survey societies including several in archae- Reporter 2 (3):4-13. Reno. ology, and was also a member of the Reno Rotary Club. He is survived by 1968b How the amateur can contribute his wife, Willie Ting, his sons Dr. to the prehistory of Nevada. Erwin Ting of Diamond Bar, California 2 (2): 3-4. Reno. and Peter Ting, Jr. of Verdi, and by a brother, two sisters, two stepchildren, 1968c A copper pendant from Pyramid and five grandchildren. Lake . Nevada Archaeological Survey Reporter 2 (1 1 , 12) :4-6 . Reno .

1969a Note on the analysis of the Pyramid Lake metal pendant. Nevada Archaeological Survey Reportej: 3(1) : 7 . Reno .

1969b A decorated fishing sinker from Pyramid Lake. Chippings 3(2): 1-3. Reno.

1969c Oldest obsidian point? Chippings 4(3,4):3-4. Reno.

1977 Pyramid Lake - artifacts and prehistory. Oral presentation to the Nevada Archaeological Association, March 21, 1977. NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN lar grooves added for attaching the line. FISHING SINKERS Along the shores of Pyramid Lake (Ne­ vad;\) stone fishing sinkers are a common by artifact. They were one of the more nec­ Peter C. Ting essary tools used in a great and perhaps desperate effort to obtain food. In this Quite often bottle collectors, while case it was the huge Lahontan Cut-throat rummaging along stream beds, have picked trout which could weigh over forty pounds. up unusual shaped stones which have a On a series of successful collecting hand-carved look about them, but think­ trips all of the following have been ing that they're only natural curios­ found in one area: stone sinkers, canoe ities rather than evidence of man's anchor stones, sage brush fiber line or handiwork, they have almost instanta­ anchor cordage, bi-jointed bone gorge neously been discarded so that the hooks and the barbs of the multi-pointed "serious" work of bottle collecting can bone fish hooks, obsidian arrow and dart go on. Yet these stones were carved by points, slingshot or braining stones, man, though many centuries ago. They obsidian and bone knives, and bone, are fish line and fish net sinkers ,,rhich harpoon-like points similar to the ones were widely used by the Indian tribes used by the California Indians, the throughout the North American conti­ Shoshoni of Idaho, and the tribes fur­ nent, and may still be collected in ther north. However, the barbed bone areas where fish were plentiful. points -- not true harpoons as no means Though they can be found almost any­ of attaching the lanyard securely is pre­ where in areas lived in by the Indians, sent -- were exceedingly rare as evi­ one notable exception is the vast terri­ denced by the fact that to the best of tory lying between the Mississippi and our knowledge only three have been found the Rockies, where fish were almost en­ in Nevada. True harpoons were undoubt­ tirely ignored in favor of larger game. edly used in Nevada, but it would seem Even in the dry, desert areas of the that none have been found intact. Southwest it comes as a surprise to find Fishing sinkers varied in design ,that fish was an important source of from fantastic effigies through elongate 'food. Proof of this lies in the stone or oval rocks with neatly carved grooves sinkers and other fishing tools which or drilled holes at one end to natural may be found on the shores of desert stones or pieces of bone known as eoliths. lakes where they were lost by their The latter are not recognized as collect­ Indian owners. Fish lines and fish nets ible items unless they are found attached have been excavated in Nevada in close to lines or nets. Several Eskimo arti­ proximity to the stone sinkers, while facts in the collection of Charles Miles in other states they have actually been are a combination sinker, fish effigy found attached to the fish nets them­ and fish hook. By present day standards selves. these are no less than artificial fishing To be quite accurate, it should be lures sold in sporting goods stones! Who said they many of the stone artifacts could possibly belittle the ingenuity of which are referred to in this article ~~ the Pre-Columbian Indians? Apparently fishing sinkers were also used for other stone sinker effigies were uncommon in purposes. For example, similarly shaped Nevada as only one sinker among the nearly stones with c~rcular grooves or notches three hundred I have collected is a true were used for fetishes or charm stones, effigy which mimics a fish. Many were as small club heads, as pendants and for made from odd-shaped stones, perhaps con­ loom weights. Canoe anchor stones were sidered by the Indians as artistic "good used as end weights for the longer fish luck or charm sinkers," and some were the nets and for tepee anchors. It must be shape of arrowheads or "pyramids." Others rem~ ered that mUltiple use was a com­ were elongate stones with circular grooves mon attribute of many Indian artifacts, around the middle for line attachment. such as the many shaped sinker stones Many sinkers were just simple, nondescript which were tied onto the ends of bolas stones or pebbles with crude grooves or ropes. Several of the anchor stones with ':',,'0 notches for attachment to the which have been found were actually well line or net. worn rubbing stones or manos with circu- Fishing sinkers were made from bone,

2 ivory, stone, and in the delta region of California where stones were diffi­ cult to find, clay was molded into stubby, spindle-shaped or grooved spool-like forms and baked hard. The baked clay objects were used on bolas string s as well as for fishing sinkers. Some of the mo re common types of stone used f or sinkers in Nevada were lime­ stone, dolomit i c marble, basalt, shale, rhyolite tuff, latite tuff, quartzite, asperoid quartz, and aragonite. Stone a b c sinkers in my collection vary from one to seven ounces, though Loud and ,.,.6" 1' 1"> "0" , '_, "I.q 'H~ ! ("'C~' 1 ">1' I..,. " '~';> & •• '''·l:>

"Lovelock Cave" list one at three and FIG. I. Three types of sto ne sinkers. (t, perforated type, eight-tenths pounds. The larger possibly :m cfligy; b. gro"ved type ; c, notched type with grooved or notched sto nes, which are liv e: thltl.'h es. considered to be net or canoe anchors, and which are in my collection, weigh from two to twelve and half pounds. Collecting fishing sinkers can be an enjoyable family affair, but the most successful surface collecting generally means considerable e y e strain and miles of walking along the shores of lakes and streams where Indians were known t o fish. WindblO\vu areas or "blows" near larger lakes and within the limits of o lder water lines are often most productive. Dry lake beds or playas are productive in the inter­ mountain desert areas. Organic material associated with several thousand stone sinkers found at Lamoka, New York, has been dated by the radiocarbon method as being about five thousand years old. Some lakes, such as Pyramid, are rapidly receding pri­ marily due to the alteration of the feeding streams with little considera­ tion for the preservation of nature. However, the receding water lines do open up new collecting grounds and it is the writer's belief that in some of the shallow bays of Pyramid Lake arti­ facts are plentiful in the sediment of the lake bottom for at least half a mile from the present water line. Surface collecting of Indian arti­ facts is a never ending adventure as periodic erosion uncovers new areas and FIG. 2. O vate knobbed sinkers and a grooved sinker. a, globular knobbed sinker; b, grooved sinker; c-d, ovate deeper, earlier levels never collected knobbed sinkers; specimen illustrated in c has three before. Go and explore the wind-blown knobs; spe c' imen illustrated in d was made from a boat­ open spaces where artifacts and ancient srone, a California 11iddle horizon atlatl weight. stones can conjure up for you the prim­ itive atmosphere of the first Americans.

3 Fig. 3. Fishing sinkers from the Lower Truckee Basin of western Nevada. Hook-shaped forms, ovate and bipointed forms, and foot­ shaped forms are common.

4 PUBLICATION PLANS A PYRAMID LAKE SURFACE ARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGE by LOCATED AT OR NEAR THE Peter C. Ting 3800 FOOT ELEVATION

(Mr. Peter Ting, President of the Am­ by Arcs of Nevada, is an enthusiastic Peter C. Ting amateur archeologist who has been most helpful in getting the new Society Having been a research biologist, I going and is, by training, an entomol­ am well aware of the fact that one should ogist.) proceed with caution, if at all, in spe­ cialities other than his own. Neverthe­ Having published both technical and less, as an amateur archeologist, I feel popular articles on various phases of justified in reporting my observations biology, I have recently tried my hand made over a period of twelve years and at popular writing in the field of arch­ wish to stress that I hope archeologists eology. My present attempt is called will investigate certain of my ideas "The Daily Bread of Nevada Indians." It which may reveal facts useful to an is a nonfictional account of artifacts understanding of the prehistory of and methods used in the capture and Pyramid Lake. I am also hopeful that preparation of food. The various se­ parts of my discussion will serve as an quences start with the decline of La­ example of what Dr. Robert L. Stephenson hontan Lake and the hunting of Ice Age meant when he instigated our local soci­ mammals and advances in time through ety for amateur archeologists and said: the various cultures predominant in "The society will be of mutual benefit hunting small game, seed gathering, to professionals and amateurs. 1I 'I wish fishing, and finally to the incipient to express my appreciation to all who stages of agriculture. have aided in preparation of this report. Even to mention the highlights of Before a discussion of the artifacts, popular interest, over a period of lake levels, and other associations of 11,000 years, will necessitate a great significance is undertaken, the artifacts deal of research with much personal commonly found between the elevations of communication, and with visits to 3840 and 3785 feet will be listed. These museums and private collections. I include: anticipate considerable practice with Manos and metates the camera before completing a series of photographs covering not only per­ Polishing stones tinent artifacts, but such sidelights as Flat, oval notched stones apparently hunting blinds, flint mines, effigy-type for measuring good luck pieces and highland summer camp sites. Completely grooved manos and other With enough effort and through some stones of various shapes notched or form of shamanism, it is hoped that my grooved that weigh from two to results will give sufficient life to twelve pounds (used for net and/or stones and prehistoric facts to be of balsa canoe anchors) interest to the general public. Stone fish line and net sinkers of many types Stone plummet-shaped objects with ringed ridges and longitudinally grooved necks Obsidian, jasper and "chertll dart points, spearheads and arrowheads "Chert" and obsidian Desert Side­ notched arrowheads Obsidian and basalt knives and ceremonial (?) blades

5 Stone atlatl weights manos and bone awls have been found reg­ ularly at elevations of 3820 to 3800 Stone arrow and/or dart shaft feet. In fact, material found in the abraders water (the level of which stood-;t Bone knives or slitters 3785.1 feet on March 6th of this year) indicates convincingly that camps, at Bone awls of many types least temporary ones, existed on dry Barbed bone and antler spear, dart, land at these lake levels. Consequently, and/or arrow points I believe many of the artifacts previ­ ously mentioned (including some of the barbed bone leister tynes sinkers) were lost or left behind on dry Bipointed bone gorge fish hooks land just as they were in caves and other places of habitation. Bipointed bone spindle-shaped dart On the basis of pollen studies from or arrow points material taken from Fishbone Cave, Sears Various unidentifiable bone imple­ and Roosma (1961) concluded that the ments occasionally with artistic period of greatest aridity in this area engraving, carving or notching occurred about 6500 years Before Present and it is reasonable to believe that Plant fiber (probably sagebrush) Pyramid Lake reached an extreme low fish line and anchor line either two level at that time. Antevs, in verbal or three strand with rough measure­ communication with Claude Dukes, U.S. ments of one-eighth to three-eights Watermaster in Reno, some thirty years inches in diameter. ago, stated that he believed Pyramid Artifacts only rarely found at the Lake at one time receded to an area of lowest levels (3805 to 3785) are: 60,000 acres whereas in recent years the lake surface has equaled 130,000 acres. Stone effigies Dukes has calculated from these data Stone crescents that the lake was once one hundred feet lower than it was in 1938, or approxi­ Basalt dart and arrow points mately at the level of 3716 feet. Bro­ Stone awls and drills ecker and Kaufman (1965), through radio­ carbon dating, have established the fol­ Bone parts of composite harpoons lowing water levels, all of which are in Wooden parts of composite fish the time range of aboriginal occupation: hooks 1100+200 yrs B.P., water elevation 3860' Large (7 by 4 inches) obsidian hand 1800±200 yrs B.P., water elevation 3820' axes or choppers 2100±200 yrs B.P., water elevation 3850' When these artifacts are recorded, in relation to the lake level or exist­ 3200±250 yrs B.P., water elevation 3810' ing water level, they cease to be just 8500±200 yrs B.P., water elevation 3890' "pretty things" from southern Washoe County. I will attempt to appraise the In historic times it is interesting to significance of a few specimens and note that the lake level again rose to their associations. 3890 feet in 1871; in 1890 it was 3882 It has been suggested that the vast feet; in 1950 it was 3801.43 feet; and in array of fishing sinkers, as well as 1959 it dropped for the first time in re­ many other artifacts collected at the cent years to below the 3800 foot mark 3800 to 3850 foot levels, were lost in and reached 3799.92 feet. the water when Pyramid Lake was at ele­ Except for that of 8500 years B.P., vations greater than 3800 feet. I dis­ all these prehistoric water levels cor­ agree on the basis that this suggestion related with the date before present overlooks certain low prehistoric water (listed above) coincide with the known levels of the lake during times of ab­ time-span of the Lovelock Culture. In original occupation and particularly addition, Roger Morrison (1965) deter­ that it does not take into account cer­ mined by geological methods that the tain of the Pyramid Lake surface arti­ lake receded to the 3800 foot level or facts. Such artifacts as metates, lower about 1250 years B.P. and again

6 about 4000 vears B.P. It then appears these ridges and grooves were carved, that many of the surface artifacts found worn by the tieline from prolonged use, at these lower levels are from this cul­ or if the line and glue is fossilized. ture. Donald Tuohy, after examining The bipointed pin gorge hooks are con­ some of my obsidian points from the 3800 sidered by Rostlund (1952) to be the most foot level, is inclined to believe they primitive and presumably the oldest of are from the Early Lovelock Culture. hook-and-line devices. They are found at Tuohy's opinion is based on knowledge both the 3830 and 3800 foot levels, but gained from excavations of Pyramid Lake the bone barbs with beveled bases from rock shelters and caves inhabited by composite fish hooks are found mainly in Indians of this culture. the 3805 to 3785 foot levels. A wooden part from a composite The great variety of stone fishing fish hook (identified by Donald Tuohy) sinkers and even the typological differ­ collected by Peter Ting, Jr., at the ences within the various kinds associated 3800 foot level may be from the Paiute with diffeTent elevations offer much Culture, as it seems difficult to be­ opportunity for further research. The lieve that a carved piece of wood would perforated sinkers are found from 3840 to be so perfectly preserved in wet sand, 3800 feet. The elongated type with cen­ clay and water if it dated from the tral circular grooves are found almost Early Lovelock Culture. entirely at the 3820 to 3840 foot level; Assuming that most of the artifacts the knobbed and plummet-shaped ones with found between the levels of 3850 and circular grooves at one end at the 3810 3785 feet are from the Lovelock Culture, to 3785 foot levels; the small notched it then becomes evident that these pebble type and the various nondescript people developed a highly diversified ones with crude notches or grooves pri­ "lake fishing efficiency." A refined marily at the 3800 foot level, but oc­ and skilled bone-carving industry also casionally at higher levels; the larger existed and such controversial artifacts notched or grooved anchor stones from as the barbed, harpoonlike points re­ 3860 to 3785 feet. The bipointed spindle­ sembling those made by the Eskimos and shaped ones made of rhyolite or latite aboriginal Europeans were surely made tuff (stone identified by John Schilling, locally and were not obtained by trading geologist, through the courtesy of Dr. nor flm-m in by wounded water fowl. Vernon Scheid) are only found at about Nine of these barbed, bone and antler the 3820 to 3840 foot level (exact level projectile points have been collected at to be determined). the 3805 to 3785 foot elevation, the A few (seven or eight) obsidian dart first found by Peter Ting, Jr., of Verdi, points so far found only at the 3800 foot Nevada, in December of 1963. One of level are all of a nearly uniform style these collected by Clayton Phillips was and probably approach or excel the chip­ described by Doris L. Rnedall in Ameri­ ping skill and resulting beauty of points can Antiquity (1966). Ting, Jr., has made anywhere. One of these found by also collected two small bone leister Henry Mosconi, Jr., of Verdi, Nevada, tynes (2 and 2~ inches) with numerous approximately four inches long, is prob­ barbs along the concave side, so minute ably the best made point found in Nevada. that I doubt if they could be dupli­ Another with similar chipping about two cated with modern cutting instruments and one-eighth inches long, but of the without the use of a dissecting micro­ Desert Side-notched type, found by Mrs. scope. True three-part composite type Inez Johnson of Reno, is one of the best harpoons were used at Pyramid Lake, but made points in local collections. The none has been found intact. The bone author has found several small Desert parts forming a three piece head have Side-notched points made of jasper and been found minus the lanyard, lashing, chert-like stone at the 3810 foot level. and shaft and will be described and SUMMARY illustrated in a later issue of the Reporter. Bipointed-pin gorge bone fish In conclusion, it is obvious that hooks and the bone barbs from composite many of the artifacts collected on dry hooks probably used on trot or set lines land in the shallow bay areas of Pyramid often have line marks or ridges. Fur­ Lake at about the 3800 foot level were ther investigation could determine if under water as recently as 1959; many of

7 these were under water for two or three found ~n at the 3818 to 3832 foot thousand years, and possihly some were level. under water sporadically for six thou­ Carbon dating of the fiber rope and sand years. The receding water level of hydration tests of the obsidian will the lake has uncovered camp sites con­ certainly correct or verify manv of the taining metates, manos and hone awls at above statements and may add new facts to the 3800 and 3785 foot levels. the archeology and prehistory of PYramid The present water level of the lake Lake. Three core samples of the old na­ should be referred to as 3785 feet as tive black willows growing at the 3860 to that was the level in March of 1967. It 3875 foot levels would verify or alter has been under 3800 feet since 1959. the level data. The precise water level for the lake is taken each month by the U.S. Geological Survey in Carson City, Nevada, and this current information may be obtained from NOTE them. Pollen studies indicate that the 1. Norman Beesley determined the lowest period of greatest aridity in this area and highest elevations where these sinkers was 6500 years ago. This coincides were actually found by the author. roughly with the end of the altitherma1 Beesley used surveyor's instruments and period and it is entirely possible that the known water level of the lake as a PYramid Lake reached an all time low at reference point. As the water level this time, providing there was not a obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey time lag in evaporation and other criti­ was taken two weeks previous to our sur­ cal factors. Based on data obtained in veying, an error of .5 feet is given. verbal communication with Antevs, Claude These elevations are 3818.50±.5 and Dukes has calculated that the lake level 3832.94±.5 feet. was once 100 feet lower than it was in 1938 or approximatelv 3716 feet in ele­ vation. It appears that both the Love­ lock and Paiute aborigines lived at or References Cited near the 3800 foot lc~el. Additional Broecker, W.S., and Kaufman, A. studies may reveal evidence of much 1965 Radiocarbon chronologv of Lake earlier cultures at that level. Lahontan and Lake Bonneville 2, The near excellent state of pre­ Great Basin. Ceoi"c'ical Societv --~------' servation of many perishable artifacts of America Bulletin 76:537-566. found at levels recently uncovered by the receding water is amazing. It often Horrison, Roger is hetter than the state of similar 1965 Correlation of the Middle and artifacts excavated from Pyramid Lake Late Quaternary successions of dry caves. Plant fiber, anchor rope Lake Lahontan. Nevada Bureau of found by Stephen Tieher of Reno, Nev­ Hines Rey_ort, 9:Fig. - ada, was in excellent condition and even contained two overhand knots. This con­ Rendall, Doris dition is probably due to the water ex­ 1966 A barbed antler point found at cluding much of the oxygen. Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Am~~jca~ Fishing and the carving of bone Antiquity 31(5):740-741. implements were highly developed indus­ tries among the aborigines who lived at Rostlund, E. these low lake levels. The most spec­ 1952 Freshwater fish and fishing in tacular bone artifacts are the beauti­ native North America. University , . ~ully carved, barbed, projectile points. of California Publications in Some of the obsidian dart points are G~ography 9:117. also extremely well made. Further re­ search on the Desert Side-notched points Sears and Roosma may date their use in this area much 1961 A climatic sequence from two earlier than generally believed. Further Nevada caves. American Journal studies may solve the enigma of the bi­ of Science 259:669-678. pointed spindle-shaped sinkers being 8 a Z 5 > 0 H Pi C a a

o n-

H i/1 3 -

Fig. 1. Three barbed bone and antler projectile points on right collected by Peter Ting, Jr.; two on the left collected by the author. Photograph by John Moore, Staff Photographer, through the courtesy of Donald Tuohy and the Nevada State Museum. BONE POINTS FROM PYRAMID LAKE tion tests on some of the author's arti­ facts by the University of California at by Davis. The thicknesses of the hydration Peter C. Ting bands were 5.40 and 5.49 microns on two dart points submitted from the 3800 foot INTRODUCTION elevation. Transposed into age, when The bone points discussed here have temperature scale E of Friedman and been collected since 1959 on shore ele­ Smith (1960) is followed, these readings vations recently exposed by the receding indicate the points were made 6340 and water of Pyramid Lake. During this 6500 years ago. When temperature scale short time, the water level has steadily D is followed, the indicated age is dropped, with fluctuations due to spring 4500 and 4660 years ago. These ages run-off, from 3800 to 3785 feet. In must be regarded as tentative, as a several shallow bar areas, this vertical hydration reference scale for Washoe drop of 15 feet has exposed 600 feet of County obsidian points has not been new beach, and in one particularly shal­ established. It does appear, though, low areJ. of Fox Bay, over 2000 feet of that one of the above temperature scales, new beach is exposed. All of the bone perhaps with some minor modification, and antler artifacts have been found on will be applicable. Although Friedman the surface, most of them in an excel­ and Smith state that high humidity does lent state of preservation. not increase the rate of moisture ab­ I wish to acknowledge the assistance sorption by obsidian, there remains the I have received from both Dr. Robert L. question of what submergence in water Stephenson and Donald R. Tuohy in the would do during a period of a thousand preparation of this study. They gener­ years or more. ously offered the use of their personal Bone and antler points of the type libraries and have taken time to discuss to be described were used primarily in my approach to the subject. I wish to spearing and shooting fish by aborigines thank Don L. McCaughey for the photo­ in many parts of the world. Similar, graphs and for his meticulous orienta­ but larger points were used in spearing tion of the smaller artifacts in the sea mammals, and often the bone points illustration. Acknowledgments of speci­ were detachable and retrievable by an men loans are given below. attached line which designates them as At present, it is impossible to harpoon heads. The leister type (mu1ti­ accurately assign these points to any tined spear, dart, or arrow points) were certain culture, as geologists have used on both birds and fish, and very shown that the Pyramid Lake-Lake Lahontan occasionally on larger animals. The uni­ waters have fluctuated with a gradual laterally barbed points were also occa­ downward trend during the last 9000 sionally used against land animals, years and reached the 3800 foot level especially by the Eskimos and northwest or lower several times (see discussions coast Indians. and references cited by Ting, Tuohy, Imen bone and antler points are and ~~eeler in 1967 publications). found on the surface at Pyramid Lake, During these periods of extreme low they are generally associated with other water, the people inhabiting the area artifacts of the fishing industry and moved their fishing and waterfowl activ­ often are near the remains of prehistoric ities close to the water line and even fish and birds. The author has found one established camp sites there, as evi­ bipointed spear or arrow point with the denced by manos, metates, and bone awls skeleton of a Lahontan cutthroat trout being found at these low elevations (Ti~g and on seven occasions has found bi­ 1967). However, due to facts learned pointed bone gorge fishhooks associated from Pyramid Lake excavations conducted with the skeletons of the same species. by Donald Tuohy of the Nevada State Some of these are probably intrusions, Museum, it appears that many of the arti­ but surely not all. It is helieved by facts found at these lower elevations many authorities that most fish were are from the Lovelock Culture (2000 B.C. speared after being corralled in or near to 1500 A.D.). That earlier cultures net enclosures on weirs, but it is as­ inhabited these same elevations is in­ sumed at Pyramid Lake that many were dicated by very recent obsidian hydra- speared in the open shallow water of the 10 lake and smaller feeder streams, such as heads. It should be pointed out, how­ Mullen and Big Canvon Creeks, or near and ever, that these barbed points may have at the mouth of the Truckee River during been, in some cases, fixed to a detach­ spawning season. able and retrievable foreshaft which The following are the seven types of would classify them, in those instances, bone and antler points so far found at as harpoons. Giddings (1952, plate 28, Pyramid Lake. Fig. 7 and 8) illustrates barbed antler points eight and nine inches long from Unilaterally Barbed; Tang with One the Alaskan Artic zone which are identi­ Surface Beveled cal except for more tapering tangs. He Description: General shape as in speaks of these as a "large fish spear or Fig. 1a; the nine points at hand vary in leister" which indicates that these length from 122 mm to 266.6 mm (approxi­ barbed points were also hafted in groups mately 4-3/4 to 10-1/2 inches); maximum to function as a leister. width including barbs 18.5 mm; thickness In various parts of North and South 6 to 9 mm; cross section ovoid to plano­ America, these point s, when hafted, convex; number of barbs vary from 3 to were propelled by the atlatl, the bow, 14 and are generally carved at about a or were thrust or thrown by hand. The 45 degree angle to the longitudinal axis, known aboriginal distribution is Europe two points have the barbs at about 30 during Upper Magdalenian times. Alaska degree angles. Several points have the through British Columbia down the west barbs carved from bases to apices in a coast into Oregon and Nevada, but appar­ tapering manner so that the apices are ently not California, the northeastern keeled. The point illustrated deviates coast of the United States, and in South from the others by having a longitudi­ American near the Straight of Magellan. nally carved groove extending along the They surely occurred in Asia, but no bases of the barbs. Polishing in vary­ definite reference to this was found in ing degrees is from none (only rough the literature available. abrading) to one side only, to completely The barbed points examined are in the polished. The apex of the points is collection of the Nevada State Museum, subacute, some with a carved keel in Clayton Phillips, Stephen Tieber, Peter the same plane as the keels on the barbs. Ting, Jr., Amanda Ting, and the author. The tang is usually beveled on just one Five are made apparently from antler, and side, a few points have a very short four of bone. The one illustrated bevel on the opposite side near the base (Tieber's) is probably not completely of the tang. No ornamentation, such as carved, as it shows no polishing; it was etching, has been observed. Some points found at a slightly higher elevation and, have the beveled surface of the tang particularly, because the groove at the traversed with shallow grooves and have bases of the barbs, previously mentioned, roughened areas on the margins of the extends beyond the last barb and the tang to help in hafting, similar to lateral edge is shavE'd thin in this region, certain Fuegian fixed barbed spear points indicating another barb was to be carved. (Mason 1902, plate 2 opposite page 212) Giddings (1952, plate 36, Fig. 19) illus­ and certain Magdalenian barbed bone or trates a similar groove which he calls antler points (Oakley 19~n, page 85, "guide grooves", but gives no further Fig. 39c). One point has a groove-like suggestion for their use. Perhaps cer­ sulcus in the basal half and a foramen tain craftsmen needed a guideline in near the apex which are inherent morpho­ order to keep the barbs in perfect align­ logical structures of the bone. ment as they were carved. Discussion: Similar or identical Leister Type; Unilaterally Barbed; points are illustrated and discussed by Tang Knobbed Nelson (1899), Mason (1092), Clark Description: General shape as in (1936), Hadlock (1943), Oakley (1950), Fig. Ib; the two points at hand are 43.5 Griffin (1952), Giddings (1952), Miles mm and 54 mm long; width 4 mm to 5 mm; (1963), Rendall (1966), and Ting (1967). thickness 2 mm to 2.3 mm; cross section The author agrees with Mason (1902 and elliptical; 10 barbs on one, 8 on the Rendall (1966) that basically these are other; completely polished; apex of fixed barbed spear points and not harpoon

1 I points acute; tang carved on all sides, smaller sea mammals (Nelson 1899, Plate thinner than rest of point; extreme base LIII) surely was not that the flexible knobbed with a short linear bevel on outer prongs would grasp these targets inner side (side of barbs) to facilitate by the sides - it appears that these hafting. many pronged "heads" were designed to inflict multiple wounds and to increase Discussion: Similar or identical the chances of hitting the target. points are discussed and/or illustrated The only points of this type known by Nelson (1899), Schenck and Dawson from Pyramid Lake are in the collection (1929), Bennyhoff (1950), Rostlund of Peter Ting, Jr. (1952), Giddings (1952), Driver and Massey (1957), Miles (1963), and Ting Multipointed Type; Barbless (1967). Leister tines, when hafted, Description: General shapes as in were propelled with the atlatl, the bow, Fig. 1c and 1d; the eight points at hand or were thrust or thrown by hand. Often vary in length from 74 mm to 113 mm; max­ leister tines were hafted to a dart or imum diameter from 3 mm to 5.5 mm; cross arrow at about the middle of the shaft, section round except near base; attenu­ which was also armed at its apex with ated from near base to apex; bases con­ other leister tines or with a conven­ structed to articulate together forming a tional point (Nelson 1899, Plate LIX and 3-tined point or head; basal section with Miles 1963, p. 14). This increased the an elongate fossa on one side which is chances of a hit on a bird, fish, or sea open on posterior end, or beveled on one mammal (Nelson 1899, Plate LIII). Gen­ side to 45 degrees or tapered slightly on erally, three leister tines were hafted all sides; line ridges prominent on one to the apex of a shaft, but the number tine (not illustrated) just forward of varied from two to six (Nelson 1899; maximum diameter. Driver and Massey 1957). Leisters have been reported from Discussion: Nothing has been found Europe, Asia, South America, and from in the literature that resembles these North America in the west, from the Artic points, but it is assumed that they are and Alaska south through Oregon, and in component parts of a multi-tined or com­ the east around the Great Lakes, Maine, posite fish arrow or spear. They seem and southeastern Canada. This, and the too large for local composite fishhook author's previous report (Ting 1967) in barbs; however, this is a good second the Nevada Archeological Survey Reporter, choice as Heizer and Krieger (1956) do are believed to be the first records of illustrate a bilaterally barbed fishhook leisters being used in Nevada. Schenck from Humboldt Cave with a barb length of and Dawson (1929) and Bennyhoff (1950) 77 mm and a shank length of 89 mm. A do not state that leisters occurred in third possibility is that they were California, but simply call the two­ necklace ornaments or some other type of pronged spear heads found there "fish amulets. spears." The only way the California Giddings (1952, p. 36) speaks of fish spears do not fulfill the defini­ "8 small barbless prongs of antler, two tion of a leister is that the prongs apparently side-hafted and the others are not considered flexible, perhaps center-hafted, are perhaps designed for mainly due to the long inner linear some form of leister or fish arrow", but bevel of the bases. Rostlund (1952, it is unlikely that these are even simi­ p. 105) states, "I think it should be lar to the Pyramid Lake points. noted that a trident is not necessarily The only points known of this type are a leister; in a leister the function of in the collections of Peter Ting, Jr. and the side prongs, which are somewhat flex­ the author. ible and provided with infacing barbs, is ~o grasp the fish from the sides in Simple Cylindrical: Tang Beveled, Same a manner resembling that of ice tongs". Width as Base of Point Determining whether archeological leister prongs were flexible or not when hafted Description: General shape as in seems rather impossible. Furthermore, Fig. 1e; the three points available vary the aboriginal intent of leisters pro­ in length from 61 mm to 174 mm; width pelled by atlatls or bows at birds or 8 mm to 10 mm; thickness 5 rom to 9 mm;

12 cross section demidiate to subrectangu­ be a projectile point, but how it was lar; polished; slightly attenuated from propelled is not known. near base to tip; apex abruptly tapered The only known point of this type to a sharp point; tangs 33 rom to 40 rom from Pyramid Lake is in the collection long, identical to those on barbed of Peter Ting, Jr. points, Fig. la, beveled at a 45 degree Bipointed angle on one side; very little carving exists except at apex, tang and a slight Description: General shape as in tapering or attenuation of the point in Fig. Ig; the eight points at hand vary the anterior section; cross section in length from 99 mm to 120 rom; diameter shape generally due to inherent shape of from 5.5 rom to 7.5 rom; cross section the bone, which has a groove-like sulcus nearly round to demidiate; all points on one side. The smallest point, how­ polished; taper of apices from 20 rom to ever, does have the convex side, oppo­ 25 mm in length; complete point carved site the natural groove, carved flat. except for one or two narrow linear flat areas on most points, which may be nat­ Discussion: Points nearly identical ural surfaces of the bone; these flat are illustrated and dicussed by Strong, areas account for the cross section being Schenck and Steward (1930, Plate 7,0) and demidiate on some specimens; one apex of Collier, Hudson and Ford (1942, Plate each specimen carved so that it bends VIII, A to C and D to L). The one illus­ away from the longitudinal axis by about trated by Strong, Schenck and Steward is 10 degrees. called a "harpoon or lance point", but it is practically identical to the larger Discussion: Miles (1963, p. 21, example from Pyramid Lake. Collier, Fig. 1.24) illustrates and discusses an Hudson and Ford speak of their points as identical point. Collier, Hudson and "arrow points" when they are one to four Ford (1942, P. 152, Plate PX,D) illus­ inches in length, and as "spear points" trate a bone point which is very similar, when they are four to five and one-half if not identical, to the bipointed ones inches long. discussed here. The known distribution 5 The known distribution is along the is the Columbia River and Pyramid Lake. Columbia River system and Pyramid Lake, Miles (1963) states "does not appear to but they surely were made and used in be a North American arrow, but pictured many other areas. It is assumed that to show how this mode of pointing could they were propelled with the atlatl, bow, have been used with bone "pins" found in and/or thrown or thrust by hand. The North America." three points described are in the col­ These points were lashed to the side lections of Peter Ting, Jr. and the of a shaft so that one end protruded as author. a piercing structure, and the posterior end, which is characteristically curved away Simple Willow Leaf-Shaped; Tang Carved from the long axis, formed a single barb. on all Sides, Narrower than Base of Point Kroeber and Barrett (1960, p. 71, Description: General shape as in Fig. 3) illustrate and discuss similar Fig. If; the single point available is bipointed bone artifacts which were 86 mm long, 8.5 mm wide, and 2.7 rom lashed to a stick at a much greater thick; cross section elliptical; entire angle and used as a gaff hook primarily point polished; point carved from a bone for lampreys. splinter; apex evenly tapered and sharp; The points, available for study, are tang 17 rom long, tapered on all sides, in the collections of Peter Ting, Jr. thinner than apex of point. and the author. Discussion: Willoughby (1935, p. 219, Composite Harpoon Fig. 122,K), Martin Quimby and Collier Description: General shape when as­ (1947 p. 448, Fig. 107E), and Griffin sembled for lashing together and "haft­ (1952, Fig. 14A) illustrate bone arrow ing" as in Fig. 1h; spurs or barbs 96 mm or spear points very similar to the and 97 rom long; maximum width 9 mm to Pyramid Lake point. The known dis­ 12.5 rom; thickness 2.3 mm to 3.5 rom; what tribution is eastern United States and is assumed to be the center piercing Pyramid Lake, Nevada. It is assumed to point is 89 rom long, 7.5 rom wide, and

13 3.8 mm thick; side view of spurs ellip­ was found several hundred yards away, but tical in shape, apices more pointed than in the same bay which yields many arti­ bases; each spur is constructed by carv­ facts used in fishing. ing and/or warping so that the outer The Pyramid Lake artifacts considered edge and surface is concave in linear to be parts of a composite harpoon devi­ outline. When the apices are lashed to ate in structure from the known composite the center point, the posterior ends toggle-type by having the spurs pointed then form flaring barbs characteristic at the apices instead of being truncate of toggle-type harpoons; all parts appear or bifurcated. Elsasser and Heizer to be polished; one spur is channeled on (1966, p. 122, Plate 11 m-n) illustrate the inner surface allowing a more pre­ the shapes of spurs from California cise and compact assembling of the three toggle harpoons. parts. It appears from the literature that the composite toggle-type harpoon was Discussion: Although not identical only thrown or thrust by hand. to the Pyramid Lake harpoons, the com­ According to Rostlund (1952) and posite toggle-type is illustrated and Driver and Massey (1957), the distribu­ discussed by numerous authors. A few tion was restricted to the west coast and selected references to the toggle-type extended from central California to the harpoon which the Pyramid Lake one re­ Tlingit country in the north, and inland sembles are as follows: Mason (1902), through Surprise Valley as far as the Bennyhoff (1950), Rostlund (1952), Miles Snake River Shoshone and possibly, though (1963), and Elsasser and Heizer (1966). not certainly, to the Flathead. Presum­ As the Pyramid Lake "harpoon" is ably, most of the Fraser River tribes not identical to any known type of also come within the limits of the dis­ composite harpoon, the author will be tribution. With the exceptions of the the first to admit that his interpre­ Flathead and Surprise Valley Paiute, the tation may be wrong. Stewart (1941) distribution coincides with that of the refers to a harpoon from Pyramid Lake, Pacific coast salmon species. It is Steward (1941) discusses a three piece interesting to note that the Lahontan bone harpoon from the Humboldt River, cutthroat was the largest of all native and Kelly (1932) mentions bone points trout and regularly reached salmon size used as harpoons in SurD rise Valley, and weighed over forty pounds. but all these accounts are based on in­ formation obtained from informants. Nr. SUMMARY Fred Crosby, who has lived at Pyramid The carving of bone artifacts used Lake most of his life, told the author in fishing and hunting was a highly de­ that he observed the Paiute Indians veloped industry among the aborigines who using both bone and metal harpoons near lived at the lower elevations around the mouth of the Truckee River around Pyramid Lake. As the receding water of 1902. The metal harpoon head was only the lake exposes new beach areas, these of two parts lashed together in the artifacts are found on the surface in a shape of a "V" about one and one-half fine state of preservation and often in inches long. The wooden shaft had a association with the remains of Lahontan metal foreshaft which was not detachable. cutthroad trout. The retrieving line ran from the metal Apparently, bone artifacts from two harpoon head directly to the wooden or more cultures may be found at these shaft. low elevations. Geologists have shown Assuming that one or all of these in­ that the water of Lake Lahontan-Pyramid formants are correct, the author has Lake has fluctuated with a gradual down­ selected the particular bone parts de­ ward trend during the last 9000 years and scribed from over 500 Pyramid Lake bone reached the 3800 foot level, or lower, artifa~ts available for study. The two several times. The lake level is known parts believed to be a pair of spurs from to have receded to the 3800 foot level, a composite toggle-type harDoon were or very near to it, twice during the found together by Peter Ting, Jr. The occupational span of the Lovelock Culture center piercing point was found about ten (2000 B.C. to 1500 A.D.) and many of the feet from the spurs. A third single spur

14 bone artifacts are believed to have been versity of California Archaeological made by these people. Obsidian hydration Survey Report 67. Berkeley. dating, although tentative at present for this area, indicates dart points found at Friedman, I. and R. L. Smith the 3800 foot elevation were probably 1960 A new dating method using obsid­ made by an earlier culture, 4600 and ian: part 1, the development of 6500 years ago. the method. American Antiquity The actual points discussed have been 25(4). Salt Lake City. collected since 1959 between the eleva­ tions of 3805 and 3785 feet. The seven Giddings, J. L., Jr. types of bone and antler points, presum­ 1952 The artic woodland culture of ably projectile points, so far found at Kobuk River. University Museum, Pyramid Lake are: University of Pennsylvania. fixed barbed points; Philadelphia. leister points; multipointed barbless type; Griffin, J. B. cylindrical-shaped arrow and 1952 Archeology of Eastern United spear points; States. University of Chicago a willow leaf-shaped arrow point; Press. Chicago. bipointed and composite harpoons. None except for the fixed barbed points Hadlock, W. S. and leister points have been previously 1943 Bone implements from shell heaps reported from Pyramid Lake. A previous around Frenchman's Bay, Maine. report of a harpoon was based on infor­ American Antiquity 8(4). Salt mation from an informant (Stewart 1941). Lake City.

Heizer, R. F. and A. D. Krieger 1956 The archaeology of Humboldt Cave, References Cited Churchill County, Nevada. Uni­ Bennyhoff, J. A. versity of California Publications 1950 California fish spears and in American Archaeology and harpoons. yniversity of Cali­ Ethnology 47(1). Berkeley. fornia Anthropological Records 9(4). Berkeley. Kelly, I. 1932 Ethnography of Surprise Valley Clark, J. G. D. Paiute. University of California 1936 The Mesolithic settlement of Publications in American Archae­ Northern Europe: a study of the ology and Ethnology 31:67-210. food-gathering peoples of North­ Berkeley. ern Europe during the Early Post­ Glacial period. Cambridge. Kroeber, A. L. and S. A. Barret 1960 Fishing among the Indians of Collier, Donald, Alfred E. Hudson, and Northern California. University Arlo Ford of California Anthropological 1942 Archapology of the Upper Columbia Records 21(1). Berkeley. Region. University of Washington Publications in Anthropology (9) Martin, P. S., G. I. Quimby, and D. Collier (1). Seattle. 1947 Indians before Columbus. Univer­ sity of Chicago Press. Chicago. Driver, H. E. and W. C. Massey 1957 Comparative studies of North Mason, O. T. American Indian. Transactions of 1902 Aboriginal American harpoons. the American Philosophical Society Annual Report Smithsonian Insti­ New Series 47(2). Philadelphia. tution for 1900, Part 2. Washing­ ton, D. C. Elsasser, A. B. and R. F. Heizer 1966 Excavation of two northwest Miles, C. California coastal sites. Uni- 1963 Indian and Eskimo Artifacts of

15 North American. Henery Tuohy, D. R. Regnery Company. Chicago. 1967 A large Corner-notched obsidian knife from Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Nelson, E. W. Nevada Archeological Survey 1899 The Eskimo about Bering Strait. Reporter 8. Reno. 18th Annual Report Bureau of American Ethnology for 1896- Wheeler, S. S. 1897, Report 18, Part 1. Hash­ 1967 The desert lake. Caxton ington. Printers. Caldwell, Idaho.

Oakley, K. P. Willoughby, C. C. 1950 Man the tool maker, 2nd edition. 1935 Antiquities of the New England Bartholomew Press, Dorking, Indians. Harvard University. Great Britain. Cambridge.

Rendall, Doris 1966 A barbed antler point found at Pyramid Lake, Nevada. American Antiquity 31(5), part 1. Salt Lake City.

Rostlund, E. 1952 Freshwater fish and fishing in native North America. Univer­ sity of California Publications in Geography, Vol. 9. Berkeley.

Schenck, W. E. and E. J. Dawson 1929 Archeology of the northern San Joaquin Valley. University of California Publications in i, American Archaeology and Ethnol­ .2.&Y 25 (4) . Berkeley.

Steward, J. H. 1941 Nevada Shoshoni. University of California Anthropological Records 4(2). Berkeley.

Stewart, O. C. 1941 Culture element distributions: XIV: Northern Paiute. Univer­ sity of California Anthropolog­ ical Records 4(3). Berkeley.

Strong, W. D., W. E. Schenck, and J. H. Steward 1930 Archeology of the Dalles­ Deschutes Region. University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnol­ ~ 29(1).

Ting, Peter C. 1967 A Pyramid Lake surface artifact assemblage located at or near the 3800 foot elevation. Nevada Archeological Survey Reporter 8. Reno. 16 Fig. 1 ~1"1I1111I1"lIllIlIllllqI I ITltljllllrlllllllllill o 1 2 S 4 IS

Fi gure 1. Three barbed bone and antler projectile poirlts on right collected by Peter Ting, Jr .; two on the le ~t collected by the author. Photograph by Johrl Moore, Staff Photographer, through the courtesy of Donald Tuohy and the Nevada State Mus eum. 17 HOT'] THE AMATEUR petroglyphs, Indian trails, bedrock mor­ CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE tars or other Indian sites report these PREHISTORY OF NEVADA to the Survey, Museum or to Mrs. Jean Myles, Chariman of the AM-ARCS site re­ by cording committee. Photographs are al­ Peter C. Ting ways desireable. Do your best to prevent people from The present trend "to the outdoors" destroying petroglyphs, pictographs, is producing an ever-increasing number stone circles, and other aboriginal struc­ of artifact collectors. These outdoor tures. Prevent unauthorized people from enthusiasts can either help preserve the excavating Indian caves, rock shelters archeological prehistory of Nevada or, and open camp sites. in varying degrees, destroy it. The Become a member of an amateur society, importance of this situation suggests it such as AM-ARCS of Nevada in Reno or the is timely to discuss how the collector, Archeo-Nevada society in Las Vegas. The explorer, and amateur archeologist can meetings, training projects, and field contribute to the archeology of our work of these two societies advised by state. professional archeologists will increase If archeological specimens of any your knowledge of archeology. Even this kind are collected they should be shown small degree of professional knowledge to the Archeological Surveyor to the will give more meaning to your hobby. You Nevada State Museum along with site in­ will be better qualified to cooperate formation. It is important to include with archeologists and to contribute to the following information about your the prehistory of Nevada. artifacts: the exact location found Amateur archeologists ,vith the ability (carry a 15' quadrangle map with you in should write popular articles. Such the field); a description of the sur­ contributions when properly worded can rounding area; and if location appears help indoctrinate the public and possibly to be a camp site, hunting site, work­ prevent the destruction of many aboriginal shop or quarry; and any other associ­ sites. Individuals with sufficient back­ ated facts (see site survey sheet at­ ground are urged to publish more techni­ tached). Collectors may be assured cal articles. that after the specimens are examined, If you have the opportunity, talk photographed, and officially recorded, along the lines of this discussion to the they will be returned. In a recent people you meet in the outdoors. Perhaps article in the "Territorial Enterprise" you can convince some of them and enlist vol. 115, nos. 5, 6, 7 written by Dr. their help in preserving and recording Robert L. Stephenson, Coordinator of the archeological sites necessary to the the Nevada Archeological Survey, en­ complete understanding of our prehistory. titled "You and Your Arrowheads" he states, "Bring your collections to us here. Let us see them, photograph them, and study them. Leave them with us awhile, if you will. We will guarantee their safekeeping and SAFE RETURN." Except for unusual finds that warrant immediate investigation, it is suggested that you bring your collections in for examination once a year. Pick up a few site re­ cording sheets so you can record the desired information while it is fresh in your mind. Never include any artifacts that you have purchased. They may turn out to be fakes and you will become the innocent victim of a practice that is opposed by all truely scientific-minded people. If you have collected no artifacts during the year but know the locations of

18 A COPPER PENDANT leaf-shaped at the ends. FROM PYRAMID LAKE The pendant is triangular shaped with the lateral edges slightly reflexed by so that one face is somewhat concave. Peter C. Ting The etching appears along the edges on both faces, but is more pronounced on the Among the more uncommon artifacts concave side. The grooves or scratches found at Pyramid Lake is a decorated are not evenly spaced. Some of the copper pendant. When found, it was scratches are not parallel and form thought to be part of a modern fishing letter V patterns. The eye is either lure and neither the exact location nor broken, or it was made by notching the the shore elevation was recorded. At a end and drawing out one edge to a thin later date when it was examined more projection, which was then bent back to carefully, the lateral margins were form the round rim of the hole. Heasure­ found to be incised with short, minute ments are as follows: length, two and grooves and the general shape did not one-quarter inches; greatest width, one match the blade of any known fishing and one-eighth inches; thickness, less spinner. In fact, it is an aboriginal than one millimeter. copper pendant, the use or manufacture If the pendant is a trade item from of which has heretofore been unknown by the Columbia River hasin, it is at most the Indians of northern Nevada. Incising 160 to 170 years old. It it were made the margins of artifacts was a cornman from a modern fishing spinner obtained practice of Nevada Indians, not only ~len at Pyramid Lake, its age is probably carving ornaments, but when making utili­ less than 100 years. tarian implements out of bone and stone. Dr. Arthur Baker Ill, of the Depart­ The transference of this decorative ment of Mining, University of Nevada, practice from stone and bone to metal believes, from visual examination, that ornaments is a logical sequence. the pendant is basically copper and is Determining the origin of the pendant plated with either gold or brass and

6 presents several possibilities. If it that some of the copper has worked were made from native copper, the process through the plating while heing exposed was by annealing and hammering, as no to the elements at Pyramid Lake. After other metallurgical procedures such as being cleaned, the pendant has a gold smelting or casting were practiced by the appearance with a few copper colored American Indians north of Mexico (Shroe­ areas on the surface. Dr. Baker is der and Ruhl 1968). The pendant Is too attempting to analyze the metal through thin and much too uniform in thickness more technical ways, possibly by to have been made in this manner. It specific gravity tests, and the results could be a finished trade item from the will be published in the REPORTER. Columbia River Indians made from sheet At any rate, the Paiute Indian who copper, or it could have been made by wore this beautiful ornament carried our local Indians from sheet copper ob­ great prestige. Copper was considered tained from the Columbia River basin. as valuable as gold. In the late 1790s and early 1800s, ex­ Donald Tuohy, of the Nevada State plorers and fur traders exchanged sheet Museum, has examined the pendant de­ copper with the Columbia Rlver Indians scribed above and agrees with the author for furs and salmon. Captain Robert and Peter Ting, Jr., who first detected Gray, who discovered the Columbia River the incising, that it is an aboriginal in 1792, had 3495 pounds of copper a­ artifact. board his ship (Strong 1960). The other likely possibility of the pendant's origin is that it was made or modified References Cited from a copper fishing spinner blade by simply squaring off the rounded end. Miles, Charles Art Champagne, of Reno, Nevada, who has 1968 Metals in the Stone Age. Hobbies been associated with fishing and sport­ Hagazine, April 118-120. ing goods most of his life, told me that spinner blades are always rounded or

19 Schroeder, David L. and Katharine C. A DECORATED FISHING SINKER Ruhl FROM PYRAMID LAKE 1968 Metallurgical characteristics of North American prehistoric copper by work. American Antiquity 33: Peter C. Ting 162-169. One of the most unusual stone sinkers Strong, Emory known from Pyram id Lake was recently 1960 Stone Age on the Columbia River. found by Noble Crew, the current presi­ Metropolitan Press, Portland, dent of Am-Ar cs of Nevada. This sinker Oregon. made of dolomitic ma rble is the only one among approximatel y 600 examined from Pyramid Lake that i s decorated with NOTE ON THE ANALYSIS OF drilled pits and, indeed, is an uncommon THE PYRAMID LAKE METAL PENDANT artifact from this area. It appears that this type of art wa s seldom practiced by by the Pyramid Lake aborigines. The sinker Peter C. Ting was found at the 3800 foot elevation and probably is from the Lovelock Culture The metal pendant from Pyramid Lake, (2500 B.C. t o 15 00 A.D.). described in the last issue of the RE­ Following Mr. Tuohy 's classification PORTER (Vol. II, Nos. 11, 12), was sub­ in the American Antiquity (1968:Vol. 33, jected to an X-ray diffrac tion test, No.2, pp. 211-15) of "Stone Sinkers from through the courtesy of Dr. Arthur Baker, Western Nevada", the decorated specimen III, of the Nevada Bureau of Mines. is a modified Ovate Knobbed sinker. The Technicians determined that the pendant modification is an additional pecked is c opper with a copper oxide coating. groove near the base and is not present In a conversation with the techni­ on any other knobbed sinker examined. c ians, it was learned that X-ray dif­ Due to its artistic design the artifac t fraction analysis of very t h in "lami­ may have been firs t a charm stone and nated" material is extremely difficult. then modified and used later as a sinker The overall thickness o f the pendant is or vice versa. Th e sinker is 89 milli­ only 0.6 rnm and the brass or gold plat­ meters (3 ~ inches) long and the grea test Lng that appeared to the naked eye to be width is 34 .5 millimeters. It weighs present, is probably only a few microns 88 grams or just under 3 ounces. The in thickness! sinker is fractured along one side in the basal half (Fig. 3) so that the we ight, greatest width and thickness cannot be accurately determined. Th e unique decoration (Fig. 1) consists of 14 pits, each about 1 millimeter in diameter, in the f orm of an elongate wedge, produced b y rotating a pointed object. Only one s ide of the artifact is decorated. Aborigines in Europe were known to use a bow-drill to produce these Ul decorative pits. I wish to tha nk George Phelps, vice () president of Am-Arcs, for his excell ent 3 illustrations of the stone sinker.

20 OLDEST OBSIDIAN POINT? Sink area. Most of the site is in desert pavement, with the mosaic-like stones and by many artifacts exhibiting "desert varnish". Peter C. Ting Except for the absence of rock cairns, rock alignments and crescents, the arti­ An obsidian Lake Mohave type pro­ facts are similar to those found at the jectile point recently collected by the Sadmat Site located near Hazen, Nevada. writer and submitted to the University A fragment of a Lake Mohave point col­ of California at Davis Obsidian Hydration lected at this unnamed site by Stephen Laboratory, was found to have a hydration Tieber, was also dated by the obsidian layer 16.2 microns in thickness. This is l~dration test and exhibited 15.2 microns the thickest hydration layer found to of hydration banding. Most of the obsid­ date on any Nevada point. Following our ian points collected by us did not lend local criterion for transposing microns themselves to dating because of their of moisture layer into age, the test in­ weathered condition. dicates the point was made 16,200 years Although the Lake Mohave point -- with ago. 16.2 microns of hydration -- may not be The rate at which fractured obsidian actually 16,200 years old, it is a pro­ forms an outer hydration layer in north­ jectile point of the type used by ancient, western Nevada was determined by Donald aboriginal, big game hunters. Ever R. Tuohy of the Nevada State Museum. He increasing evidence documents the fact submitted for dating, the parts of a com­ that these large spear or dart points plete a tlatl dart excavated in this were used in Nevada by one or more cul­ immediate area. The results of a radio­ tures of early people who successfully carbon test on tLe wooden shaft, and a hunted and killed the now extinct Ice hydration lest of the attached obsidian Age Mammals. point, were correlated and it was found I wish to thank George Phelps for the that one micron of moisture layer is fine illustration. Note the section re­ formed in one thousand years. The ac­ moved by the laboratory for hydration curacy of these ages and the correlation dating. ... depend on the dart point being fashioned from raw or fractured obsidian at the same time the wood "died" and was made into a dart shaft. Also as high tem­ perature is the main factor that speeds up the formation of the hydration layer, it must be remembered that soil tempera­ ture in a cave is lower in the summer time than on the exposed surface of a desert pavement area. Knowing the aver­ age temperature throughout the year of soil in caves at various depths as com­ pared to that on the surface of desert areas would help determine the exact age of the point in question. Many other sources of error exist in obsid­ ian dating, both archeologically and in the technique of the dating process it­ self. On the whole, however, obsidian hydration results agree with the chron­ ological expectations. The point in question falls into an old complex of artifacts similar to that called the San Diequito. The point (illustrated below) was Fig. 1. Photograph of the point found on the surface, in a partially ex­ which yielded the 16.2 micron reading. posed position at an unnamed site on a Lake Lahontan beach terrace in the Carson PYRAMID LAKE - ing its all time historic low. Fortun­ ARTIFACTS AND PREHISTORY ately, I collected mainly at the lower levels near or about 3800 feet elevation, by and for some reason I specialized on Peter C. Ting stone fishing sinkers of various types. In 1966 I published a popular article in Tonopah, Nevada talk to Nevada a national magazine on stone fishing Archaeological Association sinkers and soon after its publication I heard from Donald Tuohy by letter. He Dear Madam Chairman, Distinguished started by saying, "I see you have a Visitors and Archaeologists: feeling for the American Indians" and implied I had written a good article, My mind is puzzled as to just how to then his tone changed and he \>lYO te, "Do present a topic like mine to a group in­ you know that you have broken both the cluding professional archaeologists. I Federal and State antiquity law. You wonder if professionals have the same needed a permit from the Tribal Council feeling when they talk to amateurs or and,furthermore,you told people allover a mixed group? the country with your photographs just Nevertheless, I will attempt to dis­ where to collect these artifacts." cuss the surface artifacts of Pyramid Since that time Donald and I have Lake together with many other related become very close friends and he and Dr. features of the lake as well as most of Stephenson have been my guiding lights the prehistoric traditions and phases in the study of archaeology. that these first Americans are placed in Before getting into the main body of by different authorities. my remarks, I have two criticisms to make, One of the first officially recog­ however, one of amateurs and one of pro­ nized amateur archaeological societies in fessionals. I would like to say there Nevada was instigated in Reno in March is "good news and bad news", but its all 1967, by Dr. Robert Stephenson. At that bad. Very few amateurs keep proper re­ time Dr. Stephenson said "Am-Arcs and the cords. There are a few exceptions: 13 professionals will be of mutual benefit Harry Swanson and his wife Irene do, to each other." Noble and Taffy Crew, Loretta and Louis Almost immediately his prophecy came Sabini, Harvey Rose and Kitty and a few true as the amateurs produced artifacts others do. There are not enough amateurs never before seen by the professionals with the ability to write articles. I and professionals started giving train­ believe that well written, accurate ama­ ing courses and encouragement to the teur articles are the best liaison with the amateurs. public. Now on to the professionals! Consequently, I believe Nevada Very few of you are bold enough to come amateur archaeologists are some of the out in print and state that Early Han in­ best in the world. Now my talk may not habited North American 50,000 years ago be the best but I think it will at least when there is so much convincing evidence be next best,. . which reminds me of that this is true. Actually our whole the super salesman who sold kotex. He time clock is considered wrong by two finally obtained an appointment with one oceanographers who took cores of the ocean of the largest chain stores in North floor and proved convincingly, substanti­ America and while he was giving his ated by Potassium-Argon tests, that our pitch to the president and Board of last glacial period started 115,000 years Directors he said, "I sell the best ago instead of the usual accepted time of kotex in the world, the price is right, 70,000 years ago. There are some pos­ etc., etc. Finally being the super sibilities of error, for example, the salesman that he was, he realized that amount of potassium present in those days he had the account sold so he thought on earth, the same applies to carbon-14 I'll just tone this pitch down a little, tests. so he said, "Actual} y I may not sell the Actually I admire our professional best kotex, but it is certainly used archaeologists and I couldn't care less -.next to the best.".- if Early Man was here 50,000 years ago or I started collecting at Pyramid Lake 10,000 years ago, but being a scientist in 1959 when the lake level was approach- myself and the father of one (Dr. Irwin

22 Ting), I'd prefer an accurate temporal eral desert side-notched points that were estimate. found near the 3800 foot level. This may Now down to the artifacts that all date the use of them well before the ac­ we amateurs enjoy so much. As I stated cepted time. before, I started collecting at or near At this point I felt I had collected the 3800 foot level at Pyramid Lake in enough stone fishing sinkers (well over 1959. After each hike I would walk back 300), and I probably left that many more to my truck actually with all my pockets in place. I told my friend Noble Crew and both mv hands full of beautiful arti­ and a few others the best collecting facts. In 1967, when the lake level areas. Noble immediately found the only reached its all time historic low of decorated sinker known from Pyramid Lake. 3783.9 feet, I was not satisfied just to It was decorated with drilled pits on one collect on the shore, I even collected side in the shape of an elongate V. in the water and found many stone You'll see an account of it and an illus­ sinkers and bone implements. tration by George Phelps in "Chippings" At this time near the water line I published by Am-Arcs. Art Champagne and was collecting in areas never before his wife Dorothy found the largest barbed seen exposed by "hite men (except for bone point and Karen Wells found the only a few fishermen and a few other col­ stone sinker still attached to a fiber lectors), camp sites were uncovered as line, although Jane Rowden found gorge evidenced by metates and manos. It was hooks attached to fiber line. I looked at this extreme low level that most of at hundreds of feet of this exposed fiber my better artifacts were found, such as line looking for sinkers but all I could the beautiful obsidian points approach­ find was knots, perhaps, where sinkers ing the chipping technique of the had been tied on. Peter Ting, Jr. actu­ Magdalenians of Europe and the Egyptians ally found the first barbed bone spear of Africa, the barbed bone spear points point and Clayton Phillips found the and various other unidentified bone second. Virginia Phillips, his wife, implements. I had several obsidian found one of the most uncommon artifacts, points from the lowest elevations a stubby-shaped stone implement shaped 12 dated by the obsidian hydration test like the beautifully made elongate plumb­ at U.C. Davis and they came out 4600 to bobbed shaped artifacts found at Still­ 6500 years old at the 1000 years per water and Humboldt sink. Their use is micron rate. There was always a unidentified to this day (I'll show them question in my mind about the results to you now, but I won't pass them around and wondered if being submerged in because I promised tha t ,,,hen I borrowed water for several thousands of years them from Kyle Swanson, Harry Swanson's wouldn't contribute to the thickness son, and Virginia Phillips). of the water-layer absorbed. I believe During my eight or nine years of con­ now after various correlations that Don centrated collecting at Pyramid Lake I Tuohy has developed that this is true collected the complete perimeter except and that they are approximately only opposite the eastern cliff area, such as 4500 years old. So they apparently did Hell's Gap and found artifacts throughout absorb some moisture during the time the whole expanse of the beach. It is that they were submergci in wet sand or interesting and perhaps of special signi­ water. This places them in the early ficance to professional archaeologists Lovelock Tradition or early Pyramid Lake that there were many areas of concentra­ phase. We'll go more into the tradi­ tion of barbed bone spear points, bone tions and phases of Pyramid near the end fishhook barbs, stone fishing sinkers and of my remarks -- if you're still awake. fiber line along the west side of the The last prehistoric time that the lake lake starting just south of Sutcliffe's level was close to this low level was and increasing as one approached the 2380±180 vears ago when it reached a ~eedles to the north. Atlatl weights level of 3788 feet or lower. At the were found only near the Needles on both elevation of 3788 feet Tuohy excavated a the west and east side which may indicate burial and had associated sagebrush wood desert sheep and antelope hunting in this carbon-14 dated. Other artifacts of area. The bipointed or spindle shaped special note and of interest to pro­ stone sinkers were concentrated at the fessional archaeologists were the sev- southwest corner of the lake and as you 23 CULTURAL SEQUENCE IN THE LOHER TRUCKEE BASIN'"

Date Pyramid Lake IHnnemucca Lake

A.D. 1900 Reservation Phase Reservation Phase

A.D. 1800 Tybo Phase (Historic Paiute) Tybo Phase

A.D. 1500 Kuyui Phase (Protohistoric Kuyui Phase Paiute)

A. D. 1000 Late Pyramid Phase (Late Late Pyramid Lovelock Culture)

A.D. 500

A.D. Middle Pyramid Phase (Trans. l'1iddle Pyramid Lovelock Culture)

500 B.C.

1000 B.C. Early Pyramid Phase (Early Earlv Pyramid Lovelock Cult~re)

2000 B.C. Kramer Phase (Little 11 Lake Culture) 3000 B.C. Blazing Star Phase (Pinto Tradition)

4000 B.C. ?

6000 B.C. ? Nickolarceny Phase

9000 B.C. ? Coleman Phase (Hestern Pluvial Lakes Tradition)

10,000 B.C. Fluted Point Tradition ....

*This cultural sequence was originally outlined in "Cultural Resources Overviews of Five Proposed Hilderness Areas in Northern Nevada," Nevada State Museum Archaeological Services Report, October, 1979 by Evelyn Seelinger, Bonita Brown, and Mary K. Rusco.

24 ap;noacil the Pyramid itself from IHnm'- most comprehensive for me, I believe, is mUL'ca Lake. 1 helieve in these two areas the pre-fluted tradition, the fluted tra­ there are qllarries of volcanic tuff -­ dition, and the Great Basin Archaic tradi­ ei ther la t i te tuff or rhvol i te tuff. tion. Other sizeable quarries tllat exist at A more specific and more exacting Pyramid dre one of hasalt and another classification of the Lahontan Lake System of hog agate ,,"hich is ht:'ing analvzed peopl e and PYramid 1.ake is as follows. bv thee l1niversi tv of Nevada, Reno and The most interesting to me and I believe will prohablv turn out to he a type of the most descriptive designation is one chert (the 1ast is from Don Tuohy's un­ called the Western Pluvial Lakes Tradition published comprehensive paper on the which applies to early man and includes 80 excavations done in this area). phases like the San DeQuito, Lake Mohave, Another concentration of bone artifacts Fallon, 1.ind Coulet', Sadmat and Coleman. was the find of many early gorge or The WPLT rllns from 10,000 B.C. (or earli­ bipointed fish hooks about 112 miles er) to about 6000 B.C. Going up the south of the Needles. At least seven scale and progressing in more recent time were found associated with prehistoric is the early Lovelock Tradition, Transi­ Lahontan cutthroat skeletons. Other tional Lovelock, Late Lovelock, Proto­ uncommon hone artifacts found near the historic and Historic. The phases apply­ Needles were several leister tynes. ing especially to Pyramid Lake and nearby Before going into the traditions Lake Lahontan lake beds are Sadmat start­ and phases of early people living at ing at 8000 B.C. Coleman, Kramer, Early or near PYramid Lake, I should men­ Pyramid and Late Pyramid, Kuyui and Tybo. tion a few observations I have made of I have a chart here that will explain more the artifacts found at Pyramid and about the dates and time span of these Winnemucca Lakes. To me, at least, categories by reading it to you. two differences are: the fact that (to my knowledge) no bipointed volcanic ash or tuff sinkers have been found at Winnemucca Lake; and also many of the petroglyphs at Winnemucca Lake are chisled or carved much deeper in the tufa coating of rock piles than at Pyramid Lake. Severa] facts for any of you who are specially interested in Pyramid Lake and Lahontan Lake system are: namely, the population of prehistoric people at Pyramid Lake during the Kuyui or Paiute phase has been estimated to be 38.51 peopl~ per 100 square kil­ ometers. In bad winters the Shoshone migrated to Pyramid to exist and the population increased; the present water elevation at Pyramid Lake is 3795.8 feet; the all time historic low in February 1967 vas 3783.9 foot; the highest eleva­ tion of the lake in prehistoric times was 4383 feet; the lake has been under 4000 feet during the last 10,000 years. As to the "traditions", "phases" and other designations and classifications that various authorities place our western American Indians in, I would caution vou please not to publish any of these categories called phases because many are ~_npublished terms originated by Donald Tuohv. The simplest division for me is Early Man and the Archaic. Next

2S AMATEUR ARCHAEOLOGISTS SPEAK . site, is situated north of and composing The First "Big" Game Hunters: part of a solitary hill. A limestone A Preliminary Report "massif" separates the two sites and the elevation is approximately 2,800 to 3,000 by feet above sea level. The highest lake Raoul M. Dixon or playa shoreline is 2,800 feet accord­ ing to a survey map. On both sites, the The "Llano" or Clovis mammoth lithics have co-mingled due to erosion hunters and their famous "fluted" and "settling." The bedding planes along lance/spear projectile points have the hillsides, however, have retained been assigned a "niche" in time. their stone artifacts due to their pre­ According to professionals, the dat­ sumed geological stability. Implements ing has been made possible by the that have become "mixed" due to settling association of organic and lithic have made it possible (in some cases) to materials in a temporal phase be­ recover both segments of broken or dis­ tween 11,200 and 11,700 years before carded artifacts. Apparently hunting was present. The radiocarbon 14 method carried out above the maximum shoreline, was used. The average dating was the game probably being browsers such as derived from six mammoth "kill," mammoth, horse, camel, etc. "camp" or "quarry" sites in North Patina or desert varnish on the America. Quarry/camp sites pertain­ upper or exposed surfaces is black in ing to these specialized hunters/ color. On the bottom or protected sur­ gatherers are scarce to say the least. faces the color is yellowish to a dark The question is where did the brown. Segments of artifacts (broken) "fluting"/"channeling" technique fitting together, in most cases, are originate? Europe, Asia, Eurasia, differently colored, one usually darker Siberia, or here in the Western Hemi­ than the other, possibly because one was sphere? From what tradition was it underground or protected longer than the derived? These questions have never other. been answered in their entirety.l This chert material seems to have In this report, I would like to the hardness of about 7 on the Moh scale, present a number of observations and and heating would not help in the aspects I have recognized pertaining "flaking" procedure, although being to two quarry/camp sites. I would "green" or "moist" probably ,.JQuld. like to place them into one "complex"-­ "Cores," the parent body of all a whole made up of complicated or inter­ tools/projectiles/implements, consist of related parts, or a group of culture "bifacial" (amorphous), "pyramidal," attributes or traits relating to a "tortoise" and "siberian"/"globular" single activity, such as hunting, and types. 2 Striking platforms are either the processing and use of flint. naturally faceted or ground. Seemingly The hills in the vicinity of these the most numerous bifaces consists of two sites are made up of dolomite, globular shapes, where the flake/blade is through which are found "bedding" detached according to the position of the planes containing nodules of chert. converging "arrises." The flake/blades Apparently, this chert material was when removed from this type of globular preferred above obsidian, agate, chal­ core are fairly straight, a bit wider than cedony or jasper by the forefathers of the blades from the pyramidal cores and I Clovis hunters. This chert apparently would term the detachment "free/feathered" was not utilized by any of the latter­ or "Levallois/Mousterian" where the fin­ day hunter/gatherers occupying the mar­ ished product was perceived before flake gins of the playa beds. removal. 3 The "Knob Hills" site, the first Now I will turn to the highest site to be discussed, is strung out shoreline of the playa where the patina/ along tributaries emptying into an varnish build-up is heaviest on the overflow channel between two extinct lithic materials. Long, flat bifacially­ Pleistocene lakes. The elevation is flaked blades/knives, usually bipointed approximately 3,000 feet above sea or semi-bipointed, are the most heavily level. The "Lookout" site, the second patinated. One tip, the distal tip,

26 usually is the sharpest and the proxi­ types recovered in South America, but mal (in some cases) is comparable. having the short notch or flute into the These projectile/knives were irregu­ convex/dorsal basal area. These arti­ larly flaked by percussion, usually facts are "laurel-leaf" in outline. having a "backed" area for the index or Flaking is irregular and by percussion, forefinger to rest upon when being used and retouching is "nil." A number of as a knife. Retouching was "nil." other "fluted" broken, convex-based basal This type blade/knife I consider the segments were recovered. Apparently most "primitive" until I am overruled this type of base also was fluted and in by more evidence such as stratigraphy, use at the site. I can well theorize how etc. As I surveyed at a slightly lower the convex base could be fluted while elevation several blades/knives which had still on the parent core and then further been basally thinned were recovered. shaped after removal. Two or three flakes had been removed Later several semi-classic type upward, but they were not "flutes." Clovis projectiles were recovered. These These blade/knives were similar to the were Lanceolate in outline, lenticular bipoints having the same attributes, in cross section, concave based, and and they even had the "backed" area ground along the lateral edges about a for the forefinger. Next a number of quarter of their length from the base flake/blades, laurel-leaf in outline, upward. These were made by irregular plano-convex (dorsal/ventral) in cross percussion flaking, collateral in execu­ section were recovered. The bases were tion. They are much smaller than the fairly straight having been detached previously described flake/blades. The from the parent core by a free/ attribute of the backed area had disap­ feathered, Levallois/Mousterian tech­ peared. Apparently the formative period nique. A notched channel or flute was over, at least for the Llano Phase. had been punched or pressured into or Now we will turn to tools or imple­ between an "arri" or "arrises" before ments and their evolution. I base my removal from the core. No retouching interpretation of these "mixed" indus­ was noted along the lateral edges nor tries upon the gradual disappearanae of was grinding present in the basal area. attributes, beginning with the heavily The converging arrises were left intact patinated bipoints, to the proto-Clovis and served as a "mediqn" ridge to tool types. All seem to indicate great strengthen the long-axis of the flake. age, but the massiveness of the more From the remnants of the positive cone primitive types point to a greater age. or bulb of percussion, apparently (in Hunters and gatherers during glacial times most cases) the core was set at have been categorized by their lithic approximately a 45 degree angle and the industries, in Europe and in Asia (which whole flake/blade was detached by in­ we are interested in), such as Acheulean/ direct percussion, the point of impact Mousterian/Aurignacian/Perigordian/ being immediately behind the previously Solutrean and Magdalenian. I place my lf removed flute. In this paper I am lithic attributes from the "Knob Hills / illustrating one flake/blade as not "Lookout" sites within the scope of these having been fluted and one as having industries. In this article I illustrate been fluted or channeled, these in the a number of implements from these sites Levallois/Mousterian manner (Figure 4a, recovered "first" hand. Their massive­ ~, ~,i). These flake/blades are als~ ness to me indicates an age of middle­ equipped, some natural and some trimmed, upper Paleolithic. Roughly 98% of all with "backed" area for the index fin­ artifacts were derived from source ger to rest upon. From patina/varnish material obtained on these sites. The present, I would conclude that these technology is identical, patination/ afore-described projectiles/blades are varnish "in-bulk" is similar. I recog­ the proto-Clovis types in their forma­ nize and interpret a "mixing" of indus­ tive phase. tries due to "settling" and "erosion" Also recovered within the camping plus the "stability" of the debris being area were a number of bifacially flaked, held in the bedding planes on the hill­ plano-convex in cross section artifacts sides. To summarize this. I recognize a similar in outline to the Lauricocha II "mixing" of "La Quina" Mousterian,

27 * * * * * "denticulatel1 Mousterian, "foliate" Editor's Notes Mousterian, and "Mousterian" of Acheulean tradition. My description 1. There have been hundreds of researchers includes (La Quina), convex tools/ pursuing answers to these questions, how­ implements, (denticulate), incurved/ ever, and a recent example of the same is notched, (foliate), bifacially flaked, contained in "Peopling of the New Horld" and Acheulean, heart-shaped hand-axes, Ballena Press Publications in Anthropology pointed tools/implements. There are No. 23 published in 1982 by Jonathan E. also attributes pointing toward the Ericson, R. E. Taylor, and Rainer Berger. Aurignacian/Periogordian industries with their side and end scrapers 2. The terminology used in classifying (carinated). The reverse retouching, "coresl! apparently is that of the author. reminiscent of the Solutrean people who resided in Central and Western 3. The late I!Acheulo-Levalloiso-Mousteroid" Europe, could not be just a coincidence industries of the Old World date perhaps as and all of the attributes on the Knob early as 100,000 years to 50,000 years ago. Hills and Lookout artifacts will be This was the time of the first phase of the hard to disprove. The only significant last great glaciation, and it was also the negative fact that needs explanation time that the main group of Neanderthal men is the great distance between these two was living in Europe (Braidwood, Robert, sites and those in Asia and Europe. 4 Prehistoric Men, published in 1950 by Several of the artifacts recovered Chicago Natural History Museum, Popular seem to be reminiscent to the San Series, No. 37). Very few New World Diequito 1 named by Malcom Rogers as archaeologists accept the presence of part of his "Central Aspect." However, technologically comparable industries "backed I! knives are very numerous in dating to the same time levels in the his collections and lIflutingl! in its New World. early stages was not mentioned in his book Ancient Hunters of the Far West. 4. The concensus of most New World pre­ The reverse retouching on the Solutrean historians is that the earliest New World type blades/knives is also out of con­ artifacts should connect with early text. I would like to impress upon the Chopper-Chopping complexes of southeastern reader not to overlook the Levallois/ Asia, rather than with western European Mousterian (free-feathered) technique complexes such as the I!Acheulo-Levalloiso­ of shaping or utilizing the contour of Mousteroid" industries. the parent core before removing the flake/blade in its entirety. This method may direct a different light upon the "flutingl! technique. In parting, I would like to theorize that the earliest hunters/gatherers, here in the Great Basin country, were armed wi th the "bipoint" before the fluting technique emerged. They never dis­ carded the bipoints use during winter months due to it being usable on both ends, so these I have named the "snowl! blade. Apparently these bipoints were in use for many thousands of years and were made by many different industries. I would place the Lake Mohave knife, the Lerma, the Cascade and the Haskett, all in the same category, and derived from the same tradition. The arti­ facts I have illustrated in the photos have not been prepared in any way. I used a Zenza Bronica E.C. 40 mm wide angle lens 2~ x 2~ S.L.R., panatomic X black and white film.

28 b.

c. d.

Fig. 1. Bifaces from the site. a., b_. A basally thinned point/knife; _c_, _d_. A "backed, alternate lateral edges" knife, retouched only on the "cutting" edge. Both are core tools.

29 a. b.

Fig. 2. a_, b_. A "backed" point/knife; c_, d_. A biface point/knife which resembles the European Solutrean type. Both are core tools.

30 a. b.

Fig. 3. _a.. A "backed" point/knife; b_. A classic bipoint, a "snow" blade; _c_. A bifacially flaked point with a thinned base; _d_. Bifacially flaked, plano- convex point/knives with thinned bases. All specimens are bifaces.

31 c. d.

Fig. 4. Flake tools from the site. a., b_. Levallois-Mousterian-like type of flake blade and flake point; c_. Levallois-Mousterian-like fluted flake blades; d_. Aurignacian-like beaked burin.

32 c. d.

Fig. 5. Flake tools from the site. a., b_. Two views of a Levallois- Mousterian-like flake blade; c_. Another flake/blade of the same type; d. An end scraper and burin made on a tabular flake.

33 Medicinal Uses of Plants by Indian Tribes of Nevada Percy Train James R. Henrichs W. Andrew Archer

Medicinal Uses of Plants by Indian Tribes oj Nevada

This work is a facsimile reproduction of the revised edition of 19 S 7 which included a summary of phannacological research by W . Andrew Archer and published as COlltrihutiolls Towards a Flora of Nevada No . 45.

This small volume of 139 pages is hardbound in library buckram and has contents which include a partial vocabulary of Indian names and tenns, Medical uses of Plants , Index of Medicines and remedies and a short abstract of pharmacological research . This volume is the first in Quartennan's series entitled Bioacti vc Plallts.

$25.00 Postpaid

Quarterman Publications, Inc. S South Union Street Lawrence, Ma~sa (husett s 01843 14 THE NEVADA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

The Nevada Archaeological Association was organized in 1972 to provide a bond of communication be­ tween professionals in the field of archaeology and its allied sciences, members of various amateur organizations, and the people of Nevada towards the furtherance of public education and involvement in reponsible preservation of Nevada's finite archaeological and historical resources. The need for recording these cultural resources of the past for the enlightenment of future generations grows more pressing with each day of development and progress. The goals of the Nevada Ar­ chaeological Association are: to provide a focal point for general information and study of non­ renewable cultural resources; to provide a central point for recording artifact collections from Nevada and the Great Basin and the verbal knowledge of provenience and associations accompanying these col­ lections; to correlate this knowledge with that information already professionally recorded for the mutual benefit of the amateurs and professionals with research interests; to provide assistance with education towards responsible public participation in archaeology; to assist in the preservation of sites by the establishment and maintenance of a registry of available, capable, and technically skilled amateurs in Nevada who would be able to work with professionals in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Stan­ dards of Research Performance as advocated by the Society of Professional Archaeologists, particularly in the immediacy of salvage archaeology; and to provide a bond of communication between profes­ sionals, amateurs, and the general public by publishing a journal, Nevada Archaeologist. To these ends the Nevada Archaeological Association was incorporated in 1972, in the State of Nevada, with its organizational and editorial offices as listed on the inside cover, and with designated conference and meeting center located in Tonopah, Nevada. Membership is open to all those interested in the archaeology, ethnology, and history of the human inhabitants and their natural habitats in Nevada, the Great Basin, and adjacent environs.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES IN NEVADA

In Las Vegas: THE ARCHAEO-NEVADA SOCIETY

President: John Kepper, Sr. Treasurer: Ida Russell Secretary: Sarah H. Black P.O. Box 3487 Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 Telephone: (702) 649-3527

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Residents of all other Nevada communities are asked to join the Nevada Archaeological Association until such time as there are sufficient numbers of people willing to form local chapters of either of the above organizations. Information on the Con­ stitutions and By-laws of the above organizations may be obtained at cost from the secretaries of the above organizations. J i.~—l_~—J 10cm,

A large knife and a bone awl from the Helen and Tom Derby collection from the Humboldt Sink.

Sharon L. Edaburn_ INDUSTRIAL ARCHEOLOGIST

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