Soapstone for the Cosmos: Archaeological Discoveries in the Cuyamaca Mountains
Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Vol. 5, Nos. 1 and 2, pp. 140-155 (1983). Soapstone for the Cosmos: Archaeological Discoveries in the Cuyamaca Mountains EDWARD BRECK PARKMAN HE Cuyamaca Mountains of interior San 1981a, 1981b; Moore 1979; Parkman et al. TDiego County are a remote region charac 1981). To date, approximately 250 native terized by a vast diversity of natural and American archaeological sites have been re cultural resources. Located 60 km. east of San corded within the 10,000 ha. Cuyamaca Diego, and within the ethnographic homeland Rancho State Park. The sites include vhlage of the Kumeyaay Indians, the Cuyamacas and camp places, bedrock mhling stations, comprise a major portion of the Peninsular flake scatters and hunting sites, rock art Range. The region is drained by the San occurrences, and pottery caches. Many of the Diego and Sweetwater rivers, and ranges in Cuyamaca sites are characterized by the ab elevation from 1,000 to 2,000 m. above sea original modification of the local bedrock. level. Local plant communities include well- The features involved include bedrock mor developed chaparral, grassland meadow, and tars and metates, cupule petroglyphs, and oak-pine woodland associations. various other incised and scratched petro Extensive archaeological investigations glyphs (Parkman 1981). have been conducted within the Cuyamacas, A major source of soapstone is located especially in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, within the park on the eastern flank of the heartland of this mountainous region (Fig. Stonewah Peak, and it has been known to 1). Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, park archaeologists for over five decades.
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