NOTES A Review of Cave and Karst Research

Volume 6, No.4 July/August. 1964

IlPIPEIl ARTIFACTS FROM SIERRA MORTUARY by Louis A. Payen'

Although burial caves of the central Sierra Nevada of California have been reported since the Gold Rush (Wallace, 19S1a), very little is known about the nature of the culture of the people who placed their dead in these natural tombs. There have been many explanations for human remains found in such caves: these range from their use as prisons (Stanford Grotto, 1951) to their being sites of accidental deaths (Orr, 1952). Chronological placement of these bone deposits is uncertain; estimates range from more than 12.000 years (Orr, 1952) to historic times (Sinclair, 1908; Stanford Grotto, 1951). Archaeological research recently being conducted at Cave in Tuolumne County, California. (Payen and Johnson, 1964) is providing infor- mation that may eventually lead to answers to these problems.

This vertical limestone cavern has a descent of approximately 70 Ee et , with two primary areas of archaeological deposits designated "upper cave" and "Iowe r cave". Exploratory excavations have revealed fill containing loose angular rocks, numerous s c atteved human bones, cremations, and artifacts. The artifact assemblage thus far recovered includes numerous green-backed abalone shell ornaments (Haliotis cracherodii), Q.livella shell beads of Middle Horizon types, cordage, basketry, bone obj ec ts and obsidian projectile points. Along with these items were recovered six small polished stone "pipee" that have a distinctive form, material, and context. It is these artifacts that are considered here. In all examples. the rna te r ial used in the manufacture of the "pipe" was a white, ceyeta Ilrne limestone. Its shape is consistently that of a tubular truncated cone, with only occasional minor variations. The largest diameter is just back from or at the top; the smallest diameter is at the tapered base. The bore is bic orrica L, having its greatest di a me ter at the larger end. Overall lengths of "pipes" range from 18 to 43 rnrn , and maximum diameter from 22 to 31 mm, (see Table I). From their context, these artifacts, as well as others recovered in the cave, appear to have accompanied burials and cremations placed in the lower cave. Two "pipe e!' were found together directly associated with a concen- tration of the cremated bones of an adult. One of these specimens appears to have been subjected to the funeral fire. The remaining specimens, also fr-o rri the same general area in the cave, were recovered with concentrations of disarticulated bones (possibly secondary or bundle burials). The smallest "pape!' recovered was not far from the remains of a young child, whereas the others seemed to be associated with adults. However, the loose nature of the angular rock fill, numerous disarticulated bones, and rodent distur- bance have made the distinguishing of individual grave lots difficult. Incom- plete excavation of the upper cave has not revealed any 'tpipes" and may in- volve deposits of a different age. "nepe r ement of Antbropology, Sacramento State College, Sacramento, California

25 CAVE NOTES . CAVE NOTES CAVENOTESis a publication of Cave Research Associates and the Cave Research Assocta t fon . Subscriptions are available for $2.00 per year (six issues) or on exchange. Mid-year subscriptions receive the earlier numbers of the volume. Correspondence, contributions, and subscriptions should be addressed to: CAVERESEARCHASSOCIATES,3842 Brookdale Blvd, Castro Valley, Calif. Editor: Arthur L. Lange, Cave Research Associates Associate Editor: Ronald A. Brandon, Cave Research Association (Dept. of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois) ManagingEditor: R. deseussure , Cave Research Associates. @ Copyright 1964, Cave Research Associates.

Two other Sierra burial caves have yielded "ptpee" of the same type: one pipe at Moaning Cave (Wallace, 1951b), and one at Winslow Cave (Gonsalves. 1955); both in Calaveras County. The "pipe" from Moaning Cave is identi- cal to the larger specimens from Pinnacle Point. Crystalline limestone was used; the length is 33 rnrn, and greatest diameter, 25 rnm.. Other artifacts re- covered from this cave, though few in number, are typologically similar to thos e at Pinnacle Point, and include green-backed Haliotis ornaments, 011- vella beads and obsidian projectile points. --

The Winslow Cave (Mercer's Burial Pit) specimen is interesting because the form of the "pipe" is identical to the "type'", but of small size. In fact, Gonsalves (1955, p. 36) was unwilling to call the spectmen a "pipe", but rather identified it as a bead, although he recognized its similarity to the Moaning Cave specimen. The shape of the Winslow Cave "pipe" is very sim- ilar to the smallest from Pinnacle Point. The material is crystalline lime- stone, and it measures 11 by Lfi mm , Other artifacts fcc.nd in the associated deposit represent most of the types from Moaning and Pinnacle Point Caves. Angular rock and scattered human bone are also characteristic of the de- posits (Gonsalves, 1955, p. 32). The function of the "pipe s" is not clear. The form. suggests an inset bowl for a wooden-stem smoking pipe common in certain historic groups in nor- thern California (Harrington. 1932). None of them. however, shows evidence of dottel, ashes, discoloration or charring that would demonstrate use as a smoking pipe. Since white, crystalline limestone would display the results of pipe burning, the absence of any evidence of fire suggests some other use. One possible use would be as sucking tubes by shamans. It is possible that these objects were valued possessions, since they were carefully made and we re placed with the dead. Other occurrences of this artifact-form in central California have been reported, but the type is by no means common. Two specimens, similar to but much larger than the cave specimens, have been found in an Early Ho- rizon context at Site C. 142 on the lower Mokelumne Rive r (Helzer, 1949; Lillard, Heizer and F'eneng a , 1939). Both were as eo ctated with bur ials and show no physical evidence of smoking. "Ptpes" closer to the type in for rri and size are known from the Lodi-Stockton area, notably in burials in the

26 VOLUME 6, NO, 4

Johnson (Late Horizon) and Deterding (Middle Horizon) sites. They are made of steatite and marble (calcite). There is no evidence of their use in smoking (Schenk and Dawson, 1929; Lillard, Heizer and Fenenga, 1939). Se ver-a.l steatite "ptpe e" of the same general form were found in Late Horizon c r-e- rnations at the Scott Site in eastern Sacramento County (Fayen, me , 1). In the San Francisco Bay region, similar conical "pipe s" of steatite are reported from the Emeryville shell rnound (U1'11e, 1907; Schenk, 1926), Ellis Landing shell mound [NeIaon, 1910), Fernandez site (Davis, 1960), and the Patterson Mound (Davis and Treganza, 1959). Both Middle and Late Ho- rizon occupations are represented in these sites, but the context of the "ptpes" is not clear. Beardsley (1954) assigns the m to the Middle period. Northof San Francisco Bay, in the Napa region, small conical steatite

"ptpe e" are reported frorn sites Napa e L, -57. and -66 (Heizer, 1953). Elsasser (1960) reports a steatite "pipe" of conical or cup-like shape from a Nevada County (Nev~l5) Martis Complex site. A similar but urrfi.n- ished sandstone specimen was found at a ei.te in Sardine Valley (Sie-ZO), Sierra County (Payen, me , 2). From what appears to have been a shaman cache of ceremonial' objects in Loyalton Rockshelter in Sierra Valley came a wi deIy-Har-ing , funnel-shaped specimen. This "pipe", a white, stone e pe- cim.en 50 rnm, in diameter and 27 mm, long, is one of the few that shows evidence of dottel indicating smoking (Wilson. 1964'). "Pipes" of similar form and size are reported from central Nevada. One unfinished specimen made from calcite was found in (Loud and Harrington, 1929), and a scoria specimen, in Humboldt Cave (Heizer and Krieger, 1956). However, the most interesting occurrence is from Basketmaker sites in the Southwest, where specimens almost identical to those from California burial cave a have been found. Many of these are made

~\:iII_Ai ,.~ fA

b a a. 55-1/138, Lower cave, Area 3b, Levell, cre- mation 1. b. 55-1/439, Lower cave, Area ab, Level 3.

c. 55-1/461, Lower cave, d Area 3a, Level 5. c d. 55-1/99, Lower cave, Area Sa, Levell. e. 55-1/139, Lower cave, Area 3b, Levell, cre- mation 1. f. 55-1/89, Lower cave, Area 2, surface. •

Figure 1. '~PiPe5". from Pinnacle Point Cave , Tuolumne County, California.

27 CAVE NOTES

Greatest Smallest Bore Diameter Specimen no. Length Da ame ter Diameter Bowl Base

55-1/89 31mm. 27mm. 18mm. 19nun. l1nun. 55-1/99 36 2. 17 19 10 55-1/138 43 31 21 19 14 55-1/139 37 27 1S 1B 10 55-1/461 36 27 . 15 19 10 55-1/439 IS 22 11 13 6 Moaning Caw 33 25 Data not available

Winslow Caw 11 15 Data not available

Table I. sfee characteristics of "pipes " from Pinnacle Point and nearby burial caves. of fine-grained limest<:me (other materials are also used). and show evidence of having been used for smoking (Kidder and Guernsey, 1919; Amsden. 1949; McGregor,' 1941). Mogollon sites also yield similar "pipes'! (Haury. 1936; McGregor, 1941; Wheat. 1955).

To summarize, the so-called "pipes" recovered from the Sierra burial caves show striking uniformity in mate.riaI and form. Their contextual ar- rangement. as burial complement in vertical limestone caverns containing similar artifactual assemblages. suggests that the "pipes'! were made by a related people. This expression may be correlated. tentatively, on the basis Of the shell artifact styles, with the Middle Horizon of the Central Valley sequence (Lillard, Heizer, and F'enenge, 1939; Beardsley. 1954). The "pdpe s" appear to be a diagnostic or type-artifact in what may be defined as the Sierra Mortuary Cave Complex. However, before such an expression can be isolated, we must -awai.t the completion of more excavation and analysis of recovered materials.

Further indication of -ti.rrre placement of the 'tpt pe e' comes from their appearance in the Middle Horizon in Central Valley and Bay Area sites. In fact, Beardsley (1948, p. 13) believes such "pipes" to be part of the cere- monial complex of the Middle Horizon. Additional evidence comes from their appearahc~ in the Martis Complex of the Sierra Nevada (Elsasser, 1960). The latter can be equated with the Middle Horizon (Olsen and Riddell, 1963 ).

'Figure 2. Cross-sections of "pipes" from Sierra Nevada mortuary caves and western U. S. sites. (Opposite page)

a-f. Pinnacle Point Cave g. MoaningCave! (Wallace) 1951b) h. WinslowCave (Gonsalves) 1955) i. Stockton-Lodi region} California (Schenk and Dawson) 1929) j. Scott Site} Sacramento County, California u-r. Emeryville Shelimound (Schenk! 1926) m-p. Naparegion, California (Heizer) 1953) c-.r . Basket Maker, Arizona (Kidder and Guernsey. 1919) s. NevadaCounty, California (Elsasser, 1960) t-u. Mogollon sites, Arizona and NewMexico (Haury, 1936; Mc- Gregor, 1941).

28 VOLUME 6, NO.4

abc d

{J ~ h f e 9 fl \] k m

. j I v v» U n 0 q r

ijP"'.. , : ems.

stU

29 ,~~~~~---=---_...... _------

CAVE NOTES

PINNACLE POINT CAVE

Longitudinal Profiles Through Primary Areos A I

AnQulor rock fill contoining human bone lmd orllfoc!s ENTRANCE

Natural clay fill

I oA

C I

S 'I

'-t.: e'

Figure 3. Cross-sections of Pinnacle Point Cave.

The presence of very similar "ptpe a'' in Basketmaker sites in the South- west is of interest for theoretical reasons. Tentatively it suggests a pos- sible cultural link. This link, if it exists, may be a base of origin, com- mon to both expressions, in the Desert Culture (Jennings and Norbeck, 1955). In fact, tubular "pipes!' or sucking tubes are indicated as part of the artifact inventory of this early cultural expression (Jennings, et al.. 1956).

References:

AMSDEN, C. A. Prehistoric Southwesterners from Basket Maker to Pueblo. South- west Museum Publication, 163p. 1949.

30 VOLUME 6, NO. 4

BEARDSLEY JR. K. Culture sequences in central California archaeology. American Antiquity, vol. 14, p. 1-28. 1948.

BEARDSLEY, R. K. Temporal and areal relationships in central California archae- ology. Califo,rnia Univ. Archaeological Survey Repts 24, 25. 127p. 1954.

DAVIS, J. T. Archaeology of the Fernandez Site, a San Francisco Bay Region shellmound. California Univ. Archaeological Survey Rept 49, paper 75, 52p. 1960.

DAVIS, J. T., and A. E. TREGANZA. The Patterson Mound: a comparative analysis of the archaeology of Site Ala-328. California Univ. ArchaeolOgical Survey Rept 47, 92p. 1959.

ELSASSER, A. B. Archaeology of the Sierra Nevada in California and Nevada. California Dniv. Archaeological Survey Rept 51, 93p. 1960.

GONSALVES, W. C. Winslow Cave, a mortuary site in Calaveras County, California. California Dniv. Archaeological Survey,Rert 29, paper 31, p. 31-45. 1955.

HARRINGTON,J. P. Tobacco among the Karuk Indians of California. 8mi thsonian Instn, Bureau of American Ethnology, Bull. 94, 284p. 1932.

HAURY, E. W. The Mogollon Culture of southwestern New . Medallion Gila Pueblo, Medallion Paper no. 20, 146p. 1936.

HEIZER, R. F. Archaeology of central California I: too Early Horizon. Ca Hro-m a , Univ. Anthropological Records, vol. 12, p. 1-84. 1949.

HEIZER, R. F. (Ed.). Archaeology of the Napa region. California Dniv. Anthropo- logical Records, vol. 1.2, no. 6, p. 225-358. 1953.

HEIZER, R. F., and A. D. KRIEGER. Archaeology of Humboldt Cave, Churchill Coun- ty, Nevada. California oniv. Publ.in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vol. 47, no. 1, p. 1-120. 19~ --

JENNINGS, J. D., and E. NOR~ECK. Great Basin prehistory; a review. American Antiquity, vol. 21, no. 1, p . 1-1.1. 1955.

JENNINGS, J. D., et al. The American Southwest; a pr-ob Lem

KIDDER, A. v., and 8. J. GUERNSEY. Archaeological explorations in northeastern Arizona. Smithsonian Instn, Bur. of American Ethnology, 131.111.65, 228p. 1919.

LILLARD, J. B., R. F. HEIZER, and F. FENENGA. An introduction to the archaeolo- gy of central Caj.t rornt a . Sacramento Junior College, Dept of Anthropology, Bull. 2, 93p. 1939.

LOUD, L. L., and lvi, R. HARRINGTON. LoveLock Cave. California Univ. Publ. ,n American Archaeology and Ethnology, vol. 25, no. 1, 183p. 1929-:--

McGREGOR,J. C. Southwestern Archaeology. Wiley and Sons, New York. 403p. 1941.

NELSON, N. C. The Ellis Landing Shell Mound. California Unt v, PubL in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vof . 7, no. 5, p . 358-426. 1910.

OLSEN, W. H., and F. A. RIDDELL. Archaeology of the Western Pacific Railroad relocation, Oroville Project, Butte County, California. California State, Div, of Beaches ~ ~arks, Archaeological Rept no. 7, 74p. 1963.

ORR, P.C. Excavations in Moaning Cave. Santa Barbara Museu~ £! Natural History, Dept of Anthropology, Bull. no. 1, 19p. 1952.

PAYEN, L. A. Archaeological Excavation at the Scott Site on Deer Creek, Sacra- mento County, California (Summer of 1957). (Manuscript) 16p. (1).

31 CAVE NOTES

PAYEN,L. A. Notes on Archaeological Sites in Sardine Stampede Valley Area, Sierra County, California. lOp. (Manuscript)-{2). PAYEN,L. A., and J. J. JOHNSON. Current Cave Research in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains: a Progress Report. Paper read at Annual Meeting o'ft'il'e Southwestern Anthropological Association, March 26, 1964.

SCHENK;W. E. The Emeryville Shell Mound,Final Report. California Univ. Publ. in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vol. 23, no. 3, p. 148-282. 1926. SCHENK,w. E., and E. J. DAWSON.Archaeology of the northern San Joaquin Valley. California Vniv. Publ. in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vo L, 25, no. 4, p . 290-4l3.----w29-,-

SINCLAIR, W. ,J. Recent investigations bearing on the question of the occurrence of Neocene Manin the auriferous gravels or the Sierra Nevada. California Univ. Publ. in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vol. 7, p . 107-131. 19;08. STANFORDGROTTO. Cave of the Catacombs and its archaeological history. National Speleological Society, Stanford Grotto Monthly Rept, vol. 2, p . 14-24. 1952.

ImLE, M. The Emeryville Shellmound. California Univ. Publ. 11:: American Archae- ology and Ethnology, vol. 7, no. 1, 10Gp. 1907.

WALLACE,W. J. Mortuary caves of Calaveras County, California. Archaeology, vol. 4, p. 199-209. 1951a. WALLACE,W. J. The archaeological deposit in Moaning Cave, Calaveras County. California Unf.v , Archaeological Survey Rapt 12) paper 16) p. 29-41. 1951b. WHEAT,J. B. Mogollon Culture prior to A.D. 1000. American Anthropological Association, vol. 57, no. 2, pt 3, Memoir82. 242p. 1956. WILSON,N. L. Archaeology of the Loyalton Rock Shelter, Sierra County, Califor- nia. Sacramento State College, M. A. thesis. BSp. 1964.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CA VE STUDIES: Number 12, is now being mailed to persons who have placed advanced or standing orders. Its title is HAn Ethnc-, ArchaeologiCal Examination of Samwel Cave", representing results of excavations and stu- dies directed by Adan E. Treganza, the author. The report, containing figures, photographs, and maps, is available for $2.00 from Cave Research As Soctatee .

CA VE NOTES: Attractive, hard-bound sets of the first three vol.urriea with index are being offered for $5.00. The quantity is very limited.

Note to Librarians: The index to Volumes 4-6 of CAVE NOTES will Be mailed to all subscribers of Volume 6, after completion of that volume.

Cave Research Meeting: All persons having an interest in the cave sciences are invited to attend a meeting on August 30-31. 1965, to be held at the Research Center of the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Papers pertaining to the northern Arizona region or introducing original work of interest to speleologists everywhere will be given priority. Abstracts should be submitted at the earliest possible date. Additional information will· accompany subsequent issues of CAVE NOTES.

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