Fish Traps on Ancient Shores
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2007 Fish traps on ancient shores Eric Stephen White University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation White, Eric Stephen, "Fish traps on ancient shores" (2007). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2197. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/7v2b-4kwu This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FISH TRAPS ON ANCIENT SHORES By Eric Stephen White Master of Arts University of Nevada Las Vegas 2007 A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Anthropology Department of Anthropology and Ethnic Studies College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1448429 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1448429 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2007 Eric S. White All rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval IJNTV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas July 16 .20 07 The Thesis prepared by Eric s. White Entitled "Fish Traps on Ancient Shores" is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of ____________________ Master of Arts in Anthropology Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College / Examination Committee Member Examination Committee Member U k Z ) lULU) Â Graduate College Faculty Revr^entative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Fish Traps on Ancient Shores By Eric Stephen White Dr. Barbra Roth, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Anthropology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Archaeological investigations associated with the Lake Cahuilla fish traps have been restricted due to the lack of excavation and experimentation. This thesis addresses a new line of researches, which incorporates not only experimentation and excavation, but also the combination of fish trap design and fish behavior, to more fully explain the working mechanics of ancient fish traps. Not only are these issues examined, but other natural phenomenon, that affect the archaeological record, and its understanding are examined. This thesis relies heavily on biology for its conclusions. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................. iii LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................ 1 Background .................................................................................................................. 5 Research Questions..................................................................................................... 9 Research Design........................................................... 10 CHAPTER 2 FISH SPECIES AND FISH TRAP HISTOTY.................................... 13 Various Fishing Principles........................................................................................22 Nets............................................................................................................................ 29 Available Data ...........................................................................................................30 Summary .................................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER 3 PEOPLE OF THE COLORADO DESERT................................................. 36 The Kamia/Kumeyaay or Ipai/Tipai: Prehistoric Period........................................36 Ethno-Historic Period............................................................................................... 37 Economy .................................................................................................................... 38 Hunting...................................................................................................................... 40 The Archaeological Record and Hunting at the Wikalokal Site Fishing ...............42 Historic Period....................................................... 43 The Cahuilla.................................................................. 44 Territory ..................................................................................................................... 45 Villages.................................. 46 Economic Activities.................................................................................................. 46 Flora........................................................................................................................... 47 Material Culture ........................................................................................................ 48 Games and Music.......................................................................................................50 Hygiene...................................................................................................................... 50 Sociopolitical Organization......................................................................................51 Marriage and Kinship............................................................................................... 53 Law and Property.......................................................................................................55 Trade and War.......................................................... 55 Cosmology................................................................................................................. 56 Rituals........................................................................................................................ 59 European Contact..................................................................................................... 59 Tipai-lpai: The People.............................................................................................. 61 Language...,...............................................................................................................62 Territory and Environment .......................................................................................64 Prehistory ................................................................................................................... 67 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. European Contact......................................................................................................68 Summery .................................................................................................................... 69 CHAPTER 4 KNOWN REGIONAL FISHING TECHNIQUES AND THEIR ORIGINS................................................................................................................. .73 Lake Cahuilla Fish Traps.......................................................................................... 73 Mojave Fishing Methods.......................................................................................... 76 The Quechan.............................................................................................................. 81 Cocopa Fishing Methods.......................................................................................... 81 Fishing Sites and the Changing Salton Sink ............................................................82 Lake Cahuilla Archaeological Record ....................................................................