Obsidian Studies in the Truckee Meadows, Nevada

REPORTS 151 Obsidian Studies in the Truckee population movements. For example, in a land Meadows, Nevada mark study of obsidian procurement patterns in northeastern California and south-central Oregon, JAMES HUTCHEVS and DWIGHT D. Hughes (1986) established that the identified obsid SIMONS ian sources represented are more numerous and Kautz Environmental Consultants, Inc., 5200 Neil Rd., more distant in skes characterized by temporally Suite 200, Reno, NV 89502. diagnostic EUco series projectile points than in skes dated to earlier or later periods. The Truckee Meadows is a well-watered val The relative abundance of obsidian from diverse ley in western Nevada with archaeological evi and distant sources provided the basis for suggest dence of aboriginal human occupation extend ing that the obsidian was procured indkectly by ex ing fi-om 150 B.P. to about 10,000 B.P. Obsid change through an extensive obsidian trade net ian samples from 27 archaeological sites in and around the Truckee Meadows (401 individual work which flourished during Elko times, but was specimens) have been analyzed for geochemical less expansive at other times (Hughes 1986). source determination, and 183 of these obsidian Using similar data, diachronic variability in rela specimens have been analyzed for hydration rind thicknesses. A total of 20 different obsid tive abundance of obsidian from diverse and distant ian sources in seven distinct geographic locali sources at skes in Drews Valley in south-central ties is represented in the combined obsidian Oregon has been explained by shifting settlement samples. Despite this great diversity, 46% of patterns and population movements of people who the sample obsidian was derived from local sources, while 38% was derived from the Mono are assumed to have procured their obsidian direct Basin in southeast California. The remainder of ly at the sources, rather than indirectly through ex the sample obsidian (16%) was derived from change (Connolly and Jenkins 1997). sources scattered throughout northeast Califor nia and northwest Nevada, as well as from sev A number of obsidian studies has been conduct eral unidentified sources. No temporal trends ed ki the Tmckee Meadows, producing specific ob or shifts in the utilization of particular obsidian sidian source information for 363 specimens, as sources are apparent in the sample. Hydration weU as 183 hydration rind measurements. This re rind thicknesses vary from 0.8 p to 9.8 p, but the data for Sutro Springs obsidian suggest that hy port synthesizes the results of these studies in order dration rind thickness is an unreliable tech to characterize the obsidian data recovered from nique for determining the age of obsidian arti sites wkhin and around the Tmckee Meadows. In facts, whether relative or absolute. the foUowing sections, we provide a brief overview of the Tmckee Meadows, present a summary of the currently available obsidian data, and discuss ap DURING the last two decades, obsidian studies parent trends in the data. have become increasingly important in the archae THE TRUCKEE MEADOWS ology of far westem North America, especially in northem and central California (see Taylor 1976 The Tmckee Meadows (Figs. 1 and 2) is named Earle and Ericson 1977; Ericson and Earle 1982 for the Tmckee River, which flows through the Hughes 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994 valley from west to east, takkig water from Lake Hughes and Bettkiger 1984; Hughes and Benny- Tahoe to Pyramid Lake (Glancy et al. 1984; Gates hofifl986; Jackson 1986, 1988; Whiteet al. 1993; and Walters 1992). It is one of several well- Baugh and Ericson 1994). Many obsidian studies watered, lushly vegetated valleys located along the have provided the foundations for archaeological east front of the northem Sierra Nevada. The inferences regarding dynamics of prehistoric land Truckee Meadows is approxknately 19 km. (12 use, patterns of frade and exchange, ethnicity, and mi.) north/south by 16 km. (10 mi.) east/west, and 152 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY Fig. 1. Location of the Tmckee Meadows in westem Nevada. is bounded on the west by the Carson Range, (completed ki 1868) followed the Truckee River whose highest point is Mount Rose (3,285 m. through the Truckee Meadows, promoting the ini [10,776 ft.]). To the north is Peavine Mountain tial growth of the cities of Reno and Sparks along (2,519 m. [8,266 ft.]), surrounded by lower hills. the river. The eastem boundary of the Truckee Meadows Prehistoric human occupancy of the Tmckee basin is formed by the Virgkiia Range, which has Meadows and envkons appears to have begun a number of peaks above 6,000 ft. (1,830 m.), such about 10,000 B.P. with the pre-Archaic Period as Louse Peak (2,092 m. [6,862 ft.]). The Steam Washoe Lake Phase, represented by isolated finds boat HUls at the southern aid of the Truckee Mead of fluted pokits (Elston 1986; Elston et al. 1994, ows have a maxknum elevation of 1,883 m. (6,178 1995). Great Baski Stemmed series pokits typify ft.). The floor of the Tmckee Meadows has an aver the subsequent Tahoe Reach Phase, which lasted age elevation of 1,372 m. (4,500 ft.). Spanish from ca. 10,000 to 8,000 B.P. The Spooner Phase Springs VaUey and Lemmon VaUey lie knmediately (8,000 to 5,000 B.P.) marks the Early Archaic north of the Tmckee Meadows, while Pleasant Val Period, durkig which adaptive sfrategies kivolvkig ley and Washoe Valley are situated to the south. less mobility and more kitensive reliance upon The route of the historic Cenfral Pacific Raikoad plant foods and small game began to emerge. REPORTS 153 SP.-OflSH SPRINGS VALLEY KEY H HulTiktr Hllll 1 26W.65 2 26WJ2211 3 26WE58«3 4 26Wi3017 5 2«W«5190 6 26Wa5I86 7 26W.5I83 8 26Wi5204 9 26W.3197 and 26Wt520S 10 26Wil450 M MWi4331 i: :6Wi4330 13 26Wil4a8/14<9 14 26Wa4319 IS 26Wa5949 16 26W13944 17 26W.5897 IS 26Wa59U 19 26Wa2016 :o 26W,5K3 PLEASANT :i :6WJ2014 22 :6Wa5929 VALLEY 23 26Wa59:4 Slide Mtn. 24 26Wi99 25 26W11414 ' Washoe 26 26Wa2(U8 ro Lake r^-dS^ Fig. 2. Archaeological sites contributing to obsidian studies. A dramatic kicrease ki archaeological visibility the bow and arrow; an apparent preference for characterizes the Middle Archaic Period Martis chert (i.e., cryptocrystallkie silicates) toolstone; re Phase (5,000 to 1,300 B.P.). It is distinguished by duction ki tool size; possible reduction ki house a weU-developed biface reduction trajectory, char size; kifroduction of bedrock mortars and hullers as acterized by Martis series and Elko series dart a consequence of the development of the acom/pki- points, and a variety of bifaces, retouched flakes, yon complexes; and establishment of more perma and perforators/gravers, often made from basak nent, established whiter base camps (Elston 1986; (Elston 1986; Elsasser and Gortiier 1991). A Elston et al. 1995). The Late Archaic Period is plethora of Martis Phase sites occurs, often con- divided kito two temporal phases. Rosegate series tainmg associated features such as houses, cache and Gunther series projectile pokits are typical of pks, and hearths. The frequent presence of sub the Early Kkigs Beach Phase (1,300 to 700 B.P.). stantial quantities of ground stone artifacts at Mar These are replaced durkig the Late Kings Beach tis Phase sites, especially manos and metates/mill- Phase (700 to 150 B.P.) by Desert series pokits. kig stones, attests to the knportance of plant foods. The Late Kings Beach Phase cokicides with the The subsequent Late Archaic Period is marked Terminal Archaic Period defined for the westem by a number of cultural changes: kifroduction of Great Baski ki general. It has been argued that the 154 JOURNAL OF CALIFORNIA AND GREAT BASIN ANTHROPOLOGY Table 1 OBSIDIAN SOURCES IN THE COMBINED SAMPLE Geographic Area Obsidian Source* No. of Specimens % of Total Truckee Meadows Sutro Springs 148 36.9 C. B. Concrete 37 9.2 Patrick 0 0.0 Mono Basin Bodie Hills 79 19.7 Mount Hicks 53 13.2 Pine Grove Hills 16 4.0 Casa Diablo 2 0.5 Queen 1 0.25 Northwest Nevada Fox Mountain 6 1.5 Homecamp A B 4 1.0 Majuba Mountain 3 0.75 Duck Flat 2 0.5 Paradise Valley 0.25 Warner Mountains South Warners 4 1.0 Buck Mountain 0.25 Sugar Hill 0.25 ledicine Lake Highlands East Medicine Lake 0.25 Grasshopper Flat/ Lost Iron Wells 0.25 North Coast Ranges Mount Konocti 0.25 Napa Valley 0.25 Sacramento Valley Tuscan 0.25 multiple areas unidentified sources 38 9.5 ALL SOURCES 401 100 " Source determinations were performed by Geochemical Research Laboratory or by Biosystems Analysis, Inc. Hydration rind thicknesses were measured by the Obsidian Hydration Laboratory at the Anthropological Studies Center, Sonoma State University, or by Biosystems Analysis, Inc. Late Archaic peoples kihabitkig the Truckee Mead (1996), Delacorte (1997), Hutchins et al. (1997a, ows and environs were the ancestors of the ethno- 1997b), Sknons (1997a, 1997b), and Mires and historic and present-day Washoe, for whom the HutchuB (1998). Many of the obsidian specimens Tmckee Meadows was (and is) part of their core were also analyzed to measure hydration rind territory (e.g.. Price 1962, 1980; Downs 1966; thicknesses. The combined resuks of obsidian d'Azevedo 1986; Elston etal. 1994, 1995). source determinations are summarized ki Table 1. A total of 20 different obsidian sources from OBSIDLVN STUDIES seven distinct geographic localkies was identified Obsidian samples from 27 sites within and from the samples. Obsidian was derived from around the Truckee Meadows have been analyzed sources as far north as Sugar Hill (160 mi.

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