Cultural Markings on the Landscape: The PCN Pecked Curvilinear Nucleated Tradition in the Northern Coastal Ranges of California By Donna Lee Gillette A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Margaret W. Conkey, Chair Professor Kent G. Lightfoot Professor Marian H. Feldman Fall 2011 Copyright Donna Lee Gillette, 2011 All rights reserved Abstract Cultural Markings on the Landscape: The PCN Pecked Curvilinear Nucleated Tradition in the Northern Coastal Ranges of California by Donna Lee Gillette Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology University of California, Berkeley Professor Margaret W. Conkey, Chair This dissertation explores the archaeological context of the PCN (Pecked Curvilinear Nucleated) tradition of marking boulders as it appears in the landscape of the Coastal Ranges of Northern California. Located on the over 2150 hectare property of the University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) are five boulders or clusters of boulders that exhibit cultural markings, including some cupules, which were placed in the distant past on a specific type of boulder, in distinctive shapes and forms. By using a landscape archaeology and ritual theory framework, I explore the pre-historic activities that took place at the more than 30 identified pre-historic sites, through the archaeological context provided by more than 3000 catalogued artifacts excavated and collected from the sites. After subjecting the data to various technological methods, the results of various archaeological testing (obsidian hydration, chemical sourcing, AMS dates, soil testing techniques, and recording techniques) are reported, discussed and interpreted. A final objective and contribution of this study is to present a contextual model for application to similar archaeological sites. 1 My dissertation is dedicated to my families who have traveled my journey, at my side, with their love and support, especially my husband Garry, and knowing that our late daughter Dawn, always my cheerleader, was cheering from above. i Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ vi I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 II. Theoretical and Conceptual Approach ..................................................................................... 11 III. History of Archaeological Studies in California and their Intersection with Rock Art .......... 23 IV. The PCN (Pecked Curvilinear Nucleated) Tradition in California ........................................ 41 V. Geographical and Geological Context of the North Coastal Ranges and the HREC and Flora present on the Landscape..................................................................................................... 65 VI. The Pomo and Ethnographic Perspectives ............................................................................ 74 VII. Pre-historic Use of the Landscape ....................................................................................... 101 VIII. Field Research, Archaeological Context, and Testing Methods ........................................ 114 IX. Results and Discussion of Field Work.................................................................................. 128 Appendices …………………………………………………………………………………….230 ii List of Figures Figure 1.1: Example of a PCN element ...................................................................................... 1 Figure 1.2: Distribution of PCN sites in the Coastal Ranges of California. .............................. 3 Figure 1.3: CA-MRN-442 – Ring Mountain .............................................................................. 4 Figure 1.4: CA-MRN-442Ring Mountain. ................................................................................. 4 Figure 4.1: A yoni in San Diego County .................................................................................. 43 Figure 4.2: The Huntley Peak PCN boulder. ............................................................................ 45 Figure 4.3: The Hidden Hill PCN site. ..................................................................................... 46 Figure 4.4: Location of the Watershed Down PCN boulder ..................................................... 47 Figure 4.5: Bob‘s Rock the HREC-15 PCN boulder .......................................................... 48 Figure 4.6: Chuck‘s Rock HREC14......................................................................................... 49 Figure 4.7: Barrett‘s Knight‘s Valley Pomo Baby Rock ........................................................ 50 Figure 4.8: A PCN element on the top of Cloverdale Boulder ……………………………….54 Figure 4.9: PCN elements at CA-SLO-225 .............................................................................. 61 Figure 4.10: PCNlike element from Cueva Pintada…………….….. ....................................... 62 Figure 5.1: Entry sign for the HREC in Hopland, California ............................................. 68 Figure 5.2: Map identifying the location of the HREC . .......................................................... 68 Figure 5.3: Location of the identified PCN marked boulders .................................................. 69 Figure 6.1: Territories of the seven language groups of the Pomo. .......................................... 77 Figure 7.1: Map of the HREC landscape ................................................................................ 103 Figure 8.1: Total Station mapping ......................................................................................... 118 Figure 8.2: Total Station mapping .......................................................................................... 119 Figure 8.3: Placement of the Cyrax camera ........................................................................... 120 Figure 8.4: Map identifying the obsidian quarries. ................................................................. 127 Figure 9.1: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-852 .................. 133 Figure 9.2: Master modified bone chart .................................................................................. 135 Figure 9.3: Obsidian Hydration CA-MEN-852 ...................................................................... 136 Figure 9.4: Shell Bead from the HREC collection ................................................................ 137 Figure 9.5: Recovered artifacts on HREC ............................................................................. 138 Figure 9.6: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-2206 ................ 139 Figure 9.7: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-2216 ................ 140 Figure 9.8: Obsidian Hydration CA-MEN-2216 .................................................................... 141 Figure 9:9: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-2223 ................ 142 iii Figure 9.10: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-3351 .............. 144 Figure 9.11: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-3355 .............. 145 Figure 9.12: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-3357 .............. 146 Figure 9.13: Obsidian Hydration CA-MEN-3357. ................................................................. 147 Figure 9.14: Raw lithic material used for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-3462 .............. 148 Figure 9.15: Obsidian Hydration CA-MEN-3462. ................................................................. 149 Figure 9.16: Chart of units that received subsurface study at CA-MEN-2213 .................... 151 Figure 9.17: Chart of units that received subsurface study at CA-MEN-2221 .................... 151 Figure 9.18: Hammerstone recovered from CA-MEN-2221…………………………. ......... 152 Figure 9.19: Soil samples for OCR testing ............................................................................. 153 Figure 9.20: Soil Profile .......................................................................................................... 155 Figure 9.21: Split boulder showing PCN ................................................................................ 156 Figure 9.22: McDowell Valley in relation to the HREC ........................................................ 158 Figure 9.23: Raw lithic material of artifacts from CA-MEN-1602 ........................................ 158 Figure 9.24: Obsidian sources for artifacts recovered from CA-MEN-1602 ......................... 159 Figure 9.25: Obsidian Hydration CA-MEN-1602 .................................................................. 160 Figure 9.26: Fishlike charmstone . .......................................................................................... 161 Figure 9.27: Measurements of split boulder 3-D scan ............................................................ 162 Figure 9.28: Visibility of PCN element 3-D scan .................................................................. 163 Figure 9.29: Recording of cupules .......................................................................................... 163 Figure 9.30: Split boulder covered with tarp ........................................................................