AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Daniel M. Mulligan for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies in Anthropology. Anthropology. and Geography presented on April 21. 1997. Title: Crescent Lake: Archaeological Journeys into Central Oregon's Cascade Range Abstract approved: 71,4-e-Pe-r--, David R. Brauner The rugged Cascade Range of central Oregon has been long regarded as an enigmatic, archaeological puzzle in the study of the Pacific Northwest's ancient past. While ethnographic and archaeological research in the adjacent northern Great Basin, Columbia Plateau and Willamette Valley have revealed a rich and ancient tapestry of Native American peoples, cultures, histories and lifestyles, little is known about the human past of the intervening mountainous area. Factors such as scattered and/or small-scale investigations, limited research funding, complex terrain, variable environmental conditions and a poor historical record have tended to compel the archaeological community to shy away from casting an in-depth, contemplative eye on the central Oregon Cascades. However, recent research at Crescent Lake and other high elevation lake areas have produced evidence that suggests native peoples made seasonal use of the central Oregon uplands for at least the past 8,000 years. Analysis of cultural material recovered at the Crescent Lake Site (35KL749) suggests small, mobile groups repeatedly made seasonal journeys to Crescent Lake during both pre-Mazama (eg., pre-7000 B.P.) and post-Mazama (eg., post-6800 B.P.) times. Numerous artifacts found buried between late Pleistocene glacial till and recent surface soils suggest that Crescent Lake may have been a popular upland destination throughout the Holocene. Crescent Lake: Archaeological Journeys into Central Oregons Cascade Range by Daniel M. Mulligan A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Completed April 21, 1997 Commencement June 15, 1997 Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies thesis of Daniel M. Mulligan presented on April 21. 1997 APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Anthropology Professor, representing Anthropology Professor, repre Chair of e artment of Ant polo Dean of Graduat chool I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Daniel M. Mulligan, A printed copy of this thesis a reality. These three have taken impending crisis management to a new level. A mighty thanks and a "Whewwww!" to you all. To my family, who have always provided me with unyielding support, encouragement, occasional butt kicks and a "safe" place to center myself while working on this project. Thank you for reminding me whats really important in life. I would especially like to thank my parents, Bill and Marcella Mulligan. They are two very special people and have always been my heros and source of inspiration. Thank you for always being there for me and for being such wonderful role models. I love you very much. Lastly, hail to all the native people who left their archaeological legacy at Crescent Lake. I hope I got it right. TABLE OF CONTENTS Pa e 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING 5 Location 5 Physical Geography and Geology 5 Hydrology 13 Soils 14 Landtypes 15 Volcanism and Stratigraphic Implications 19 Climate 20 Late Quaternary Environmental Change 21 Vegetation 27 Fauna. 31 3. PREHISTORIC-ETHNOGRAPHIC SETTING 32 Prehistoric Overview 34 Paleoindian Period 34 Early Archaic Period 37 Middle Archaic Period 42 Late Archaic Period 55 Contact Period 59 Ethnographic Overview 61 Lati?ayfq (Molala) 65 Wayampam (Tenino) 73 Northern Paiute 79 Maklaks (Klamath) 88 Euroamerican Exploration and Settlement 95 Elliott Wagon Road 97 Oregon Central Military Wagon Road (OCMWR) 100 4. MODELING PREHISTORIC USE OF THE CENTRAL OREGON CASCADES 104 The Model Concept 104 The State of Modeling in the Cascades 107 Cultural History in the Central Oregon Cascades 108 Ecological Approaches in the Central Oregon Cascades 110 5. PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK AT CRESCENT LAKE 120 Mountain Lakes Survey and Evaluative Test Excavation Project: 1982 120 Cultural Resource Inventory of Crescent Lake Shoreline: 1988 127 Overview of Documented Sites at Crescent Lake 129 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 6. 35KL749 METHODOLOGY 137 Field Methodology 137 Pre-1987 Investigations 137 1987 Investigations 139 1988 Investigations 142 1990 Investigations 145 1991 Investigations 146 Analytic Methodology 148 Special Laboratory Studies 153 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry 153 Blood Residue Analysis 154 Radiocarbon Dating 155 Artifact Pollen Analysis 155 7. DESCRIPTIVE ARCHAEOLOGY 157 35KL749 Generalized Stratigraphy and Geomorphology 157 35KL749 Artifact Assemblage 165 Weapons Systems 166 Hide and Animal Processing 174 Wood and Bone Working 180 Plant Food Processing 182 Tool Production/Reduction 186 Campsite Debris 197 Undetermined Functions 198 Other Items 201 Results of Special Laboratory Studies 203 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry 203 Blood Residue Analysis 207 Radiocarbon Dating 207 Artifact Pollen Analysis 208 35KL749 Artifact/Economic Activity Distribution by Geographic Area 210 Campground Beach 210 Campground North Area 210 Camp Host Area 211 Campground Parking Area 211 Crescent Creek Upper West Terrace 212 Crescent Creek Lower West Terrace 212 Resort Terminal Moraine Summit 212 Resort Terminal Moraine Midslope 213 Resort Terminal Moraine Protected Bench 213 Resort Terminal Moraine West Toeslope 213 8. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 214 Summary 214 Speculating Crescent Lakes Prehistory 229 Crescent Lakes Holocene Environmental Evolution 229 Crescent Lakes Human Presence 230 Additional Considerations 235 Future Research Directions 236 Recommendations For the Future Protection of 35KL749 239 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Pue REFERENCES 242 APPENDICES 267 Appendix 1 35KL749, Crescent Lake Site Artifact Typology 268 Appendix 2 35KL749 Functional Tool Type and Category Distribution By Excavation Unit 305 Appendix 3 35KL749 X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Report 314 Appendix 4 35KL749 Blood Serum Residue Analysis Report 322 Appendix 5 35KL749 Radiocarbon Dating Analysis Report 331 Appendix 6 35KL749 Artifact Pollen Analysis Report 342 Appendix 7 35KL749 Crescent Lake Site Stratigraphic Profiles 352 Appendix 8 Crescent Lake Archaeological Excavation Soils and Geomorphology Report 385 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Crescent Lake, Oregon 6 2. Location of Crescent Lake and other high lakes in the Deschutes National Forest 7 3. View of 35KL749, Crescent Lake Site, facing northwest 8 4. Location of 35KL749 at Crescent Lake 9 5. Physiographic provinces near Crescent Lake 10 6. Crescent Lake Landtype Map 18 7. Generalized distributions of ethnographic Native American territories near the central Oregon Cascades (circa 1850) 64 8. Approximate route of the Elliott Wagon Road near the Crescent Lake area 99 9. Approximate route of the Oregon Central Military Wagon Road near the Crescent Lake area 103 10. Topographic setting hierarchy for Crescent Lake 124 11. Locations of documented archaeological sites at Crescent Lake 130 12. Distribution of excavation units within the Crescent Lake Site (35KL749) 138 13. Geodimetric map of 1990-1991 excavation areas within Crescent Lake Campground 149 14. 35KL749, Crescent Lake Site breakdown by geographic area 159 15. 35KL749, Crescent Lake Site generalized stratigraphy by geographic area 160 16. Basal-notched, corner-notched and side-notched projectile points found at 35KL749 167 17. Lanceolate and stemmed projectile points found at 35KL749 168 18. Undetermined projectile point fragments found at 35KL749 169 19. Bifacial knives found at 35KL749 175 20. Unifacial scrapers found at 35KL749 176 21. Bifacial scrapers found at 35KL749 177 22. Blades and utilized flakes found at 35KL749 179 23. Drill-perforators and scraper-gravers found at 35KL749 181 24. Ground stone specimens found at 35KL749 183 LIST OF FIGURES (Continued) mute page 25. Ground stone fragments found at 35KL749 184 26. Polished and edge ground cobbles possibly associated with plant food processing at 35KL749 185 27. Bifacial preforms found at 35KL749 187 28. Cores found at 35KL749 188 29. 35KL749 flake distributions by reduction stage class 190 30. 35KL749 flake distributions by lithic material type 192 31. 35KL749 flake distribution graphs for 1987-1988 excavation units 194 32. 35KL749 flake distribution graphs for 1990-1991 (91-A thru 91-F) excavation units 195 33. 35KL749 flake distribution graphs for 1991 (91-G thru 91-P7) excavation units 196 34. Unidentified unifaces and bifaces found at 35KL749 199 35. Unidentified polished cobble tool found at 35KL749 200 36. Known obsidian source locations for 35KL749 205 LIST OF TABLES Table 12aat 1. Crescent Lake Landtype Classification 16 2. Crescent Lake vegetation characteristics by landtype 29 3. Alternate names and spellings for Molala groups 66 4. Listing of unlabeled artifacts recovered at Crescent Lake Lodge Resort during the August 6, 1987 Emergency Septic System Replacement project 143 5. Tool type and provenience of 35KL749 artifacts chosen for blood residue analysis 154 6. Tool type and provenience of 35KL749 ground stone artifacts chosen for artifact pollen analysis 155 7. Projectile point types and styles documented