West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

ACECRose SpringFossil FallsLast ChanceCanyonJawbone-ButterbredtChristmasCanyonBedrockSpringSteam WellRedMountainSpringAftonCanyonCalico EarlyMan SiteBlackMountainCroneseLakesDenningSpringGreenwaterCanyonTable 3-64Cultural Resource ACECs in Western Mojave DesertRIDGECREST FIELD OFFICEChapter 3 3-285CULTURAL RESOURCE VALUESContains several prehistoric sites. Research at these sites started in the 1950s and continues(Lanning 1963, Riddell 1956). These sites are type sites for cultural chronology of the westernGreat Basin.Large complex of prehistoric sites associated with Pleistocene Owens River, 32 of which are listedin the National Register. Research here dates back to work of M.R. Harrington in the 1950s. Areaincludes the Stahl site, on private land, also an important type site for explication of western GreatBasin/Northern Mojave cultural chronology.Prehistoric. Part of the Last Chance Canyon National Register District; the portion of the Districtconsidered to be most at risk was selected for ACEC status. Also includes important historicresources.Native American values. Contains a number of locations that were identified by a Kawaiisu elderwhose family had lived in the area, including prehistoric and proto-historic/historic archaeologicalsites, sacred areas, and areas that were known or thought to contain burials.Prehistoric. Subject of current research that is revealing a large and very significant complex ofsites, including examples of rare cultural phenomena. Some sites are related to various stands ofPleistocene Lake Searles and preliminary dates indicate great age for some of them, while at leastone site contains historic materials, indicating a very long period of use.Prehistoric. Subject to current research by BLM, this ACEC also contains a variety of site typesincluding habitation sites, rock shelters, rock art, milling, and others. Publication of currentresearch will add materially to our understanding of prehistory in this portion of the MojaveDesert.Prehistoric. Contains four petroglyph sitesPrehistoric. Contains 23 recorded sites and other sites that have been located during recentresearch by Cal Poly Pomona archaeologists. Site types include habitation sites, lithic scatters,milling features, rock art, trails, stacked stone structures, and hunting blinds. Although the ACECwas designated for prehistoric resources there are also historic materials within the ACEC.BARSTOW FIELD OFFICEModerate density and complexity of sites. Twenty recorded prehistoric sites, including quarries,lithic scatters with ground stone, and occupation/multi-use sites. Represent riparian and lacustrineresource exploitation, tool manufacture, trade, and desert settlement (Bureau of Land Management1989:38). Scientific use.Lithic tools and debitage are associated with possibly the earliest human occupation on the NorthAmerican continent. Continued research investigates human occupation and settlement of theWestern Hemisphere (Bureau of Land Management 1984:2.1). Public use.Area contains the most extensive assemblages of prehistoric petroglyphs within California.Quarry and lithic workshops are found within the ACEC as well as evidence for obsidian trade(Bureau of Land Management 1988:6). Scientific, traditional use.This area contains sites representing occupation beginning 8,000 years ago. Cultural remainsprovide information regarding subsistence and settlement patterns in the Great Basin (Bureau ofLand Management 1985:1-5). Scientific use.Cultural resource values include at least four major resource locations. In addition to historicresources not formally recorded, prehistoric sites are designated SBR3828 and SBR 3829B and3829C (Bureau of Land Management 1982:3). Scientific use.Contains multi-purpose sites indicative of occupation beginning about 12,000 years ago to historiccontact. Sites include rockshelters, petroglyphs, pictographs, hunting blinds, and diagnostic lithictools (Bureau of Land Management 1988:6-10). Scientific, traditional, public use.