Desert Culture
Peoples (B.C. - Coming of White Men)
HISTORIC SITES:
Discovery of evidence of prehistoric Indian settlement in a cave 22
miles south of Fallon (Churchill); one of the richest finds of artifacts in
North America, the site was continuously occupied for 2000 years, from about
700 B.C.... to about 1300 A.D.
Guano miners discovered a rich collection of prehistoric Indian
artifacts at Lovelock Cave above the southeastern shore of Humboldt Sink. The
cave had been occupied from about 1500 B.C. until it was abandoned a few hundred years before
whites appeared in the area (Pershing) according to archaeologists from the
Nevada Historical Society and the University of California.
Guano miners discovered prehistoric Indian artifacts, dating from at
least 7000 B.C., at a rock shelter near Granite Point (Pershing).
Archaeological expedition of Mark Harrington began work at site of Lost
City (Pueblo Grande de Nevada) on Muddy River (Clark). The large number of
pueblo ruins and pit houses constituted richest culture in prehistoric Nevada,
dating from 600 to 1100 AD. Agriculture was economic foundation of these prehistoric
Indians, who raised corn, beans, squash, and cotton. The city was mysteriously
abandoned in 12th century, along with other Pueblo Indian villages in Moapa and
Virgin River Valleys. Today Lake Mead covers part of Lost City.
Archaeologists discovered prehistoric Pueblo Indian salt mine at Salt
Cave, in Virgin River Valley (Clark); site now covered by Lake Mead.
Archaeologists excavated a rich prehistoric Indian site at Tule
Springs (Clark); artifacts indicated that it had been occupied as early as 11,000 B.C. by
a hunting and gathering people.
Archaeologists excavated Etna Cave (Lincoln) where they discovered a
prehistoric Indian site dating from about 3000 B.C.
University of California archaeologists excavated prehistoric Indian
site at Humboldt Cave, near southern end of west Humboldt Range (Churchill).
Rich cultural deposits indicate that the cave was occupied from about 1000 B.C.
to 1000 A.D., and that Indians living there traded with other peoples in
California and the southwestern US.
University of California archaeologists discovered prehistoric Indian
artifacts at Leonard Rock shelter on the west side of the West Humboldt Range of
mountains (Pershing). This important site had been continuously occupied since
9000 B.C.
Archaeologists partially excavated Hidden Cave near Carson Lake
(Churchill); they found evidence that prehistoric Indians had lived there as
early as 6000 B.C.
Nevada State Museum archaeologists excavated a group of nine caves over
a four year period around Lake Winnemucca's northeastern shore (Pershing).
Evidence indicated that prehistoric Indians occupied the sites in at least B.C.
2000-3000.
Nevada State Museum and U. S. National Park Service archaeologists
discovered prehistoric Indian artifacts at Stuart Rockshelter in Meadow Valley
Wash (Clark); site was used as a camp by Indians from about 2000 B.C. until
modern times.
Archaeologists from the University of California excavated a prehistoric
Indian site at Hobo Hot Springs (Douglas), dating from about 1500 B.C. to 500
AD.
University of California archaeologists excavated prehistoric Indian
sites at Wagon Jack Shelter and Eastgate Cave (Churchill) showing occupation between
about 500 A.D. and 1600 AD.
University of California archaeologists excavated South Fork Rockshelter
on the south fork of the Humboldt River (Elko). Radiocarbon dating of
prehistoric Indian artifacts found there indicated the area was first occupied
about 1000 B.C.
Nevada State Museum archaeologists discovered a number of prehistoric
Indian sites in Paradise Valley (Humboldt), which were occupied between about
2000 B.C. and modern times.
University of Nevada archaeologists surveyed prehistoric Indian sites
at Dixie Flats and Cedar Ridge (Elko), which had been occupied since at least
1000 B.C. Another survey in the Jarbidge area (Elko) revealed sites that had
been occupied by prehistoric Indians from about 8000 B.C. as open camps or
chipping sites.
Mining geologist Gale Peer discovered the rockshelter Indian
archaeological site at Gatecliff, in Monitor Valley east of Austin (Lander). A
seven year archaeological investigation began in 1970; scientists concluded that prehistoric men
had occupied the site continuously over 8000 years.
