Cottonwood Creek Project Shasta and Tehama Counties, California: Dutch Gulch Lake Intersive Cultural Resources Survey

摘要

Archeological, ethnographic and historical research undertaken in 1981-1982 in the Dutch Gulch Lake portion of the proposed Cottonwood Creek Project, Shasta and Tehama counties, California. An intensive archeological survey of approximately 24,000 acres in the project area was completed. Two hundred and eighty-three cultural resources were recorded (117 prehistoric sites and 166 historic sites). Ethnographic and historic research added considerable detail concerning the cultural resources. The Dutch Gulch Lake portion of the Cottonwood Creek Project contains a higher percentage of sites in relatively good condition and volume of deposit suitable for excavation than any other project of a comparable size in north central California. The large number of hearths associated with placer mining and housepits of Native derivation and numerous exotic items such as opium tins, Chinese crockery, and obsidian suggests the importance of regional trade networks. The presence of manos and metates in the project area are known to be indicators of an earlier Native American population which lived in the region prior to the movement of the Wintu to Cottonwood Creek. Artifacts such as bow smoothers and projectile points, have also proved useful in helping to distinguish cultural boundaries between the Wintu and the Yana Indians. The wide variety of sites, artifacts, and features recorded during the inventory have helped provide considerable insight into the history and prehistory of northern California.