CA-MNT-1918

Cultural Chronology - Soils and Stratigraphy - Artifacts - Faunal Remains

Field Crews walking surface transects at CA-MNT-1918, June 2003

CA-MNT-1918 was first recorded in 1997 during survey for proposed cattle leases within FHL (Joslin and Jones 1998). At the time of discovery the site was described as a moderate sized (7046 m2) low density lithic scatter. It is within the Ammunition Supply Point (ASP) on the northern margin of the San Antonio Valley on an ancient alluvial terrace (Figure 1). In 1997, a large side-notched projectile point was found on the surface along with several flake tools and a possible portable mortar. Closer inspection of the latter specimen in 2003 showed it to be a natural cobble.

Cal Poly Student, Shannon Hogrefe, excavating with William Stillman and Elise Wheeler, screening

Subsurface investigations were undertaken by a team of Cal Poly trainees, faculty, and staff between June 22 and July 3, 2003. The team was supervised by William Stillman, Field Director and Terry Jones, Principal Investigator. The field program included mapping, surface collection, and excavation of 24 surface transect units (STUs) and 10 vertical units for a total recovery volume of 20 m3. Excavation showed the deposit to be considerably more extensive and complex than previously thought as sidewall profiles and constituents showed that the deposit was actually a heavily leached midden rather than a simple lithic scatter. The midden produced a limited but interesting assemblage dominated by bifaces and projectile points representing three types: contracting-stemmed, large side-notched, and square-stemmed. The remainder of the artifact inventory included three handstones, one battered stone (hammerstone), and a single piece of obsidian. No subsurface features were identified.

The projectile point assemblage and a single radiocarbon date indicated that the site marks a single-component representation of the Hunting Culture, dating to the Early Period between ca. 3000 and 1000 B.C. Because of its age and the presence of a single component, the site is considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

References Cited

Joslin T. L., and T. L. Jones
1998 Cultural Resources Survey of Portions of Proposed Cattle Grazing Leases B and C, Fort Hunter Liggett Military Installation, Monterey County, California.Harding Lawson Associates. Prepared for the U.S. Army Corps o Engineers, Sacramento District. Contract No. DACA05-96-D-007. Copies available from the California Historic Resources Information System, Northwest Information Center, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park.