CA-MNT-910

Cultural Chronology - Soils and Stratigraphy - Artifacts - Faunal Remains

Recorded in 1978 by a team from Environmental Research Archaeologists (ERA), CA-MNT-910 was originally described as an expansive low-density scatter of flaking debris with eleven bedrock mortars (BRMs). The site was subsequently re-recorded in 1991 by archaeologists from Biosystems Inc. for the Fort Hunter Liggett Historic Preservation Plan (Eidsness and Jackson 1994) who characterized it as a moderate lithic scatter associated with only eight BRMs. They concurred with earlier observations that the scatter was very large, but disagreed with the earlier investigators about its configuration and exact location.

Subsurface investigations completed by Cal Poly in 2002 showed that the area formerly identified as CA-MNT-910 consisted of two discrete loci: (1) a northern locus marked by a central shell midden, a diffuse lithic scatter, and one BRM outcrop; and (2) a southern locus marked by a diffuse scatter of flaking debris and two BRM features. Based on these findings, the former CA-MNT-910 was re-recorded as two separate entities: CA-MNT-910, marked by the northern locus, and CA-MNT-2181, marked by the southern locus.

Nathan Stevens screening while Kelli Brasket digs

The Cal Poly Field investigations were undertaken by a team of students and professional staff between 28 July and 7 August 2002. A total of 9.852 m3 of deposit in the form of 25 surface transect units (STUs), five 1 x 2 m controlled excavation units, and two column samples was excavated within and adjacent to the site. This subsurface work showed that the deposit contained fire-altered rock, mammal bone, fish bone, marine shell, flaked stone debitage, and formal artifacts.

The artifact assemblage recovered from the deposit included Desert Side-notched and Canalino/Coastal Cottonwood projectile points, Olivella cupped beads, formal cylindrical pestles, a hopper mortar, and an unusual abalone ornament. Materials were recovered from depths no greater than 70 cm, and the midden was no more than 50 cm deep in most instances. Two radiocarbon dates were consistent with the artifact assemblage andtogether the tools and dates suggest that CA-MNT-910 represents a single-component Late Period or Dolan Phase occupation between ca. A.D. 1250 and 1600

Jefferson Haney excavating while Noah Arnold and Kelli Brasket screen

While not unique for Fort Hunter Liggett, CA-MNT-910 appears to mark an unusually discrete Late Period component that can clearly contribute to resolution of local research questions of cultural chronology and settlement. It is considered eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

References Cited

Eidsness, J., and R. Jackson; 1994; Historic Preservation Plan for Fort Hunter Liggett Military Instillation, California. Prepared for U.S.Army under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contract No. DACA05-90-C-0175. Copies avaliable from the Fort Hunter Liggett Environmental Office, Jolon, California.