Protection and preservation of the heritage resources requires that we know where these resources are located, and understand how they contribute to California’s expansive history. To date a combined total of over 13,400 cultural resources have been recorded on State Park lands, and many more remain to be documented. These precious archeological sites, buildings and structures, historic landscapes and cultural preserves represent a broad spectrum of California’s richly diverse past. They include, but are not limited to: Native American sites that span 10,000 years and reflect the variety of distinct cultural adaptations of prehistoric Californians; Mission Era sites and structures; Chinese, Russian, African American and other ethnic properties; early Californio and American Era resources; mining, ranching and agricultural landscapes; and underwater shipwrecks. All contribute to our understanding of the development of California as we know it today, and all provide us with physical connections to our past.
The site described here lies about 5 miles east of Yreka, Siskiyou County. It is on the north side of a deep ravine, drained by a small stream (Cash Creek). There are several other rock shelters in the vicinity.’ These Read More …
This report, one in a series of archaeological studies pubUshed m recent years by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), describes the first systematic testing of highelevation sites in the far southern Sierra Nevada.
A summary of the Emigrant Wagon Road 2003 PIT project in California.
From 1851 to 1855 the Beckwourth Emigrant Trail was the favored route for those seeking their fortune in the California gold rush. The wagon trail proved effective in getting these travelers over the Sierra Nevada mountain pass and into gold Read More …
Peter Lassen pioneered an emigrant route into California during the gold rush of 1849. His route was intended to be an alternative to the difficult and treacherous Donner Pass route, named after the Donner emigrant group that met with tragedy Read More …
In spring of 1846, the George and Jacob Donner families and some 80 traveling companions began their overland trek to California. When the party ascended the Sierra Nevada in late October, a snowstorm forced the group to bivouac. At this Read More …
As part of the Phase 1A study, Lindström initiated a search of archaeological records housed at the North Central Information Center at California State University, Sacramento, an adjunct of the State Office of Historic Preservation or SHPO. Results disclosed that Read More …
The following article by Professor Donald Hardesty is based on a paper which he delivered at the Oregon-California Trails Association’s 1990 convention. His paper described the recent archaeological excavation which he led for the purpose of establishing the precise location Read More …
The article discusses the excavation of a pioneer campsite at Alder Creek, California where the Donner Party group of pioneers was stranded from 1846-1847. The author discusses viewing the Donner Party from a Native American perspective and describes being advised Read More …
This past spring and summer PIT volunteers and National Forest staff classified and verified sections of the Nobles Emigrant Road, Fort Crook Military/Lockhart Wagon Road, and the Yreka Trail during three PIT projects on the Lassen and Klamath National Forests.