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2002 05 16 HPCW M OF SI;w HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AG EN ®A The Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room at the La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California May 16, 2002 3:00 P.M. Beginning Minute Motion 2002-010 CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance B. Roll Call II. PUBLIC COMMENT This is the time set aside for citizens to address the Historic Preservation Commission on matters relating to historic resources within the City of La Quinta which are not Agenda items. When addressing the Historic Preservation Commission, please state your name and address and when discussing matters pertaining to prehistoric sites, do not disclose the exact location of the site(s) for their protection. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. Approval of the regular Minutes for the meeting of April 18, 2002. V. BUSINESS ITEMS: A. Historical/Archaeological Resources Report - La Quinta Village Project Applicant: Marvin Investments Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) B. Historical Archaeological Resources Report - Tentative Tract Map 30378. Parcels 1 and 2 Applicant: Coachella Valley Engineers for Rod Vandenbos Archaeological/Historic Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) --DOI HPC/AGENDA C. Archaeological Testing and Mitigation Sites CA-RIV-6765 6766 and 6767 Applicant: Charles Crookall, Clubhouse Associates, LLC Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Bruce Love, Principal) D. National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Evaluation of CA-RIV-2195 Applicant: Southern California Presbyterian Homes Archaeological/Historic Consultant: Pacific West Archaeology VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS VIII. ADJOURNMENT 002 HK AGENDA MINUTES HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA April 18, 2002 This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman Maria Puente at 3:01 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call. CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance. B. Roll Call. Present: Commissioners Irwin, Mitchell, Sharp, Wright, and Chairman Puente. Staff Present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Sharp to approve the Minutes of March 21, 2002 as submitted. Commissioners approved with Commission Irwin abstaining. V. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment for Tentative Parcel Map_3055Q a request for approval of the Cultural Resources Assessment of an 80+ acre parcel located at the northeast corner of Washington Street and Fred Waring Drive. Applicant: Dutch Parent N.V. (NAI Consulting) Archaeological Consultant: Archaeological Advisory Group (James Brock, RPA) 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. P:\CAROLYN\HPC4-18-02.wpd -1- 1..1 003 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes April 18, 2002 2. Commissioner Mitchell concurred with staff's recommendations and stated he was pleased to see the monitoring would be required on this project since it was a sensitive area for cultural resources. 3. Commissioner Wright agreed with staff's recommendations. 4. Commissioner Irwin also agreed with staff's recommendations, in particular with the on -going monitoring. She informed the commission she had been doing research on Iona MacKenzie, who was rumored to be an early postmistress in Indio, as well as Raymond Darby. She would share her research with the Commission when it is completed. 5. Commissioner Sharp concurred with the findings and stated he was curious why no evidence of ancient habitation was found at the site since it is in an area where items have previously been found in great quantities. 6. Commissioner Mitchell stated he suspected there was a lot of sand deposition there making the signs of habitation more difficult to uncover. He also commented he was pleased to see there would be monitoring during grading in an area considered to be very sensitive. 7. Chairman Puente agreed with staff's recommendations. 8. Applicant's representative, Kris Schultz, asked if the Commission had any issues or concerns with realigning Darby Road. The Commission had no issues with realignment as it was not part of their purview. 9. Commissioner Mitchell did comment that a good comprehensive job of recordation of this type of a linear site usually exhausts the research potential of a road of this nature. 10. Applicant's representative, Mike Rowe, had a couple of questions regarding having the Phase II study completed before the entitlements are completed. Since the applicant will have to make presentations to the Planning Commission and the City P:\CAROLYN\HPC4-18-02.wpd -2- . 004 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes April 18, 2002 Council he asked if there was any way that the entitlements could be done before recordation of the final map. He commented he understood Phase II was necessary to gather information for a plaque. 1 1 . Commissioner Irwin stated the Phase II study involved more than just placement and information for a plaque. 12. Applicant's representative, Mike Rowe asked if the Phase II report could be submitted prior to the tract map for the property being recorded, instead of before approval of theproject by the City.. 13. Stan Sawa stated it could be done that way. 14. There was general discussion about the fact that Iona C. MacKenzie was a long name for a street. It was the general consensus this was an issue for the Planning Commission. Staff agreed. 15. Commissioner Mitchell asked a question about wells on the property and historical materials that may be found in those wells. 16. Applicant's Representative Mike Rowe stated the depth of the wells are usually several hundred feet and too deep to excavate with a back hoe. 17. Staff recommended the condition be changed to require the Phase II report be submitted to the City prior to recordation of a final tract map, leaving plenty of time to approve the wording of a plaque before the actual project is completed. 18. Commissioner Irwin stated she would like to see the Phase II report since it concerns more than just the wording of a plaque. 19. Staff confirmed the Commission wanted to see the Phase II report before the project was approved by City Council. 20. Commissioner Irwin replied that was correct since it was the Commission's standard procedure. 21. Commissioner Wright concurred. P:ACAROLYN\HPC4-18-02.wpd -3- _. 005 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes April 18, 2002 22. Commissioners Irwin and Wright did state the Commission would change a meeting date to accommodate the developer. 23. Staff re -confirmed the conditions would be left as stated in the staff report to which the Commissioners agreed. 24. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Irwin to adopt Minute Motion 2002-009 recommending approval of the Phase I Cultural Resources Assessment for Tentative Parcel Map 30550. Unanimously approved. B. Review of_Certified Local Government Annual Report for review by Commissioners. 1. Principal Planner Stan Sawa presented the information contained in the Annual Report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. 2. There was general discussion and corrections were given to staff to update/correct the report. VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS A. Commissioner Wright brought in a newspaper article about the Neutra House which was recently demolished in the City of Rancho Mirage. He was quite concerned this could happen to an internationally renowned architecture, with the City's permission. He also stated he thought somebody should contact the author of the article, Mr. Guzman, and let him know the City of La Quinta has a Historical Preservation Commission since the article only mentioned a Commission in Palm Springs. B. Chairman Puente asked if the Commissioners had received all the information about the upcoming Conference. Staff replied all the reservations were completed and registration/ticket packets were now available in the Community Development Department, for all the Commissioners. P:\CAR0LYN\HPC4-18-02.wpd -4- 006 Historic Preservation Commission Minutes April 18, 2002 Vill. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Irwin to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the next regularly scheduled meeting to be held on May 16, 2002. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:24 p.m. Unanimously approved. Submitted by: Carolyn Walker Secretary O07 -5- BI #A HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATE: MAY 16, 2002 ITEM: HISTORICAL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES REPORT - LA QUINTA VILLAGE PROJECT LOCATION: AREA BOUNDED BY CALLE TAMPICO, AVENIDA BERMUDAS, AVENIDA LA FONDA AND DESERT CLUB DRIVE APPLICANT: MARVIN INVESTMENTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT: CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE, PRINCIPAL) BACKGROUND: The study area is a 6± acre parcel in the downtown village area. The property is vacant except for a commercial building at the southwest corner facing Avenida La Fonda and two small apartment buildings facing Desert Club Drive. The La Quinta Arts Foundation owns a commercial building on the north side of Avenida La Fonda and is not part of the study area. A Phase I (survey level) cultural resources assessment has been completed for the property. The assessment includes an archaeological and historical resources record search and field reconnaissance of the property. This assessment will be part of the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act for the project application. DISCUSSION: An archaeological records search for the property was conducted at the Eastern Information Center located at UC Riverside. The records search indicated that the study area had not been previously surveyed for cultural resources and no archaeological sites have been recorded within or adjacent to the study area. Historical background research was conducted at the Science Library Map Room at UC Riverside and at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Office in Riverside. The search indicated no evidence of significant historic human activities or development on the property older than mid- 1950's to the late 1970's. Several of the structures constructed over the years have since been removed. An modern unused asphalt road crosses the site in an east -west direction. 008 pl\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 Iq village sp.wpd The intensive -level on -foot field survey of the study area did not result in any prehistoric sites, features, or evidence of objects, sites, features, or artifacts more than 50 years old. The La Quinta Historical Society was consulted and indicated they were not aware of any known sites or features of local historical interest on the property. Based on the negative findings of the study, CRM TECH concludes that no historical resources exist within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, approval of the project will have no effect on any "historical resources" as defined by CEQA. The report concludes that no further cultural resources investigation is necessary unless the project is expanded or buried resources are uncovered during construction. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Minute Motion 2002- , accepting the "Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report - La Quinta Village Project", as prepared by CRM TECH. Attachment: Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report - La Quinta Village Project Commissioners only) Prepared by: 6•� Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner 000 pl\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 Iq village sp.wpd HISTORICAL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY REPORT LA QUINTA VILLAGE PROJECT Calle Tampico and Avenida Bermudas, City of La Quinta Riverside County, California Submitted to: Wells Marvin Marvin Investments, Inc. 78-080 Calle Estado, Suite 201 La Quinta, CA 92253 Submitted by: Bruce Love, Principal Bai "Tom" Tang, Historian Daniel Ballester, Archaeologist Melissa Hernandez, Archaeologist Mariam Dandul, Report Writer CRM TECH 2411 Sunset Drive Riverside, CA 92506 July 13, 2001 CRM TECH Contract #681 Approximately Six Acres La Quinta, Calif., 7.5 Quadrangle Section 6, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian APNs 770-121-001, 770-121-002, 770-121-003, 773-124-001, and 773-124-005 010 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY In July, 2001, at the request of Marvin Investments, Inc., CRM TECH performed a cultural resources study on the proposed site of the La Quinta Village, a commercial development project in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. The project area consists of five existing property parcels, APNs 770-121-001, -002, -003, and 773-124-001, -005, and totals approximately six acres in size. It is located on the southeastern corner of Calle Tampico and Avenida Bermudas, within the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 6, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian. The purpose of the study is to provide the City of La Quinta, Lead Agency for the project, with the necessary information and analysis to determine whether the proposed development would cause substantial adverse changes to any historical/archaeological resources that may exist in or around the project area, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance. In order to identify and evaluate such resources, CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search, pursued historical background research, consulted with the La Quinta Historical Society, and carried out an intensive -level field survey of the project area. Through the various avenues of research, this study did not encounter any "historical resources," as defined by CEQA, within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, CRM TECH recommends that the City of La Quinta may reach a finding of No Impact regarding cultural resources. No further cultural resources investigation is recommended for the proposed project unless project plans undergo such changes as to include areas not covered by this study. However, if buried cultural materials are encountered during construction, all work in that area should be halted or diverted until a qualified archaeologist can evaluate the nature and significance of the finds. Oil TABLE OF CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ................................................ INTRODUCTION.................................................................... SETTING................................................................................... Current Natural Setting....................................................... CulturalSetting................................................................... Prehistoric Context........................................................... Historic Context................................................................ RESEARCH METHODS.......................................................... RecordsSearch...................................................................... Historical Research.............................................................. Consultation with the La Quinta Historical Society...... FieldSurvey......................................................................... RESULTS AND FINDINGS ................................................... Records Search Results....................................................... Historical Research Results ................................................ Consultation with the La Quinta Historical Society...... Field Survey Results........................................................... DISCUSSION........................................................................... RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................... CONCLUSION........................................................................ REFERENCES.......................................................................... APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS ............. LIST OF FIGURES Figure1. Project vicinity....................................................................................................................1 Figure2. Project area..........................................................................................................................2 Figure 3. Overview of the current setting of project area.............................................................3 Figure 4. Previous cultural resources surveys in the vicinity of the project area.....................7 Figure 5. The project area and vicinity in 1855-1856.....................................................................8 Figure 6. The project area and vicinity in 1901..............................................................................8 Figure 7. The project area and vicinity in 1903..............................................................................8 Figure 8. The project area and vicinity in 1941..............................................................................8 Figure 9. The project area and vicinity in 1954..............................................................................9 Figure 10. Modern commercial building in the project area......................................................10 Figure 11. Modern asphalt road across the project area.............................................................10 012 ii INTRODUCTION In July, 2001, at the request of Marvin Investments, Inc., CRM TECH performed a cultural resources study on the proposed site of the La Quinta Village, a commercial development project in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California (Fig. 1). The project area consists of five existing property parcels, APNs 770-121-001, -002, -003, and 773-124-001, -005, and totals approximately six acres in size. It is located on the southeastern corner of Calle Tampico and Avenida Bermudas, within the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 6, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian (Fig. 2). The study is a part of the environmental review process for the proposed project, as required by the City of La Quinta, Lead Agency for the project, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; PRC §21000 et seq.) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance (Title 7, La Quinta Municipal Code). CRM TECH performed the present study to provide the City of La Quinta with the necessary information and analysis to determine whether the proposed development would cause substantial adverse changes to any historical/archaeological resources that may exist in or around the project area. In order to identify and evaluate such resources, CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search, pursued historical background research, consulted with the La Quinta Historical Society, and carried out an intensive -level field survey of the project area. The following report is a complete account of the methods and results of the various avenues of research, and the final conclusion of the study. cdn�akfa� Sfkg4Y NIu� _ I rr 5 +azl I - Palm lie I' Cahoilla Hills 1fAYSiACq NOV�RA(N v_� AWMS WAN I rf _ 3r r , + {`\ I eg ti I .6 11. � ' Project x location __�. T 3WitC• 1,1 8 CAeEZO 1- Ala Qa djai ! i j ( Nin YAnrn' 4I�� MOIINI�IM SCALE 7:250,000 I 0 5 lOmllee .9 •' 051a'nL , el P1 � 1A s Figure 1. Project vicinity. (Based on USGS Santa Ana, Calif., 1:250,000 quadrangle [USGS 19791) 11 - 013 L', U w� weu g 3I 361 v. VIO u Z ProjectI.3 wee . area r-I i t j + s ( . I • t Tr I I. r Sti i '� �rs •+ E vl +;il� - I La Quinta eNrKb�ri� I - L j H I � il- I� � �'•i � ��: 14 'f II I r� ' ' L'�_ i I J� I •s ,�I ' SCALE124,000 2i Q 0 1/2 1 mile cA7,LE"J i f. "�__ cNrr 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 feet 7 I,1 r,f c r Figure 2. Project area. (Based on USGS La Quinta, Calif., 1:24,000 quadrangles [USGS 19801) 014 2 SETTING CURRENT NATURAL SETTING The project area is located in the Coachella Valley, on the western edge of the Colorado desert, which encompasses the eastern portion of Riverside County. Dictated by this geographic setting, the project area and its environs are marked by extremes in temperature and aridity. Temperatures in the region reach over 120 degrees in summer, and dip to near freezing in winter. Average annual precipitation is less than five inches. Elevations in the project area range around 40 feet above sea level. The project area lies in a commercial area of the City of La Quinta, bounded by Calle Tampico on the north, Avenida Bermudas on the west, and Avenida La Fonda on the South; and is traversed by Desert Club Drive near the eastern end. An existing asphalt road also crosses the area along an east -west course. Ground disturbances had taken place in the project area prior to the commencement of this study, including leveling and grading (Fig. 3). Three standing structures, including two apartment buildings and a commercial building, and a line of power poles are currently present on the property. Vegetation had been cleared from most of the property, but scattered creosote brush, salt brush, tumbleweed, and other small grasses still remained at various locations. CULTURAL SETTING Prehistoric Context The Coachella Valley is a historical center of Native American settlement, where a large number of Indian villages and rancherias, occupied by the Cahuilla people, were observed Figure 3. Overview of the current natural setting of the project area. (View to the north; Calle Tampico in the background) 015 in the mid-19th century. The Cahuilla, a Takic-speaking people of hunters and gatherers, are generally divided by anthropologists into three groups, according to their geographic setting: the Pass Cahuilla in the San Gorgonio Pass -Palm Springs area, the Mountain Cahuilla in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains and the Cahuilla Valley, and the Desert Cahuilla in the eastern Coachella Valley. The Cahuilla did not have a single name that referred to an all-inclusive tribal affiliation. Instead, membership was in terms of lineages or clans. Each lineage or clan•belonged to one of two main divisions of the people, known as moieties. Members of clans in one moiety had to marry into clans from the other moiety. Individual clans had villages, or central places, and territories they called their own, for purposes of hunting game, gathering food, or utilizing other necessary resources. They interacted with other clans through trade, intermarriage, and ceremonies. Population data prior to European contact are almost impossible to obtain, but estimates range from 3,600 to as high as 10,000 persons. During the 19th century, however, the Cahuilla population was decimated as a result of European diseases, most notably smallpox, for which the Native peoples had no immunity. Today, Native Americans of Desert Cahuilla heritage are mostly affiliated with one or more of the Indian reservations in the Coachella Valley, including Torres Martinez, Cabazon, Augustine, Agua Caliente, and Morongo. Historic Context In 1823-1825, Jose Romero, Jose Maria Estudillo, and Romualdo Pacheco, leading an expedition in search of a route to Yuma, became the first noted European explorers to travel through the Coachella Valley. However, due to its harsh environment, few non -Indians ventured into the desert valley during the Mexican and early American periods, except those who traveled across it along the established trails. The most important among these trails was the Cocomaricopa Trail, an ancient Indian trading route that was "discovered" in 1862 by William David Bradshaw and became known after that as the Bradshaw Trail. In the Coachella Valley, this historic wagon road traversed a course that is very similar to present-day Highway 111. During the 1860s-1870s, the Bradshaw Trail served as the main thoroughfare between coastal southern California and the Colorado River, until the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876-1877 brought an end to its heyday. Non -Indian settlement in the Coachella Valley began in the 1870s, with the establishment of railroad stations along the Southern Pacific Railroad, and spread further in the 1880s, after public land was opened for claims under the Homestead Act, the Desert Land Act, and other federal land laws. Farming became the dominant economic activity in the valley, thanks to the development of underground water sources, often in the form of artesian wells. But it was not until the completion of the Coachella Canal in 1948-1949 that farmers in the and region obtained an adequate and reliable water supply. The main agricultural staple in the Coachella Valley, the date palm, was first introduced around the turn of the century. By the late 1910s, the date palm industry had firmly established itself, giving the region its celebrated image of "the Arabia of America." Starting in the 1920s, a new industry, featuring equestrian camps, resort hotels, and eventually country clubs, gradually spread throughout the Coachella Valley, and since then transformed it into southern California's leading winter retreat. 016 11 In today's City of La Quinta, the earliest settlement and land development activities did not occur until the turn of the century. In 1926, with the construction of the La Quinta Hotel, the development of La Quinta took on the character of a winter resort town, typical of the desert communities along Highway 111. Beginning in the early 1930s, the subdivision of the cove area of La Quinta and the marketing of "weekend homes" further emphasized this new direction of development. On May 1, 1982, La Quinta was incorporated as the 19th city in Riverside County. RESEARCH METHODS RECORDS SEARCH On July 11, 2001, CRM TECH archaeologist Melissa Hernandez (see App. 1 for qualifications) conducted the historical/archaeological resources records search at the Eastern Information Center (EIC), University of California, Riverside. During the records search, Hernandez examined maps and records on file at the EIC for previously identified cultural resources in or near the project area, and existing cultural resources reports pertaining to the vicinity. Previously identified cultural resources include properties designated as California Historical Landmarks, Points of Historical Interest, or Riverside County Landmarks, as well as those listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, or the California Historical Resource Information System. HISTORICAL RESEARCH Bai "Tom" Tang, CRM TECH historian (see App. 1 for qualifications), conducted the historical background research on the basis of published literature in local history, archival records of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and historic maps of the La Quinta area. Among maps consulted for this study were the U.S. General Land Office's (GLO) land survey plat maps dated 1856 and 1903-1905, and the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) topographic maps dated 1904, 1941, and 1959. These maps are collected at the Science Library of the University of California, Riverside, and the California Desert District of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, also located in Riverside. CONSULTATION WITH THE LA QUINTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY In conjunction with the records search and the historical background research, CRM TECH principal Bruce Love (see App. 1 for qualifications) contacted Barbara Irwin of the La Quinta Historical Society to seek information on whether any sites or features of local historical interest are located in or near the project area. Ms. Irwin's comments were incorporated into the findings and conclusion of this study. FIELD SURVEY On July 11, 2001, CRM TECH archaeologist Daniel Ballester (see App.1 for qualifications) carried out the on -foot field survey of the project area. During the survey, Ballester walked parallel east -west transects spaced 15 meters (ca. 50 feet) apart, and closely examined the ground surface for any evidence of human activities dating to the prehistoric or historic 017 periods (i.e., 50 years ago or older). Using this method, the entire project area was inspected systematically. RESULTS AND FINDINGS RECORDS SEARCH RESULTS According to records on file at the Eastern Information Center, the project area had not been surveyed for cultural resources prior to this study, and no cultural resources had been recorded within or adjacent to the project boundaries. Within a one -mile radius of the project area, EIC records show a total of 26 previous cultural resources studies covering various parcels of land or linear features (Fig. 4). As the results of these and other studies, 27 prehistoric—i.e., Native American —archaeological sites and 10 historic -era sites have been identified and recorded in the scope of the records search. Of the 27 prehistoric sites, the vast majority consisted of scatters of pottery sherds, chipped stone, groundstone, fire -affected rock, shell, and/or faunal remains. Four of these, however, also contained cremation remains. In the meantime, bedrock milling features, including slicks, metates, and a mortar, have been noted at a group of four sites located near the foot of the rocky ridge east of the cove area of La Quinta. Among the 10 historic -era sites were the historic La Quinta Hotel, three other commercial establishments, four residences, a 70-year- old date palm garden on the La Quinta Hotel grounds, and a segment of the original alignment of Avenue 52 that has now been vacated. None of these previously recorded sites are located in the immediate vicinity of the project area. Therefore, none of them requires further consideration during this study. HISTORICAL RESEARCH RESULTS Based on historical maps and archival sources consulted during this study, it appeared unlikely that cultural features predating the mid-20th century would be encountered in the project area. From the 1850s to the early 20th century, before the birth of present-day La Quinta, no notable evidence of human activities was found in or near the project area (Figs. 5-7). The only man-made feature mapped in the vicinity during that period was a road that traversed approximately a mile to the east of the project area (Figs. 5-7). Identified in 1903 as the 'Road from Indian Wells to Torres" (GLO 1903), this road was undoubtedly a part of the historic Cocomaricopa-Bradshaw Trail (Johnston 1987:115-120). Records of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management indicate that the project area came under private ownership in 1914, when Albert P. Green purchased from the U.S. government a total of 163.39 acres in the south half of the northwest quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter of Section 6 (BLM 2001). By 1941, a cluster of buildings had appeared on the Green property, a short distance to the east of the project area, and the town of La Quinta had emerged outside the western project boundary (Fig. 8). But the project area itself apparently continued to remain undeveloped at that time (Fig. 8). The earliest known structures in the project area were evidently erected between then and the mid-1950s (Fig. 9). Since then, however, these buildings have all been removed, as the project area became 018 Well h ' Scope of L — records •�4665 304 search �. g6s2��, z• , t ae +lot } 0 l 823 6a823 .: `F 1 •ate. 4666 ... •a - •. J. 4558 .. 858 w ��tL• l: O Well ✓ q 41199 4417 �� 647l33251r`t",• t - 4919 4918 m ' 41-56 y r _ �� e ' .•� �47851 _ �1 647/2038 �ag0 ..K �'�i • .) .��:. Project �• 4504 t P38 J area i 203814 11948 j „• I: �'� t -. se L a '�. ,l { t/ � 2 514764 n` iIlk \ .q •� lip ' y , i L �' • a Quinta trnn�diup , � - � '• Areas previously ,}+ -L J. surveyed 42 Linear surveys SCALE 1:24,000 .,i cn{Le '.I i I j err C_ II t000 a _1?I 2000 feet r r Figure 4. Previous cultural resources surveys in the vicinity of the project area, listed by EIC manuscript file number. Locations of historical/archaeological sites are not shown as a protective measure. 019 _ApSS , '��Q M7AA�A o •�� •, Road ,Q '= T-5SP6EJ T5S RTE ',. TBS RTE ' i ' T65 A6E Project c ' " '°s area 4LD r / V + wy• '. V.. y I f✓. r' 0 1 mile i �? Project area -r r j fN l l 1 SCALE 1:125, 2 . . 0®miles Figure 5. The project area and vicinity in 1855-1856. Figure 6. The project area and vicinity in 1901. (Source: GLO 1856a; 1856b; 1856c) (Source: USGS 1904) el Ktt. Project .,r> area ' 7 6 Road from �- } <:Fr��3- F � I ,,,�� .• Indian to Torres Wells ;; ; <Sec'7 .fit / 01 1 mile Figure 7. The project area and vicinity in 1903. (Source: GLO 1903; 1905) l_ ___ _ j Project F, area ° ---= La Q , nta p fib` 5 i Figure 8. The project area and vicinity in 1941. (Source: USGS 1941) OPO 8 ll a 't . 11 _ , U 4mnll i _ r �� RCFU4L xikTDAaY A 1 t I nd:o hl tnl ,II { 11�4111 f- _� �l�t Project , 1 area N.II I ifll'dn l " _ av rc lv QuinlnXV u m i] Figure 9. The project area and vicinity in 1954. (Source: USGS 1959) Y I II I' I, SCALE "1:62,500 1 mile home to the three buildings that are present today, all of which were built between the mid-1950s and the late 1970s (USGS 1980). CONSULTATION WITH THE LA QUINTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY When contacted by CRM TECH, Barbara Irwin of the La Quinta Historical Society stated that no known sites or features of local historical interest were located within or adjacent to the project area. FIELD SURVEY RESULTS The results of the field survey are completely negative for historical/archaeological resources. The ground surface was closely inspected with special attention paid to all areas likely to contain evidence of human activities dating to the prehistoric or historic periods, but none was found. Modern trash was noted throughout the project area. A concrete slab foundation was observed near the southwestern corner of the area. It does not appear to be old, nor does it coincide with the location of any of the buildings that occupied the project area in the 1950s (USGS 1959;1980). The foundation was therefore determined to be a modern feature. The three buildings currently in the project area are clearly modern in origin, and thus of no historical/archaeological interest (Fig. 10). The asphalt road across the project area, similarly, shows no historical characteristics (Fig. 11). In sum, no buildings, structures, objects, features, or artifacts from the prehistoric or historic periods were discovered during the field survey. 02). 9 Figure 10. Modem commercial building in the project area, typical of the buildings currently occupying the property. Figure 11. Asphalt road across the project area, also modem in appearance. DISCUSSION The purpose of this study is to identify any cultural resources within or adjacent to the project area, and to assist the City of La Quinta in determining whether such resources meet the official definitions of "historical resources," as provided in the California Public Resources Code, in particular CEQA. According to PRC §5020.1(j), "'historical resource' includes, but is not limited to, any object, building, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which is historically or archaeologically significant, or is significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California." More specifically, CEQA guidelines state that the term "historical resources" applies to any such resources listed in or determined to be eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, included in a local register of historical resources, or determined to be historically significant by the Lead Agency (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(1)-(3)). Regarding the proper criteria for the evaluation of historical significance, CEQA guidelines mandate that "a resource shall be considered by the lead agency to be 'historically significant' if the resource meets the criteria for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources" (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(3)). A resource may be listed in the California Register if it meets any of the following criteria: (1) Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage. (2) Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past. (3) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values. (4) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (PRC §5024.1(c)) A local register of historical resources, as defined by PRC §5020.1(k), "means a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local 10 0)e government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution." For properties within the City of La Quinta, the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance (Title 7, La Quinta Municipal Code) provides for the establishment of a historic resources inventory as the official local register. A historic resource may be considered for inclusion in the historic resources inventory based on one or more of the following: A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural history; or B. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; or C. It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, is a valuable example of the use of the indigenous.materials or craftsmanship or is representative of a notable work of an acclaimed builder, designer or architect; or D. It is an archaeological, paleontological, botanical, geological, topographical, ecological or geographical site which has the potential of yielding information of scientific value; or E. It is a geographically definable area possessing concentration of sites, buildings, structures, improvements or objects linked historically through location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and/or association, in which the collective value of the improvements may be greater than the value of each individual improvement. (LQMC §7.06.020) As stated above, the earliest man-made features known to be within the project: area were several buildings that dated to the 1940s-1950s, most likely the post -WWII expansion period in Coachella Valley history. None of them has survived to the present time, nor has any of them left identifiable remains to be considered archaeological features. All existing features in the project area, including the three standing structures, are clearly of modern origin. In short, no buildings, structures, objects, sites, features, or artifacts more than 50 years of age were encountered on the property. Based on these findings, and in light of the criteria listed above, this study concludes that no historical resotirces exist within or adjacent to the project area. RECOMMENDATIONS CEQA establishes that "a project that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource is a project that may have a significant effect on the environment" (PRC §21084.1). "Substantial adverse change;' according to PRC: §5020.1(q), "means demolition, destruction, relocation, or alteration such that the significance of an historical resource would be impaired." Since no historical resources were encountered during the course of this study, CRM TECH presents the following recommendations to the City of La Quinta: • No historical resources exist within or adjacent to the project area, and thus the project as currently proposed will cause no substantial adverse change to any known historical resources. • No further cultural resources investigation is necessary for the proposed project unless project plans undergo such changes as to include unstudied areas. • If buried cultural materials are discovered during construction, all work in that area should be halted or diverted until a qualified archaeologist can evaluate the nature and significance of the finds. 11 023 CONCLUSION The foregoing report has provided background information on the project area, outlined the methods used in the current study, and presented the results of the various avenues of research. Throughout the course of the study, no historical resources, as defined above, were encountered within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, CRM TECH recommends that the City of La Quinta may reach a finding of No Impact regarding cultural resources, with the condition that any buried cultural materials unearthed during future development are to be examined and evaluated by a qualified archaeologist prior to further disturbances. 12 REFERENCES BLM (Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior) 2001 Online database of U.S. land patents. Available at www.glorecords.blm.gov. GLO (General Land Office, U.S. Department of the Interior) 1856a Plat Map: Township No. 5 South Range No. 6 East, San Bernardino Meridian; surveyed in 1855-1856. Microfiche on file, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, Riverside. 1856b Plat Map: Township No. 5 South Range No. 7 East, San Bernardino Meridian; surveyed in 1855-1856. Microfiche on file, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, Riverside. 1856c Plat Map: Township No. 6 South Range No. 7 East, San Bernardino Meridian; surveyed in 1856. Microfiche on file, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, Riverside. 1903 Plat Map: Township No. 6 South Range No. 7 East, San Bernardino Meridian, California; surveyed in 1903. Microfiche on file, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, Riverside. 1905 Plat Map: Township No. 6 South Range No. 6 East, San Bernardino Meridian, California; surveyed in 1903. Microfiche on file, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District, Riverside. Johnston, Francis J. 1987 The Bradshazo Trail; revised edition. Historical Commission Press, Riverside. USGS (United States Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior) 1904 Map: Indio, Calif. (30', 1:125,000); surveyed in 1901. 1941 Map: Toro Peak, Calif. (15',1:62,500); aerial photographs taken in 1941. 1959 Map: Palm Desert, Calif. (15',1:62,500); aerial photographs taken in 1954; field checked in 1957 and 1959. 1979 Map: Santa Ana, Calif. (1:250,000);1959 edition revised. 1980 Map: La Quinta, Calif. (75,1:24,000); 1959 edition photorevised in 1980. 13 APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Bruce Love, Ph.D., RPA (Register of Professional Archaeologists) Education 1986 Ph. D., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1981 M.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1976 B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1996 "CEQA 101," presented by the Association of Environmental Professionals. 1995 "CEQA Workshop," presented by Association of Environmental Professionals. 1994 "Assessing the Significance of Historic Archaeological Sites," presented by the Historic Preservation Program, University of Nevada, Reno. 1994 "CEQA 1994: Issues, Trends, and Advanced Topics," presented by UCLA Extension. 1990 "Introduction to Federal Projects and Historic Preservation Law," presented by U.S. General Services Administration Training Center. Professional Experience 1993- Owner and Principal, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1990-1993 Director, Archaeological Research Unit, UC Riverside; Coordinator, Archaeological Information Center, UC Riverside. 1989-1990 Coordinator, Archaeological Information Center, UCLA. 1987-1990 Owner and Principal, Pyramid Archaeology, Palmdale, California. 1986-1987 Junior Fellow, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Pre -Columbian Research, Washington, D.C. 1981-1986 Part-time cultural resources management consultant; doctoral student at UCLA. Memberships Register of Professional Archaeologists. Association of Environmental Professionals. American Planning Association. Society for American Archaeology. Society for California Archaeology. Pacific Coast Archaeological Society. Coachella Valley Archaeological Society. Archaeological Survey Association. 026 14 PROJECT HISTORIAN Bai "Tom" Tang, M.A. Education 1988-1993 Graduate Program in Public History/Historic Preservation, UC Riverside. 1987 M.A., American History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. 1982 B.A., History, Northwestern University, Xi'an, China. 2000 "Introduction to Section 106 Review," presented by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the University of Nevada, Reno. 1994 "Assessing the Significance of Historic Archaeological Sites;' presented by the Historic Preservation Program, University of Nevada, Reno. Professional Experience 1993- Project Historian, CRM TECH, Riverside, California. 1993-1997 Project Historian, Greenwood and Associates, Pacific Palisades, California. 1991-1993 Project Historian, Archaeological Research Unit, UC Riverside. 1990 Intern Researcher, California State Office of Historic Preservation., Sacramento. 1990-1992 Teaching Assistant, History of Modern World, UC Riverside. 1988-1993 Research Assistant, American Social History, UC Riverside. 1985-1988 Research Assistant, Modern Chinese History, Yale University. 1985-1986 Teaching Assistant, Modern Chinese History, Yale University. 1982-1985 Lecturer, History, Van Foreign Languages Institute, Xi'an, China. Honors and Awards 1988-1990 University of California Graduate Fellowship, UC Riverside. 1985-1987 Yale University Fellowship, Yale University Graduate School. 1980, 1981 President's Honor List, Northwestern University, Xi'an, China. Cultural Resources Management Reports Preliminary Analyses and Recommendations Regarding California's Cultural Resources Inventory System (With Special Reference to Condition 14 of NPS 1990 Program Review Report). California State Office of Historic Preservation working paper, Sacramento, September 1990. Approximately 350 cultural resources management reports with the Archaeological Research Unit, Greenwood and Associates, and CRM TECH, since October 1991. Membership California Preservation Foundation. 15 02 7 LEAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYOR Daniel Ballester, B.A. Education 1998 B.A., Anthropology, California State University, San Bernardino. 1997 Archaeological Field School, University of Las Vegas and University of California, Riverside. 1994 University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Professional Experience 1999- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1998-1999 Field Crew, K.E.A. Environmental, San Diego. • Two and a half months of excavations on Topomai village site, Camp Pendleton. 1998 Field Crew, A.S.M. Affiliates, Encinitas. • Two weeks of excavations on a site on Red Beach, Camp Pendleton, and two weeks of survey in Camp Pendleton, Otey Mesa, and Encinitas. 1998 Field Crew, Archaeological Research Unit, University of California, Riverside. • Two weeks of survey in Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Eureka Valley, Death Valley National Park. PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Melissa R. Hernandez, B.A. Education 1991 B.A., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), minor in Geology, Humboldt State University, Arcata. Professional Experience 2001- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1993 Field Paleontologist, Archaeological Resource Management Corporation, Anaheim. 1993 Archaeological excavation, Long Beach Historic District; Archaeological Resource Management Corporation, Anaheim. 1990 Archaeological excavation and laboratory procedures, Sinkione Restoration Project; Bureau of Land Management, Garberville. 028 10 REPORT WRITER Mariam Dandul, B.A. Education 2001 (Exp.) M.A., Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton. 1993 B.A., Geography, California State University, Fullerton. Professional Experience 2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. Laboratory and Field Experience 1999-2000 Assisted in the catalogue and analysis of artifacts at the CSU, Fullerton archaeology laboratory. 1999 Field survey course under the direction of Phyllisa Eisentraut; surveyed and mapped prehistoric site in the Mojave Desert. 029 17 DATE: ITEM: LOCATION: APPLICANT: ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT: BACKGROUND: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT MAY 16, 2002 HISTORICAL/ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES REPORT - TENTATIVE TRACT 30378, PARCELS 1 AND 2 WEST SIDE OF MADISON STREET, APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN AVENUE 50 AND AVENUE 52 COACHELLA VALLEY ENGINEERS FOR ROD VANDENBOS CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE, PRINCIPAL) The study area is a 10± acre parcel in the eastern portion of the City. Most of the property is used for a citrus grove with the balance vacant. A Phase I (survey level) cultural resources assessment has been completed for the property. The assessment includes an archaeological and historical resources record search and field reconnaissance of the property. This assessment will be part of the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act for the project application. DISCUSSION: An archaeological records search for the property was conducted at the Eastern Information Center located at UC Riverside. The records search indicated that the study area had not been previously surveyed for cultural resources and no archaeological sites have been recorded within or adjacent to the study area. Historical background research was conducted at the Science Library Map Room at UC Riverside and at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Office in Riverside. The search indicated no evidence of significant historic human activities or development on the property until the 1950's when the forerunner of Madison Street and the Coachella Canal showed up. By that time, an orchard, possibly the current orchard appeared. The intensive -level on -foot field survey of the study area did not result in any prehistoric sites, features, or evidence of objects, sites, features, or artifacts more than 50 years old. 030 p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 tt 30378.wpd Based on the negative findings of the study, CRM TECH concludes that no historical resources exist within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, approval of the project will have no effect on any "historical resources" as defined by CEQA. The report concludes that no further cultural resources investigation is necessary unless the project is expanded or buried resources are uncovered during construction. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Minute Motion 2002- , accepting the "Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report - Tentative Tract 30378, Parcels 1 and 2", as prepared by CRINA TECH. Attachment: 1. Historical/Archaeological Resources Survey Report - Tentative Tract 30378, Parcels 1 and 2 (Commissioners only) Prepared by: Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner 031 p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 tt 30378.wpd HISTORICAVARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY REPORT TENTATIVE TRACT No. 30378, PARCELS 1 AND 2. APNs 772-270-010 and -012, City of La Quinta Riverside County, California Submitted to: Bonnie Cloer Coachella Valley Engineers 77-899 Wolf Road, Suite 102 Palm Desert, CA 92211 Submitted by: Bruce Love, Principal Bai "Tom" Tang, Historian Mariam Dandul, Report Writer Daniel Ballester, Archaeologist CRM TECH 2411 Sunset Drive Riverside, CA 92506 April 17, 2002 CRM TECH Contract #812 Approximately 10 Acres La Quinta, Calif., 7.5' Quadrangle Section 4, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian 032 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY In April, 2002, at the request of Coachella Valley Engineers, CRM TECH performed a cultural resources study on approximately 10 acres of agricultural land in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. The subject property of the study, known as Tentative Tract No. 30378, Parcels 1 and 2, is located on the southwestern corner of Madison Street and Avenue 51, on the eastern edge of the City. It encompasses APNs 772-270-010 and -012, which comprise the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian. The study is part of the environmental review process for a proposed development project to be undertaken on the subject property. The City of La Quinta, as Lead Agency for the project, required the study in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance. The purpose of the study is to provide the City of La Quinta with the necessary information and analysis to determine whether the proposed development would cause substantial adverse changes to any historical/ archaeological resources that may exist in or around the project area, as mandated by CEQA. In order to identify and evaluate such resources, CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search, pursued historical background research, and carried out an intensive -level field survey. Through the various avenues of research, this study did not encounter any potential "historical resources," as defined by CEQA, within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, CRM TECH recommends that the City of La Quinta may reach a finding of No Impact regarding cultural resources. No further cultural resources investigation is recommended for the proposed project unless project plans undergo such changes as to include areas not covered by this study. However, if buried cultural materials are encountered during construction, all work in that area should be halted or diverted until a qualified archaeologist can evaluate the nature and significance of the finds. i 033 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY In April, 2002, at the request of Coachella Valley Engineers, CRM TECH performed a cultural resources study on approximately 10 acres of agricultural land in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. The subject property of the study, known as Tentative Tract No. 16457, Parcels 1 and 2, is located on the southwestern corner of Madison Street and Avenue 51, on the eastern edge of the City. It encompasses APNs 772-270-017. and -012, which comprise the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian. The study is part of the environmental review process for a proposed development project to be undertaken on the subject property. The City of La Quinta, as Lead Agency for the project, required the study in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance. The purpose of the study is to provide the City of La Quinta with the necessary information and analysis to determine whether the proposed development would cause substantial adverse changes to any historical/ archaeological resources that may exist in or around the project area, as mandated by CEQA. In order to identify and evaluate such resources, CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search, pursued historical background research, and carried out an intensive -level field survey. Through the various avenues of research, this study did not encounter any potential "historical resources," as defined by CEQA, within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, CRM TECH recommends that the City of La Quinta may reach a finding of No Impact regarding cultural resources. No further cultural resources investigation is recommended for the proposed project unless project plans undergo such changes as to include areas not covered by this study. However, if buried cultural materials are encountered during construction, all work in that area should be halted or diverted until a qualified archaeologist can evaluate the nature and significance of the finds. 034 TABLE OF CONTENTS MANAGEMENTSUMMARY............................................................................................................i INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................1 SETTING..............................................................................................................................................3 CurrentNatural Setting..................................................................................................................3 CulturalSetting...............................................................................................................................3 EthnohistoricContext.................................................................................................................3 HistoricContext...........................................................................................................................4 RESEARCHMETHODS.....................................................................................................................5 RecordsSearch.................................................................................................................................5 HistoricalResearch.........................................................................................................................5 FieldSurvey.....................................................................................................................................5 RESULTSAND FINDINGS...............................................................................................................6 RecordsSearch Results...................................................................................................................6 HistoricalResearch Results............................................................................................................7 FieldSurvey Results.......................................................................................................................8 DISCUSSION.......................................................................................................................................8 RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................................................10 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................ I.................10 REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................11 APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS.......................................................................12 LIST OF FIGURES Figure1. Project vicinity....................................................................................................................1 Figure2. Project area.......................................................................................................................... Figure 3. Typical landscape in the project area..............................................................................3 Figure 4. Previous cultural resources surveys in the vicinity of the project area.....................6 Figure 5. The project area and vicinity in 1856..............................................................................7 Figure 6. The project area and vicinity in 1901..............................................................................7 Figure 7. The project area and vicinity in 1903..............................................................................7 Figure 8. The project area and vicinity in 1941..............................................................................8 Figure 9. The project area and vicinity in the 1950s......................................................................8 1.. 035 ii INTRODUCTION In April, 2002, at the request of Coachella Valley Engineers, CRM TECH perforated a cultural resources study on approximately 10 acres of agricultural land in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California (Fig. 1). The subject property of the study, known as Tentative Tract No. 30378, Parcels 1 and 2, is located on the southwestern corner of Madison Street and Avenue 51, on the eastern edge of the City. It encompasses .APNs 772- 270-010 and -012, which comprise the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian (Fig. 2). The study is part of the environmental review process for a proposed development project to be undertaken on the subject property. The City of La Quinta, as Lead Agency for the project, required the study in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; PRC §21000 et seq.) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance (Title 7, La Quinta Municipal Code). CRM TECH performed the present study to provide the City of La Quinta with the necessary information and analysis to determine whether the proposed development would cause substantial adverse changes to any historical/ archaeological resources that may exist in or around the project area, as mandated by CEQA. In order to identify and evaluate such resources, CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search, pursued historical background research, and carried out an intensive -level field survey. The following report is a complete account of the methods, results, and final conclusion of the study. �Al-FtNt '. l.• ' a c<A t,mchn Mlr tCa Palm bow, r, LtDUHi L' AU MO Il1AIH l 6 ! i And, _ Project l wlocation ,oM Y =_ L t i 1 l t[1 COacholla •,J t , t. lied K. O ! YSLfSRJ'.,tVJUM d ICI.` .v.J;N. � � •r' xetr M�.o: naw. - _ l �,>,.,:, :,:r: SCALE 1:250,000 0 5 lOmiles Figure 1. Project vicinity. (Based on USGS Santa Ana, Calif., 1:250,000 quadrangle [USGS 19791) 1 036 We 0 h 33 .p� /*vENUE . We, 49 = c - zz •. 34 Wale' �)• .; AVENUE •30 y � I Z W. Project } area hj A, �s m F Vet ,r G�. z' yi �P Lp I AJ 3 -{JL fF AG C;'.. ` f S. •9 a z 9= --.. SCALE 1:24,000 0 1/2 1 mile ' I 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 feet av Figure 2. Project area. (Based on USGS Indio and La Quinta, Calif., 1:24,000 quadrangle [USGS 1972; 1980]) 037 2 SETTING CURRENT NATURAL SETTING The project area is located in the Coachella Valley, a northwest -southeast -trending desert valley that comprises the western end of the Colorado Desert. Dictated by this geographic setting, the climate and environment of the project area and its surrounding region are typical of southern California's desert country, marked by extremes in temperature and aridity. Temperatures in the region reach over 120 degrees in summer, and dip to near freezing in winter. Average annual precipitation is less than five inches. The terrain in the project area is relatively level, and lies at an elevation of approximately 20 feet above sea level. It is currently used as a citrus grove, with trees planted in rows running east -west across the property. The only other vegetation now present on the property consists of small grasses and shrubs between the rows of citrus trees. A strip of land has been cleared in the middle portion of the project area, extending from the northern to the southern boundaries. Another cleared area is located in the northwestern corner of the property, where a recently constructed wooden structure now stands. CULTURAL SETTING Ethnohistoric Context The Coachella Valley is a historical center of Native American settlement, where U.S. surveyors noted large numbers of Indian villages and rancherias, occupied by the Cahuilla I+ t �.. � i ,.i I ,� az r,�,r.w� may` t }7• t �. y1�` roil Aj y r4 phi'. ifa t ' .�n�l. f� f` xr :x•- x a �+r";s': <-ice •, "4�,�13'k� t •v"+j�+��r i f i *"'"M'�k,i`u.'.`r .e� w^ aw^�"� � � y. a , I F Figure 3. Typical landscape in the project area. 3 OJ8 people, in the mid-19th century. The Cahuilla, a Takic-speaking people of hunters and gatherers, are generally divided by anthropologists into three groups, according to their geographic setting: the Pass Cahuilla of the San Gorgonio Pass -Palm Springs area, the Mountain Cahuilla of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains and the Cahuilla Valley, and the Desert Cahuilla of the eastern Coachella Valley. The Cahuilla did not have a single name that referred to an all-inclusive tribal affiliation. Instead, membership was in terms of lineages or clans. Each lineage or clan belonged to one of two main divisions of the people, known as moieties. Members of clans in one moiety had to marry into clans from the other moiety. Individual clans had villages, or central places, and territories they called their own, for purposes of hunting game, gathering food, or utilizing other necessary resources. They interacted with other clans through trade, intermarriage, and ceremonies. Population data prior to European contact are almost impossible to obtain, but estimates range from 3,600 to as high as 10,000 persons. During the 19th century, however, the Cahuilla population was decimated as a result of European diseases, most notably smallpox, for which the Native peoples had no immunity. Today, Native Americans of Pass or Desert Cahuilla heritage are mostly affiliated with one or more of the Indian reservations in and near the Coachella Valley, including Torres Martinez, Augustine, Agua Caliente, Cabazon, and Morongo. Historic Context In 1823-1825, Jose Romero, Jose Maria Estudillo, and Romualdo Pacheco, leading a series of expeditions in search of a route to Yuma, became the first noted European explorers to travel through the Coachella Valley. However, due to its harsh environment, few non - Indians ventured into the desert valley during the Mexican and early American periods, except those who traveled across it along the established trails. The most important among these trails was the Cocomaricopa Trail, an ancient Indian trading route that was "discovered" in 1862 by William David Bradshaw and became known after that as the Bradshaw Trail. In the Coachella Valley, this historic wagon road traversed a course that is very similar to present-day Highway 111. During the 1860s-1870s, the Bradshaw Trail served as the main thoroughfare between coastal southern California and the Colorado River, until the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876-1877 brought an end to its heyday. Non -Indian settlement in the Coachella Valley began in the 1870s, with the establishment of railroad stations along the Southern Pacific Railroad, and spread further in the 1880s, after public land was opened for claims under the Homestead Act, the Desert Land Act, and other federal land laws. Farming became the dominant economic activity in the valley, thanks to the development of underground water sources, often in the form of artesian wells. But it was not until the completion of the Coachella Canal in 1948-1949 that farmers in the and region obtained an adequate and reliable water supply. The main agricultural staple in the Coachella Valley, the date palm, was first introduced around the tarn of the century. By the late 1910s, the date palm industry had firmly established itself, giving the region its celebrated image of "the Arabia of America." Starting in the 1920s, a new industry, featuring equestrian camps, resort hotels, and eventually country clubs, gradually spread throughout the Coachella Valley, and since then transformed it into southern California's leading winter retreat. 4 039 In today's City of La Quinta, the earliest settlement and land development activities did not occur until the turn of the century. In 1926, with the construction of the La Quinta Hotel, the development of La Quinta took on the character of a winter resort, typical of the desert communities along Highway 111. Beginning in the early 1930s, the subdivision of the cove area of La Quinta and the marketing of "weekend homes" further emphasized this new direction of development. On May 1,1982, La Quinta was incorporated as the 19th city in Riverside County. RESEARCH METHODS RECORDSSEARCH Upon commencement of this study, CRM TECH archaeologist Laura Hensley Shaker (see App. 1 for qualifications) conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search at the Eastern Information Center (EIC). The EIC, located at the University of California, Riverside, is the State of California's official cultural resource records repository, for the County of Riverside, and a part of the California Historical Resource Information System established and maintained under the auspices of the California Office of Historic Preservation. During the records search, Shaker examined maps and records on file at the EIC for previously identified cultural resources in or near the project area, and existing cultural resources reports pertaining to the vicinity. Previously identified cultural resources include properties designated as California Historical Landmarks, Points of Historical Interest, or Riverside County Landmarks, as well as those listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, or the California. Historical Resource Information System. HISTORICAL RESEARCH Historical research for this study was conducted by CRM TECH historian Bai "Tom" Tang (see App. 1 for qualifications) on the basis of published literature in local and regional history and historic maps of the La Quinta area. Among maps consulted for this study were the U.S. General Land Office's (GLO) land survey plat maps dated 1856 and 1903, and the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) topographic maps dated 1904, 1941, and 1956-1959. These maps are collected at the Science Library of the University of California, Riverside, and the California Desert District of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, also located in Riverside. FIELD SURVEY On April 15, 2002, CRM TECH archaeologists Daniel Ballester and Adrian SAnchez Moreno (see App. 1 for qualifications) carried out the intensive -level, on -foot field survey of the project area. During the survey, Ballester and Moreno walked the entire project area systematically along parallel east -west transects spaced 15 meters (ca. 50 feet) apart. In this way, the ground surface was carefully examined for any evidence of human activities dating to the prehistoric or historic periods (i.e., 50 years ago or older). Ground visibility was good around the citrus grove and in the cleared areas, but was greatly reduced between the citrus rows. The results of the survey are discussed below. 040 RESULTS AND FINDINGS RECORDS SEARCH RESULTS According to records on file at the Eastern Information Center, the project area had not been surveyed for cultural resources prior to this study, and no archaeological sites or other cultural resources had been recorded within or adjacent to the project boundaries. Within a one -mile radius of the property,12 previous studies have been reported to the EIC on various tracts of land (Fig. 4). As a result, three prehistoric—i.e., Native American — archaeological sites and 19 isolates—i.e., sites with fewer than three artifacts —were recorded within the scope of the records search, but all of them outside the project boundaries. The three recorded sites were comprised of ceramic and lithic scatters as well �1LEHUE 33 .Well Scope of .. . 49 .-- .. 22• 34 records .I search 9or, , w;,e, l velu 22 a Project "2876 i area ' 1 4518 r U PH 2039 9 2038 2876 1, � 2206 4 tr 5{ y 0 may} v �,j, • .s h - _ • F , bl it n, 121 !' ': y ' -AVENUE 02 �V i c H tl 0n..3324 r Areas previously 9 surveyed SCALE 1:24,000 3311 1000®O feet �. 0 1 '� Figure 4. Previous cultural resources surveys in the vicinity of the project area, listed by EIC manuscript file number. Locations of historical/archaeological sites are not shown as a protective measure. 6 041 as habitation debris and fire hearths. Since none of these sites were located in the immediate vicinity of the project area, none of them requires further consideration during this study. HISTORICAL RESEARCH RESULTS Historical sources consulted for this study suggest that the project area appears to be low in sensitivity for cultural resources from the historic period. As Figures 5-8 illustrate, throughout the mid- and late 19th century and the early 20th century, no man-made features of any kind were mapped within or adjacent to the project boundaries. In fact, prior to 1901-1903, the only evidence of human activities in the present-day La Quinta area was a pair of roads traversing a few miles to the north and east of the project location, both evidently associated with the historic Cocomaricopa-Bradshaw Trail (Figs. 5-7). A = Project % i G YJF area `i a. ' t01 B Y st � 1 6• SCALE 1:125,000 0 1 2 miles -. Figure 6. The project area and vicinity in 1901. (Source: USGS 1904) J/ FOT° 10T0 xIO2 2 I°J° Ii°T/ "22 JJ lfx AM sdo APO O 0 RCib06tS Project ° ./� q/ev ./6 area 1 0 a rs.104- 64 ZLOL. 0 40 o vlJ ;1 t r/J ;f 0 2�000 feet Figure 5. The project area and vicinity :in 1856. (Source: GLO 1856) i Sec Project z '; 4 area a ' g � � Sec 9 0 See10--- q 40 ;3475r ' '•moo ;3t�25. 0 51 2000 4000 feet Figure 7. The project area and vicinity in 1903. (Source: GLO 1903) 7 op 33 -----, area - da. a r IJ 5 i 4 i 3 I sav ii1.•.s�fiif.�. . � 8 1 9 1� � � SL. [LVIt f— — + Jl ------- 1:62,500 -------------- -- I ! SCALE 0 1 mile <..��GqU. I E$ y FI}T S I 4 5 R • � w / AVLN L Project area E J Al SCALE 1:62,500 0 1 mile Figure 8. The project area and vicinity in 1941. Figure 9. The project area and vicinity in the 1950s. (Source: USGS 1941a;1941b) (Source: USGS 1956;1959) By the 1950s, after the completion of the Coachella Canal, the forerunner of present-day Madison Street and a second road along the northern project boundary had become the first man-made features to be noted in or near the project area (Fig. 9). Also by that time, the project area had been developed into an orchard, possibly a citrus grove as in existence on the property today (USGS 1959 [Fig. 9]). No buildings or other structures, however, were known to be present within or adjacent to the project boundaries in the 1950s, or as late as 1978 (USGS 1959 [Fig. 91;1980 [Fig. 2]). FIELD SURVEY RESULTS The intensive -level field survey produced completely negative results for potential cultural resources. The ground surface was closely inspected for any evidence of human activities that is historic or prehistoric in nature, but none was found. As mentioned above, a recently constructed wooden structure now occupies a portion of the property, with a large water storage container standing just to its east. Both of these features are clearly modern in origin. No buildings, structures, objects, sites, features, or artifacts more than 50 years of age were encountered during the field survey. DISCUSSION The purpose of this study is to identify any cultural resources within or adjacent to the project area, and to assist the City of La Quinta in determining whether such resources meet the official definitions of "historical resources," as provided in the California Public Resources Code, in particular CEQA. 8 04 According to PRC §5020.1(j), "'historical resource' includes, but is not limited to, any object, building, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which is historically or archaeologically significant, or is significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California." More specifically, CEQA guidelines state that the term "historical resources" applies to any such resources listed in or determined to be eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, included in a local register of historical resources, or determined to be historically significant by the Lead Agency (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(1)-(3)). Regarding the proper criteria for the evaluation of historical significance, CEQA guidelines mandate that "a resource shall be considered by the lead agency to be 'historically significant' if the resource meets the criteria for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources" (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(3)). A resource may be listed in the California Register if it meets any of the following criteria: (1) Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage. (2) Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past. (3) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values. (4) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (PRC §5024.1(c)) A local register of historical resources, as defined by PRC §5020.1(k), "means a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution." For properties within the City of La Quinta, the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance (Title 7, La Quinta Municipal Code) provides for the establishment of a historic resources inventory as the official local register. A property may be considered for inclusion in the historic resources inventory based on one or more of the following: A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural history; or B. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; or C. It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, is a valuable example of the use of the indigenous materials or craftsmanship or is representative of a notable work of an acclaimed builder, designer or architect; or D. It is an archaeological, paleontological, botanical, geological, topographical, ecological or geographical site which has the potential of yielding information of scientific value; or E. It is a geographically definable area possessing concentration of sites, buildings, structures, improvements or objects linked historically through location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and/or association, in which the collective value of the improvements may be greater than the value of each individual improvement. (LQMC §7.06.020) 044 As stated above, the records search, the historical research, and the field survey conducted during this study have all produced negative results, and no potential historical/ archaeological resources more than 50 years of age were discovered in or near the project area. Based on these findings, and in light of the criteria listed above, the present study concludes that no historical resources exist within or adjacent to the project area. RECOMMENDATIONS CEQA establishes that "a project that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource is a project that may have a significant effect on the environment' (PRC §21084.1). "Substantial adverse change," according to PRC §5020.1(q), "means demolition, destruction, relocation, or alteration such that the significance of a historical resource would be impaired." Since no historical resources were encountered during the course of this study, CRM TECH presents the following recommendations to the City of La Quinta: • No historical resources exist within or adjacent to the project area, and thus the project as currently proposed will cause no substantial adverse change to any known historical resources. • No further cultural resources investigation is necessary for the proposed project unless construction plans undergo such changes as to include areas not covered by this study. • If buried cultural materials are discovered during construction, all work in that area should be halted or diverted until a qualified archaeologist can evaluate the nature and significance of the finds. CONCLUSION The foregoing report has provided background information on the project area, outlined the methods used in the current study, and presented the results of the various avenues of research. Throughout the course of the study, no "historical resources," as defined by CEQA, were encountered within or adjacent to the project area. Therefore, the City of La Quinta may reach a finding of no impact regarding cultural resources, with the condition that any buried cultural materials unearthed during project -related earth -moving activities be examined and evaluated by a qualified archaeologist prior to further disturbances. 045 10 REFERENCES GLO (General Land Office, U.S. Department of the Interior) 1856 Plat Map: Township No. 6 South Range No. 7 East, San Bernardino Meridian; surveyed in 1856. 1903 Plat Map: Township No. 6 South Range No. 7 East, San Bernardino Meridian, California; surveyed in 1903. USGS (United States Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior) 1904 Map: Indio, Calif. (30',1:125,000); surveyed in 1901. 1941a Map: Coachella, Calif. (15', 1:62,500); aerial photographs taken in 1941. 1941b Map: Toro Peak, Calif. (15', 1:62,500); aerial photographs taken in 1941. 1956 Map: Coachella, Calif. (15', 1:62,500); aerial photographs taken in 1952-1953. 1959 Map: Palm Desert, California (15', 1:62,500); aerial photos taken in 1954, field checked in 1957 and 1959. 1972 Map: Indio, Calif. (7.5', 1:24,000);1956 edition photorevised in 1972. 1979 Map: Santa Ana, Calif. (1:250,000); 1959 edition revised. 1980 Map: La Quinta, Calif. (7.5', 1:24,000);1959 edition photorevised in 19;78. 046 11 APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Bruce Love, Ph.D., RPA (Register of Professional Archaeologists) Education 1986 Ph. D., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1981 M.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1976 B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1996 "CEQA 101," presented by the Association of Environmental Professionals. 1995 "CEQA Workshop," presented by Association of Environmental Professionals. 1994 "Assessing the Significance of Historic Archaeological Sites," presented by the Historic Preservation Program, University of Nevada, Reno. 1994 "CEQA 1994: Issues, Trends, and Advanced Topics," presented by UCLA Extension. 1990 "Introduction to Federal Projects and Historic Preservation Law," presented by U.S. General Services Administration Training Center. Professional Experience 1993- Owner and Principal, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1990-1993 Director, Archaeological Research Unit, UC Riverside; Coordinator, . Archaeological Information Center, UC Riverside. 1989-1990 Coordinator, Archaeological Information Center, UCLA. 1987-1990 Owner and Principal, Pyramid Archaeology, Palmdale, California. 1986-1987 Junior Fellow, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Pre -Columbian Research, Washington, D.C. 1981-1986 Part-time cultural resources management consultant; doctoral student at UCLA. Memberships Register of Professional Archaeologists. Association of Environmental Professionals. American Planning Association. Society for American Archaeology. Society for California Archaeology. Pacific Coast Archaeological Society. Coachella Valley Archaeological Society. Archaeological Survey Association. 047 12 PROJECT HISTORIAN Bai "Tom" Tang, M.A. Education 1988-1993 Graduate Program in Public History/Historic Preservation, UC Riverside. 1987 M.A., American History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. 1982 B.A., History, Northwestern University, Xi'an, China. 2000 "Introduction to Section 106 Review," presented by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the University of Nevada, Reno. 1994 "Assessing the Significance of Historic Archaeological Sites," presented by the Historic Preservation Program, University of Nevada, Reno. Professional Experience 1993- Project Historian, CRM TECH, Riverside, California. 1993-1997 Project Historian, Greenwood and Associates, Pacific Palisades, California. 1991-1993 Project Historian, Archaeological Research Unit, UC Riverside. 1990 Intern Researcher, California State Office of Historic Preservation, Sacramento. 1990-1992 Teaching Assistant, History of Modern World, UC Riverside. 1988-1993 Research Assistant, American Social History, UC Riverside. 1985-1988 Research Assistant, Modern Chinese History, Yale University. 1985-1986 Teaching Assistant, Modern Chinese History, Yale University. 1982-1985 Lecturer, History, Xi'an Foreign Languages Institute, Van, China. Honors and Awards 1988-1990 University of California Graduate Fellowship, UC Riverside. 1985-1987 Yale University Fellowship, Yale University Graduate School. 1980,1981 President's Honor List, Northwestern University, Van, China. Cultural Resources Management Reports Preliminary Analyses and Recommendations Regarding California's Cultural Resources Inventory System (With Special Reference to Condition 14 of NPS 1990 Program Review Report). California State Office of Historic Preservation working paper, Sacramento, September 1990. Numerous cultural resources management reports with the Archaeological Research Unit, Greenwood and Associates, and CRM TECH, since October 1991. Membership California Preservation Foundation. 13 048 PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST/REPORT WRITER Mariam Dandul, B.A. Education 2002 (Exp.) M.A., Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton. 1993 B.A., Geography, California State University, Fullerton. Professional Experience 2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. Laboratory and Field Experience 2001 Archaeological field school under the direction of Dr. Brian Byrd. Test excavations of sites at the San Elijo Lagoon Reserve, including flotation of soil samples and sorting and cataloguing of artifacts. 2000 Archaeological field class under the direction of Dr. Claude Warren. Excavated units at Soda Lake in the Mojave Desert and produced lake bottom stratigraphic profiles. 1999-2000 Assisted in the catalogue of artifacts at the CSU, Fullerton archaeology laboratory. 1999 Field survey course under the direction of Dr. Phyllisa Eisentraut; surveyed and mapped prehistoric site in the Mojave Desert. PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Daniel Ballester, B.A. Education 1998 B.A., Anthropology, California State University, San Bernardino. 1997 Archaeological Field School, University of Las Vegas and University of California, Riverside. 1994 University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Professional Experience 1999- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1998-1999 Field Crew, K.E.A. Environmental, San Diego. • Two and a half months of excavations on Topomai village site, Camp Pendleton. 1998 Field Crew, A.S.M. Affiliates, Encinitas. • Two weeks of excavations on a site on Red Beach, Camp Pendleton, and two weeks of survey in Camp Pendleton, Otey Mesa, and Enciinitas. 1998 Field Crew, Archaeological Research Unit, University of California, Riverside. • Two weeks of survey in Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Eureka Valley, Death Valley National Park. 14 049 PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Adrian Sanchez Moreno, B.A. Education 1999 B.A., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), University of San Diego. Professional Experience 2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1999 Field Crew, excavation in Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Air Base, Oceanside. K.E.A. Environmental, San Diego. 1999 Field Crew, excavation at Freedmen's Cemetery site in Alexandria,. Virginia. URS Greiner Woodward & Clyde. 1999 Field Crew, survey and excavation in Guerrero Negro, Mexico. • Including identification of osteological specimens. 1999 Field Crew, excavation at Lake Chapala, Baja California, Mexico. • Excavation and cataloguing of lithic artifacts from the oldest known site in Baja California. 1998 Field Crew, petroglyph survey in San Pedro Atacama, Chile. • Focusing on identification of possible habitation and petroglyph sites. PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Laura Hensley Shaker, B.S. Education 1998 B.S., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), University of California, Riverside. 1997 Archaeological Field School, University of California, Riverside. Professional Experience 1999- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1999 Applied Earthworks, excavation of sites in Vandenburg Airforce Base. 1998-1999 Paleontological field work and laboratory procedures, Eastside Reservoir Project; San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands. 1998 Archaeological survey at the Anza-Borrego State Park; Archaeological Research Unit, U.C. Riverside. 1997-1998 Archaeological survey and excavation at the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air and Ground Combat Center; Archaeological Research Unit, U.C. Riverside. Memberships Society for American Archaeology. 15 ....- 050 E31 #C HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATE: MAY 16, 2002 ITEM: ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING AND MITIGATION SATES CA- RIV-6765, -6766, AND -6667 CLUBHOUSE AT LA QUINTA PROJECT LOCATION: SOUTH SIDE OF AVENUE 52, APPROXIMATELY 575 FEET EAST OF JEFFERSON STREET APPLICANT: CHARLES CROOKALL (CLUBHOUSE ASSOCIATES) ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT: CRM TECH (BRUCE LOVE, PRINCIPAL) BACKGROUND: The study area is a 11 acre triangular parcel of vacant land on the south side of Avenue 52, east of Jefferson Street. A Phase I (survey level) cultural resources assessment was accepted by the Historic Preservation Commission on February 21, 2002. The Phase I report recommended that an Phase II testing program be conducted on three identified prehistoric sites. A report on the testing has been completed and submitted for review. DISCUSSION: The Phase I report identified three prehistoric sites and one isolate. The artifacts found include pottery sherds, chert flakes, fire affected rock and flake tools. CRM TECH conducted the Phase II investigation and found that two of the sites should be combined. An additional site was found during the testing. The testing consisted of surface collection, surface scrapes (20 centimeters deep), and excavation units (70-100 centimeters deep). The collected artifacts consisted of chipped stone, groundstone, rock, ceramics, beads and ornaments, and faunal (bone) remains, including a human cremation with associated funerary goods. As required by law, the Torres -Martinez Band of Indians were notified of the cremation find and will see that the remains are re -interned. 051 p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 2 sdp 02-730 clubhouse.wpd The report concludes that except for the cremation remains the project will not cause a substantial adverse impact. The cremation found in Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767 meets CEQA's definition of a "historic resource". However, the systematic excavation, salvage, recovery, analysis, and documentation of the cremation and associated artifacts mitigates any adverse effect the project would have, reducing such effect to a level less than significant. CONCLUSION: Due to the demonstrated sensitivity of the project area for cultural deposits, including the possibility of additional human remains, archaeological monitoring is recommended during all earth -moving activities in the project area. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt Minute Motion 2002- , accepting the "Archaeological Testing and Mitigation Sites CA-RIV-6765 -6766 and -6767 Clubhouse at L3 Quinta Project. City of La Quinta, Riverside County California", as prepared by CRM TECH, subject to the following conditions: A. A monitoring report shall be submitted to the City for approval prior to final inspection of the project. B. Copies of all updated site records for the project area shall be submitted to the City prior to issuance of a grading permit. Attachment: 1. Archaeological Testing and Mitigation Sites CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767 Clubhouse at La Quinta Project, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California Prepared by: Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner 05? p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 2 sdp 02-730 clubhouse.wpd MAY - 8 2002 ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING AND MITIGATION SITES CA-RIV-6765, -6766, AND -6767 Clubhouse at La Quinta Project City of La Quinta, Riverside County Submitted to: Charles E. Crookall Shaw Industrial Property Services 160 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Submitted by: Bruce Love, Principal Harry Quinn, Field Director Mariam Dandul, Archaeologist Adrian Sanchez Moreno, Archaeologist CRM TECH 2411 Sunset Drive Riverside, CA 92506 April 2, 2002 CRM TECH Contract #784 APNs 772-300-002 and -003 La Quinta, Calif., 7.5' Quadrangle Section 9, US R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian 053 MANAGEMENT SUMMARY In February and March, 2002, at the request of Shaw Industrial Property Services, CRM TECH performed an archaeological testing program on three prehistoric—i.e., Native American —sites in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. The three sites under investigation, CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767, were recorded in the area designated for the Clubhouse at La Quinta project, a triangular -shaped tract of land at the intersection of Avenue 52 and the Coachella Canal, in the southeastern portion of the city. The project area consists of two existing parcels, APNs 772-300-002 and -003, both located in the northwest quarter of Section 9, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian, totaling approximately 10 acres. The present study is part of the cultural resources compliance process :for the proposed project, as required by the City of La Quinta, as the Lead Agency for the project, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance. The purpose of the study is to assist the City in assessing the historic significance of Sites CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767, and in determining whether they meet the official definition of "historical resources," as provided in CEQA. In order to accomplish these objectives, CRM TECH conducted an intensive -level re -survey of the project area, site mapping, systematic surface collection, and the excavation of 18 surface scrapes and 3 test units, and completed cataloguing and laboratory analysis of all artifacts recovered through the archaeological fieldwork. In addition, CRM TECH consulted with Native American representatives whenever human remains were uncovered. The results of these research procedures indicate that, among the three archaeological sites tested during this study, Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767, containing human cremation remains and associated funerary goods, appears to qualify as a "historical resource." The proposed project's potential effect on this locus, however, has been adequately mitigated through data recovery accomplished by the present testing program. Therefore, the proposed project will not cause a substantial adverse change to any known historical resource. Nevertheless, due to the demonstrated sensitivity of the project area for cultural deposits, including the possibility of additional human remains, archaeological monitoring is recommended during any earth - moving activities in the project area. The artifact assemblage collected as a result of this study will be properly processed and delivered to the City of La Quinta for long-term curation prior to the issuance of the necessary permits for the project. . o5a TABLE OF CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY INTRODUCTION SETTING CURRENT NATURAL SETTING 3 RegionalGeological Setting ........................................................................................................... 3 4 SiteGeology ................................................................................................................................... 4 CULTURAL SETTING 5 Ethnohistoric Context 5 Historic Context 5 BACKGROUND RESEARCH DESIGN 6 GENERAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS 7 ............................................................................................... Chronology............................................................................................................... 7 .................... 7 Subsistence .... 7 Settlement Patterns 8 Trade 8 Ethnicity......................................................................................................................................... 8 REGIONAL RESEARCH QUESTION ............................................................................................... 9 Rock 9 SUMMARY METHODS 9 AND PROCEDURES: ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK .............................................9 SITE RE -SURVEY, SITE MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION ...........................................10 SURFACESCRAPES ........................................................................................................................ 10 EXCAVATIONUNITS .................................................................................................................... 14 NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTATION ....................................................................................... 14 METHODS AND PROCEDURES: LABORATORY ANALYSIS .........................................................14 FAUNALREMAINS ........................................................................................................................ 14 CHIPPED STONE 15 GROUNDSTOT,JE ............................................................................................................................ 15 ROCK............................................................................................................................................... 15 CERAMICS...................................................................................................................................... 16 BEADSAND ORNAMENTS ........................................................................................................... 16 RESULTS AND FINDINGS: ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK ....................................................17 SITE RE -SURVEY, SITE MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION ...........................................17 SURFACESCRAPES ........................................................................................................................ 17 SiteCA-RIV-6765 ......................................................................................................................... 17 SiteCA-RrV-6766 ......................................................................................................................... 17 SiteCA-RIV-6767 ......................................................................................................................... 17 EXCAVATIONUNITS .................................................................................................................... 18 NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTATION ....................................................................................... 18 RESULTS AND FINDINGS: LABORATORY ANALYSIS .................................................................. 18 SiteCA-RIV-6765 ............................................................................................................................. 18 FaunalRemains ............................................................................................................................ 18 ChippedStone .............................................................................................................................. 18 Rock.............................................................................................................................................. 18 Ceramics....................................................................................................................................... 19 SiteCA-RIV-6766 ............................................................................................................................. 19 FaunalRemains ............................................................................................................................ 19 ChippedStone .............................................................................................................................. 19 ii '.I 055 Groundstone................................................................................................................................19 Rock..............................................................................................................................................19 Ceramics.......................................................................................................................................19 Beadsand Ornaments..................................................................................................................19 SiteCA-RIV-6767.............................................................................................................................20 FaunalRemains............................................................................................................................20 ChippedStone..............................................................................................................................20 roundstone................................................................................................ Rock.............................................................................................................................................21 Beadsand Ornaments..................................................................................................................21 RESEARCH QUESTIONS REVISITED................................................................................................21 GENERAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS.............................................................................................21 Chronology..................................................................................................................................21 Subsistence................................................................................................................................... 22 SettlementPatterns......................................................................................................................23 Trade............................................................................................................................................23 Ethnicity....................................................................................................................................... 23 REGIONAL RESEARCH QUESTION.............................................................................................23 Rock..............................................................................................................................................23 SUMMARY......................................................................................................................................23 DISCUSSION.........:.............................................................................................................................24 DEFINITION.................................................................................................................................... 24 SITEEVALUATION........................................................................................................................25 SitesCA-RIV-6765 and-6766.......................................................................................................25 SiteCA-RIV-6767.........................................................................................................................25 PROJECT EFFECTS ASSESSMENT.....................................................................................................26 RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................................................................26 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................26 REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................28 LIST OF FIGURES Figure1. Project vicinity .......................................................................................................................1 Figure 2. Project area and site locations................................................................................................2 Figure 3. Overview of the current natural setting of the project area..................................................3 Figure 4. Unit within a surface scrape................................................................................................10 Figure 5. Site sketch map of CA-RIV-6765..........................................................................................11 Figure 6. Site sketch map of CA-RIV-6766..........................................................................................12 Figure 7. Site sketch map of CA-RIV-6767..........................................................................................13 Figure 8. Mytilus sp. pendant, CA-RIV-6766......................................................................................19 Figure 9. Chipped stone artifacts, CA-RIV-6767.................................................................................21 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Human Remains, Site CA-RIV-6767......................................................................................20 Table 2. Identified Vertebrate Species, Site CA-RIV-6767..................................................................20 056 iii INTRODUCTION In February and March, 2002, at the request of Shaw Industrial Property Services, CRM TECH performed an archaeological testing program on three prehistoric—i.e., Native American —sites in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California (Fig. 1). The three sites under investigation, CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767, were recorded in the area designated for the Clubhouse at La Quinta project, a triangular -shaped tract of land at the intersection of Avenue 52 and the Coachella Canal, in the southeastern portion of the city (Fig. 2). The project area consists of two existing parcels, APNs 772-300-002 and -003, both located in the northwest quarter of Section 9, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian, totaling approximately 10 acres. The present study is part of the cultural resources compliance process for the proposed project, as required by the City of La Quinta, as the Lead Agency for the project, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; PRC §21000 et seq.) and the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance (Title 7, La Quinta Municipal Code). The purpose of the study is to assist the City in assessing the historic significance of Sites CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767, and in determining whether they meet the official definition of "historical resources," as provided in CEQA. In order to accomplish these objectives, CRM TECH conducted an intensive -level re -survey of the project area, site mapping, systematic surface collection, and the excavation of 18 surface scrapes and 3 test units, and completed cataloguing and laboratory analysis of all artifacts recovered through the archaeological fieldwork. In addition, CRM TECH consulted with Native American representatives whenever human remains were uncovered. The following report is a complete account of the methods, results, and final conclusion of the study. >' {VI n Won Awn, �� 14 y� �� ai„•�s s. location C I0e{I {1011W JAI iZ MN � \)'ljH� N i•crrn � ' l L Com Tokw atw nH SCALE1:250,000 Tea �( V.,i,eA',N�rIN M t Figure 1. Project vicinity. (Based on USGS Santa Ana, Calif., 1:250,000 quadrangle [USGS 1979]) Water i r Project area h 7a I R AVENUEy 1' flflfl Well 14 I, 1, p I 1 {: r � t • ® I ;I -+ CA-RIV-6766 - A-RIV-6767 �a. ��-� •. '` Well pum II ,I o- CA-RIV 6765 ^® AVENUE 3� _ 4f 1 ! H ZQ 44 C - �� SCALE 1:24,000 ?,2, �,I Iti ii � 0 1l2 Y mile Y'n1 � � � ill, _ _ _ : - 1000 0 1000 2000 300D 4000 feet Figure 2. Project area and site locations. (Based on USGS Indio and La Quinta, Calif., 1:24,000 quadrangles [USGS 1972; 19801) 2 G53 SETTING CURRENT NATURAL SETTING The project area is located in the Coachella Valley, on the western edge of the Colorado Desert, which encompasses the eastern portion of Riverside County. Dictated by this geographic setting, the project area and its environs are marked by extremes in. temperature and aridity. Temperatures in the region reach over 120 degrees in summer, and dip to near freezing in winter. Average annual precipitation is less than five inches. The project area is bounded on the north by Avenue 52, on the west by open land, and on the southeast by the Coachella Canal. Elevations in the project area range around 22 feet above sea level. The area along the northern boundary has been disturbed by road construction and is littered with modern trash. Rocks and pieces of gravel are also found along the side of Avenue 52. A large berm has been built up along the Coachella Canal that appears to consist of the material excavated during the canal construction. In addition, there is a large pile of this same material forming a high area, the top of which is even with the berm along the canal. This appears to be a spoils pile from the Coachella Canal construction. The onsite vegetation is mainly salt bush. There is one living creosote bush near the center of the property and several other areas of apparently dead creosote bush remains (Fig. 3). Also present are a couple of clumps of arrowweed growing along the canal bean. Also noted was one small Verbena sp. plant. Figure 3. Overview of the current natural setting of the project area. 3 059 Regional Geological Setting The Coachella Valley occupies the northwestern portion of the Colorado Desert Geomorphic province. The Colorado Desert province is bounded on the southwest side by the Peninsular ranges province, on the north by the eastern Transverse Ranges province, and on the northeast by the southern portion of the Mojave Desert province (Jenkins 1980:40-41). The province widens to the southeast through the Imperial Valley and into Mexico. Elevation within the Colorado Desert province tends to be low, while those of the bounding provinces can be quite high. This configuration has made for local to regional rapid filling of the basin, especially along its margins. One of the major features in the Colorado Desert province is the Salton Trough, a 290-km- long (ca. 180-mile) structural depression that extends from the Banning Pass area southward into Mexico and contains present-day Salton Sea. During Pleistocene and Holocene time, the northwestern portion of this trough was filled with over 4,000 feet of sediments (Proctor 1968). While the term "Salton Trough" refers to the entire structural depression from the San Gorgonio Pass to the Gulf of California, the term "Salton Basin" is used to describe that portion of the area that drains directly into the Salton Sea. Holocene Lake Cahuilla occupied a much larger portion of the Salton Basin than present- day Salton Sea (Rogers 1965). The shoreline of the last ancient lake to fill the basin can be seen today as a line along the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains at an elevation of about 42 feet above sea level (Waters 1983; Wilke 1978). The elevation of the project area is around 22 feet above sea level, thus the subject property was under water when Holocene Lake Cahuilla was at a high stand. The lake that occupied the Coachella Valley dried up around A.D. 1680 (Quinn 2002:6-7). Site Geology Rogers (1965) mapped the geology at the project site as Ql-Qal. He defines the Ql as Quaternary lake beds of possible late Pleistocene and Recent (Holocene) age and the Qal as Recent (Holocene) age alluvial sediments (ibid.). He also shows the project area to be below the 42 foot high last stand of Holocene Lake Cahuilla (ibid.). The onsite geology is mainly a sandy loam with common to abundant shells and shell fragments lining blowouts. Along the side of the canal is a berm made from sandy loam containing scattered rocks. The small snail shells from Tryonia sp. appear to be the most abundant forms present. They are followed in descending abundance by Physa sp., Anodonta sp., and Gyraulus sp. A couple of the Anodonta sp. were found as paired shells, suggesting that they were left behind in a living position as the lake receded. Knecht (1980:Map Sheet 11) mapped the on -site soils as MaB. The MaB soils are defined as the Myoma fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes (ibid.:23). He (ibid.) describes this soil type as, "This nearly level to gently sloping soil is on alluvial fans where they merge with the finer textured flood plain and basin soils. It has the profile described as representative of the series." The representative profile for the MaB type soils (ibid.:22) is shown as, 'Typically, the upper 18 inches of these soils is light olive gray fine sand. Below this to a depth of 60 inches or more is light olive gray very fine sand and fine sand. The soil is moderately to strongly alkaline and slightly to violently effervescent." Occasional concha and clam shells are present, which when present makes the soil strongly effervescent (ibid.:23),. 4 060 CULTURAL SETTING Ethnohistoric Context The Coachella Valley is a historical center of Native American settlement, where U.S. surveyors noted large numbers of Indian villages and rancherias, occupied by the Cahuilla people, in the mid-19th century. The Cahuilla, a Takic-speaking people of hunters and gatherers, are generally divided by anthropologists into three groups, according to their geographic setting: the Pass Cahuilla of the San Gorgonio Pass -Palm Springs area, the Mountain Cahuilla of the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains and the Cahuilla Valley, and the Desert Cahuilla of the eastern Coachella Valley. The Cahuilla did not have a single name that referred to an all-inclusive tribal affiliation. Instead, membership was in terms of lineages or clans. Each lineage or clan belonged to one of two main divisions of the people, known as moieties. Members of clans in one moiety had to marry into clans from the other moiety. Individual clans had villages, or central places, and territories they called their own, for purposes of hunting game, gathering food, or utilizing other necessary resources. They interacted with other clans through trade, intermarriage, and ceremonies. Population data prior to European contact are almost impossible to obtain, but estimates range from 3,600 to as high as 10,000 persons. During the 19th century, however, the Cahuilla population was decimated as a result of European diseases, most notably smallpox, for which the Native peoples had no immunity. Today, Native Americans of Pass or Desert Cahuilla heritage are mostly affiliated with one or more of the Indian reservations in and near the Coachella Valley, including Torres Martinez, Cabazon, Augustine, Agua Caliente, and Morongo. Historic Context In 1823-1825, Jose Romero, Jose Maria Estudillo, and Romualdo Pacheco, leading a series of expeditions in search of a route to Yuma, became the first noted European explorers to travel through the Coachella Valley. However, due to its harsh environment, few non - Indians ventured into the desert valley during the Mexican and early American periods, except those who traveled across it along the established trails. The most important among these trails was the Cocomaricopa Trail, an ancient Indian trading route that was "discovered" in 1862 by William David Bradshaw and became known after that as the Bradshaw Trail. In the Coachella Valley, this historic wagon road traversed a course that is very similar to present-day Highway 111. During the 1860s-1870s, the Bradshaw Trail served as the main thoroughfare between coastal southern California and the Colorado River, until the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1876-1877 brought an end to its heyday. Non -Indian settlement in the Coachella Valley began in the 1870s, with the establishment of railroad stations along the Southern Pacific Railroad, and spread further in the 1880s, after public land was opened for claims under the Homestead Act, the Desert Land Act, and other federal land laws. Farming became the dominant economic activity in the valley, thanks to the development of underground water sources, often in the form of artesian wells. But it was not until the completion of the Coachella Canal in 1948-1949 that farmers 5 061 in the and region obtained an adequate and reliable water supply. The main agricultural staple in the Coachella Valley, the date palm, was first introduced around the turn of the century. By the late 1910s, the date palm industry had firmly established itself, giving the region its celebrated image of "the Arabia of America." Starting in the 1920s, a new industry, featuring equestrian camps, resort hotels, and eventually country clubs, gradually spread throughout the Coachella Valley, and since then transformed it into southern California's leading winter retreat. In today's City of La Quinta, the earliest settlement and land development activities did not occur until the turn of the century. In 1926, with the construction of the La Quinta Hotel, the development of La Quinta took on the character of a winter resort, typical of the desert communities along Highway 111. Beginning in the early 1930s, the subdivision of the cove area of La Quinta and the marketing of "weekend homes" further emphasized this new direction of development. On May 1,1982, La Quinta was incorporated as the 19th city in Riverside County. BACKGROUND In late 2001 and early 2002, a cultural resources survey was conducted on the subject property by W & S Consultants (2002), which included a systematic field inspection. As a result of the field inspection during that survey, three prehistoric—i.e., Native .American — archaeological sites and an isolate were recorded within the project area. Primary record forms were subsequently submitted to the Eastern Information Center (EIC) at the University of California, Riverside, the State of California's official cultural resource records repository for the County of Riverside. Apparently due to the lack of archaeological site records and site sketch maps in the submittal, all four locations, including the three sites and the isolate, were assigned primary numbers (33-11271 to 33-11274) but not trinomials. Site 33-11271 measured 30 meters in diameter and was comprised of five ceramic sherds, a flake of chipped stone, and a fire -affected rock (W & S Consultants 2002:10). Site 33-11272, measuring 30x60 meters, contained a concentration of fire -affected rocks, six flakes, and a chipped stone tool (ibid.). According to W & S Consultants (ibid.), this fire -affected rock concentration was indicative of the presence of fire hearths at the site. Site 33-IL1273 also contained fire -affected rock concentrations, along with a chipped stone tool. It measured 30 meters in diameter. The isolate, 33-11274, consisted of a single ceramic sherd. In order to determine the significance of the three sites, W & S Consultants recommended that an archaeological testing program be conducted at these locations (ibid.:12). No additional work was recommended by W & S Consultants on the isolate (ibid.). In February, 2002, CRM TECH was contracted to implement the testing program. As part of the study, CRM TECH personnel re -surveyed the project area and mapped the locations of the cultural resources (see further discussion below). During that stage of the fieldwork, it became evident that two of the sites, 33-11271 and-11273, were situated close enough to each other to be considered one site. A site record update was submitted to the EIC and the combined site was assigned the trinomial of CA-RIV-6766. The third site, 33-11272, was designated CA-RIV-6767, while a previously unknown site found during the testing program was assigned the trinomial of CA-RIV-6765 (see further discussion below). The remainder of this report discusses in greater detail the results of the testing program. 6 0ft RESEARCH DESIGN A standard set of research questions can be applied to almost any archaeological investigation; however, the specifics of each case require refinement and focus. General questions that guide an investigation include (1) chronology: the age and duration of site occupation; (2) subsistence: the daily diet and range of natural resources that were hunted, collected, and consumed; (3) settlement patterns: whether the site was a temporary or permanent, large or small settlement; (4) trade or external contacts: the evidence for exchange with outside groups based on the presence or absence of exotic items in the archaeological record; and (5) ethnicity or culture: the tribal or linguistic affiliation of the people who occupied the land at the time. These five general questions, which are common to site investigations everywhere, generate more specific inquiries and focused lines of research when applied to the property that is the subject of this investigation. The property of the current study is particularly interesting due to its location in association with ancient Lake Cahuilla. When the ancient lake was at its high level, the project area would have been under water. However, in times of lake in -filling or when the water level was receding, the property would have been, at times, near the shoreline. GENERAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS Chronology One of the most important factors in the prehistory of the area around La Quinta is the existence of ancient Lake Cahuilla. The lake has come and gone a number of times during the last millennium and, presumably, earlier. During each in -filling of the lake, it must be assumed Native peoples took advantage of the rich plant and animal resources found along its shoreline. Until recently, the last high stand of the lake was thought to have occurred in the 1500s, with its final recession leaving the valley dry by around 1600 (Schaefer 1994:67). New information, however, indicates that yet another full in -filling of the lake occurred in the 1600s, with a high stand at the 42-foot elevation around A.D. 1650- 1680 (Laylander 1997:68, 96; Rockwell 1995;1997). Additionally, newly discovered buried midden deposits in the Cities of Indio and La Quinta suggest some very old high stands, dating to more than two thousand years ago (Love 1997; Love et al. 2000a). Research on the subject property may provide new evidence that will help bring to light the lake's history as well as the people that used it. Information from this study may add support to the recently revised chronology of the lake's in -filling in the 1600s. Likewise, it is possible that older, buried archaeological deposits from the subject property may provide data regarding even earlier visits to the lake by the ancestors of today's Cahuilla people. Subsistence The earliest major study of Cahuilla diet based on the archaeological record is Wilke's doctoral dissertation on animal and plant remains extracted from ancient Indian fecal remains in the sand dunes of Myoma and vicinity (Wilke 1976). Since then dozens of archaeological studies have analyzed animal bone remains from numerous sites in the La Quinta region and Cahuilla exploitation of lacustrine resources (particularly in the form of 063 freshwater fish, water fowl, and small land mammals) is well documented. Current research is no longer asking whether or not the Indians were using the lake's resources —it is now well established that they were. Today it is more a question of refinement of details. What percentages of which animals constituted their diet, and do the bone remains provide information regarding how the animals were captured and how they were prepared for consumption are important research questions. Evidence indicates that even when the lake was present people used a large number of terrestrial plants and animals (Love et al. 2000b; Love et al. 2001). Information from the sites on the subject property of this study could add to our knowledge of the details of subsistence in this area. This information would be especially useful in providing information regarding subsistence in the valley as the water level of the ancient lake was rising or receding. Also, the presence of groundstone artifacts, such as portable metates and mortars, and manos and pestles indicate that the people were using plant resources. Since wooden spears with fire -hardened points were all that were needed to hunt small game, the presence of chipped stone artifacts may indicate that the indigenous people were hunting larger animals. Thus, the recovery of different types of artifacts may shed light on the subsistence strategies of the people living in the area and detailed analysis may even indicate which types of plants and animals were being collected, hunted and consumed. Settlement Patterns Settlement patterns around the shore of ancient Lake Cahuilla has been the subject of much debate since the 1970s (see Schaefer 1994:68 et seq.). Recent data lends support for the temporary camps hypothesis (Love 1996; Sutton 1998). The current study, however, provides an opportunity to explore issues of settlement patterns in the Coachella Valley when the lake was receding or absent. Archaeological investigations of the sites on the project area of the current study could provide information that may help in understanding whether, for instance, people lived in "base" communities with "satellite" camps in the valley floor or if some other system was in place. Trade Evidence of trade is usually found archaeologically in the form of exotic goods, materials, or items whose origin is some distance away. Stone materials are the most commonly cited evidence for such external contacts. Shell beads are another indicator of trade, often brought to the Coachella Valley from the Pacific Coast or the Gulf of Mexico, presumably by Mojave long-distance traders who had a tradition of passing frequently between the Colorado River and the western seashore. The current study may encounter artifacts that entered the region through trade. Careful identification of stone and shell types and their sources can shed light on this issue, although one must remember there could :have been heavy trade in perishable items that do not last in the archaeological record and which would be undetectable by present-day research. Ethnicity Although archaeologists continually try to connect ethnicity to the artifact record, their efforts, for the most part, remain frustrated. Peoples of different linguistic and cultural 8 064 heritage may use the same kinds of artifacts for everyday subsistence activities like hunting, collecting, food preparing, etc. The simple mano, or hand-held grinding stone, would not reveal the ethnic identity of its owner, unless perhaps it showed artistic elaboration or design work specific to one culture or another. More generally, it is assumed that the people who lived at a site prior to modern times were the same people who were living there in recent recorded history. In the case of the Coachella Valley, the Cahuilla people occupied a wide expanse of territory in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it is assumed that the archaeological sites from the few centuries prior to that also represent Cahuilla cultures. But what of sites that are 2000 years old? The present-day Cahuilla traditions say the Cahuilla people were created in the Coachella Valley at the beginning of time and that they have always been here. There is nothing in the stone chips and burned animal bone from 2000-year-old sites that would dispute this. However, historical linguists and students of cultural change and migration would argue that new cultures entered the Coachella Valley some 2000 to 2500 years ago. For the present, there is little that the archaeological record can shed on this question, other than to document the presence or absence of artifacts and features from earlier periods. The question of cultural affiliation and ethnicity remains open .and it is hoped that research may be able to answer these questions. REGIONAL RESEARCH QUESTION In addition to the generalized research questions, archaeology in specific locales tends to produce questions that pertain to those regions in particular. Such is the case with small - to -medium sized rocks that are ubiquitous in Coachella Valley archaeological sites but little understood. Rock The regionally specific research focus for the current study is the interpretation of the rocks found on the surface of the project area. Many are fire -affected, but some are not. The only way these rocks could have reached their location in the sands is if they were brought there. Where did they come from, how and why were they used, and what kinds of analysis, if any, can answer those questions? SUMMARY The foregoing research design not only applies to the current research area but also to other sites in the Coachella Valley and beyond. The ages of sites and their basic character, and how the people lived continue to be elucidated as research domains are fine-tuned and more information is obtained by the latest excavations. Continued research in the area will help to shed light on, and provide answers to, the aforementioned questions. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK In February 2002, CRM TECH implemented the field testing procedures on Sites CA-RIV- 6765, -6766, and -6767. The archaeological fieldwork, including re -survey of the project area, site mapping, surface collections, and the excavation of surface scrapes and test units, 06 was carried out by lead surveyor/excavation crew chief Harry M. Quinn and crew members Daniel Ballester and Robert A. Porter (see App. 1 for qualifications). SITE RE -SURVEY, SITE MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION At the commencement of fieldwork in the project area, archaeologists walked over the property in parallel north -south transects spaced 10 meters apart. When artifacts were encountered, they were marked with pin flags. The information gleaned from the surface survey was used to decide if new site boundaries needed to be established or new site sketch maps drawn, and to determine the placement of the surface scrapes and. excavation units (see below). The artifacts found during the surface survey were then collected and placed in bags that were labeled with provenience information, before being taken to CRM TECH laboratories. SURFACE SCRAPES Surface scrapes are used as a recovery method in areas where a high concentration of artifacts is seen on the surface but where the deposit appears to have little depth. The strategy is to excavate horizontally rather than vertically, in order to recover as much cultural material as possible. During the fieldwork for this project,18 surface scrapes were excavated to a depth of 20 centimeters (Fig. 4). Two surface scrapes were placed at Site CA-RIV-6765, while two others were placed at each of the loci of Site CA-RIV-6766 (Figs. 5, 6). Two surface scrapes were also placed at Locus 2 of CA-RIV-6767 and one was placed at Locus 1 (Fig. 7). Nine additional surface scrapes were later excavated as extensions of the initial surface scrape placed in Locus 1. Figure 4. Excavation unit placed within a surface scrape. 10 066 SS Surface scrape U Unit B Bone C Ceramic; sherd L Lithic Site R Rock boundary A Datum point s ssvu; ........... L�J a yy ♦ .., N♦.w u�, = ;,, r v H \ if � ti � 5 0: m Figure 5. Site sketch map of CA-RW-6765. 11 C 6 7 C Ceramic sherd F . Fire-aff ected rock '.B Basalt flake R Rock A- .Datum point Figure 6. Site sketch map of CA-RN-6766. 12 Site boundary �� t.- I �-. IOM C68 i 0 10 m Site <a. 7..,,... boundary 2�. Si' sse 5 ai gyp` MeSsI NY. S77 u c yk5�Rjp S Y Nzn u.'Qa ij }`. SS7N1 ` J y. G Groundstone,' B Bone H Human cranial fragments Q Milky quartz flake R ',�pck 7 r Datum point Ix, Figure 7. Site sketch map of CA-RIV-6767. 13 r? The majority of surface scrapes measured 2x2 meters, except for Surface Scrapes 5-7 which were 1x2 meters and Surface Scrape 12 which was lxl meter. All excavated material was screened through 1/4-inch hardware mesh, and all artifacts were bagged and Labeled with corresponding provenience prior to proceeding to the next level. EXCAVATION UNITS Excavation units were dug to explore the subsurface content of archaeological sites. All excavation units were placed within surface scrapes (Figs. 4-7), starting 20 centimeters below the surface. This strategy starts the excavation units in more compacted sand, with the sidewalls less apt to slough, and removes most of the surface artifacts that might fall into the excavation unit and contaminate the lower levels. The three excavation units established on these sites were hand -excavated in 10-centimeter (4-inch) levels, with all material screened through 1/8-inch hardware mesh. Two of the excavation units were dug to a depth of 100 centimeters, while the third, at Locus 2 of Site CA-RIV-6767, went to 70 centimeters. After the units were excavated, Quinn made stratigraphic drawings of the pit walls in order to interpret past site depositional processes and to correlate depositional episodes across each site. NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTATION Suspected human remains uncovered during fieldwork were reported immediately to the Riverside County Coroner's Office. The role of the Coroner's Office is to determine if the remains are prehistoric —and thus outside their purview —or if the remains are modern and have possible forensic value. If the remains are found to be prehistoric, then the Native American Heritage Commission in Sacramento is contacted. The Commission determines which Indian tribe would serve as the "most likely descendant," and notifies the group so that the remains are properly treated. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: LABORATORY ANALYSIS All artifacts recovered from the fieldwork were taken to the CRM TECH laboratory for cleaning, sorting, counting, and cataloguing. Each artifact was sorted into the basic categories of chipped stone, groundstone, shell, ceramics, and specialized items such as projectile points and shell beads. After being sorted, catalogued, and placed in bags labeled with respective unit and level provenience information, each category of artifacts was forwarded to the appropriate specialist for further analysis. Ceramics, chipped stone, groundstone, and fire -affected rock were analyzed by CRM TECH archaeologist Harry M. Quinn; faunal remains by CRM TECH archaeologist Adrian Sanchez Moreno; and shell beads and ornaments by CRM TECH archaeologist Mariam Dandul (see App. 1 for qualifications). FAUNAL REMAINS For the vertebrate faunal analysis, each bone specimen was identified to the most discrete taxonomic level possible. More detailed taxonomic assignment is limited to elements with sufficient distinguishing features allowing identification to the given level (Hillson 1999). 14 070 Bones lacking discrete morphological features were sorted into broad size categories by class. Size categories are defined as follows: For mammals, "large" represents deer size or greater, "medium" represents smaller than deer but larger than jackrabbit, and "small' represents jackrabbit or smaller. In the rodentia taxon, all mandibular/maxillary parts were included in the report, however, all other osteological specimens of this ta.xa were discarded. For each discreetly identifiable bone, a series of data was recorded, including catalogue number, provenience, skeletal element, and part of element whenever possible. Data were also recorded regarding modification of bone specimens including evidence of burning, cut marks, gnaw marks, and indications of tool or other artifact manufacture. The bone was counted and weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram using electronic scales. Archival quality paper tags with the above information were included in each individual bag of analyzed bone specimens. For human remains, the bone specimens were counted and examined carefully in three dimensions for diagnostic characters including articular surfaces, foramina, cancellous tissue, general morphology, and bone thickness (Bass 1995). CHIPPED STONE Chipped stone debitage was analyzed along two lines: the material type and the technological attributes. Material type, such as chert, jasper, or chalcedony, was identified to help determine the source of the material. These artifacts were then classified on the basis of the stage of production and the technology used to produce the artifact:, i.e., whether a flake was produced early or late in the process of tool manufacture and whether it was produced by percussion or pressure technology. Any tools were identified according to material, use, and possible time period. GROUNDSTONE Groundstone artifacts were measured, described, and inspected for intensity and patterns of use. A determination was made regarding the type of groundstone represented (e.g., mano, metate, or pestle) and the material of each rock. The purpose of this analysis is to aid in understanding where the rocks came from and in what manner they were used. It sheds light on patterns of travel and trade as well as the types of resources that may have been processed at these sites. ROCK Rocks recovered during the investigation were examined using a 10x hand lens. The rocks were washed to remove any dirt and a few were struck with a rock hammer in order to expose fresh surfaces. The rocks were divided into two main categories —fire -affected and unburned —and then into different rock types, such as granitic, granitic gneiss, granulite, quartzite, quartz mica schist, vein quartz, and so on. After classification of individual specimens, the resulting data were tabulated and used for comparison in the interpretive analysis. 15 07,1 CERAMICS Each sherd was examined using a 10X hand lens to determine clay types —sedimentary vs. residual —and temper types. The residual clays produce ceramics that are referred to as brownware that were normally made from mountain clay sources. Sedimentary clay produces ceramics referred to as buffware that were normally made from clays collected from lakebed and/or riverbed source areas. After classifying the sherds in this assemblage, the resulting data were tabulated and used for comparisons in the interpretive ;analysis. Although the overly simplified dichotomy of Buffware vs. Brownware is perhaps inadequate for detailed analysis and interpretation, the authors are not aware of alternative typologies that would be more productive at this time. Until a set of local types can be established for the northern Salton Basin, the Buffware vs. Brownware system will be used. When possible, each sherd was then typed into functional class, such as water jar, storage vessel, cooking pot, and bowl. Rim sherds were used whenever possible as they are the most reliable for vessel type identification. The body sherds, which were the rnost abundant, were classified based on sherd thickness, shape, curvature, stain, temper, and finish. Cooking pots may be distinguishable by having thicker walls, coarser paste, larger temper, and heavy exterior burning. The larger temper, combined with increased thickness, helped prevent breakage during heating over cooking fires. They are usually well finished on both the exterior and interior. However, some may have an external stucco coating, probably used to strengthen the portion of the vessel sitting directly in the fire. Storage vessels tend to have medium thickness and midsized temper. These vessels frequently have wide bodies and narrow mouths, something like a modern day "cookie jar." Because of the small opening they are commonly not as well finished on the inside as bowls and cooking vessels. That is, the interior surfaces exhibit finger marks and even some palm prints. Water jars tend to have thick bottoms, thin sides, medium to thick shoulders, and medium to thin necks and rims. The temper size ranges from very fine to coarse, with the very fine temper usually restricted to water jars and small pinch pot bowls. The principal reason for the thinness of the vessel walls is to reduce weight for carrying purposes, but the areas in need of strength are commonly thickened. Since these jars have very small mouths, the interior walls are not commonly well finshed. Finger marks are often well preserved on the interior surfaces of water jars, expecially on the thin walls and shoulder areas. BEADS AND ORNAMENTS The shell beads and ornaments assemblage was first sorted into types, such as beads or pendants. Each artifact was then examined using a 10X hand lens and measurements were taken of each. Beads were classified by comparing them to the bead analysis published by Bennyhoff and Hughes (1987). King's (1981) coastal California bead chronology was also used in order to establish similarities and differences with a possible bead chronology for the Coachella Valley. The remaining ornaments were compared to the illustrations provided by Gifford's (1947) work on California shell artifacts. 072 16 RESULTS AND FINDINGS: ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK SITE RE -SURVEY, SITE MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION The initial re -survey revealed four artifact concentrations that corresponded closely to the site boundaries delineated during the previous archaeological study conducted in the project area. The first two artifact concentrations were composed of rock clusters, bone fragments, human cranial fragments, groundstone, and chipped stone pieces. These cultural remains clearly fall within the boundaries of Site 33-11272, which has received the trinomial of CA-RIV-6767 as a result of this study (Fig. 7). The other two artifact concentrations correspond to the sites previously designated 33- 11271 and 33-11273. Since they were only 20 meters apart, these concentrations have been combined in this study into one site and designated as Site CA-RIV-6766 (Fig. Ei). One of these was composed of rock clusters (unburned and fire -affected rocks), a ceramic sherd, and chipped stone, situated in the area that was previously assigned 33-11273. The other locus contained two rocks and two ceramic sherds, and was identified as the primary component of 33-11271. The field inspection also located 33-11274, the isolate noted during the previous cultural resources survey. A second isolate comprised of a single ceramic sherd was found and flagged in the southern portion of the property just north of the berm created from the construction of the Coachella Canal. After a severe windstorm, a number of additional artifacts were uncovered around this second isolate. These included bone fragments, chipped stone, rocks, and ceramic sherds (Fig. 5). Soon after the discovery, a site record was prepared and submitted to the Eastern Information Center, and a trinomial, CA-RIV- 6765, was assigned to that location. After all of the finds were mapped onto site sketch maps, they were collected, bagged, and labeled according to provenience. These artifacts were then taken to the CRM TECH laboratory for further detailed analyses. SURFACE SCRAPES Site CA-RIV-6765 No cultural remains were recovered from the surface scrapes placed at Site CA.-RIV-6765. Site CA-RIV-6766 The two surface scrapes placed at Locus 1, Site CA-RIV-6766 yielded two rocks and a shell pendant. The surface scrapes in Locus 2 produced two bone fragments. Site CA-RIV-6767 Surface scrapes within Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767 produced over 150 grams of faunal remains (including human bone), 8 rocks, 6 shell fragments, 4 shell beads, 7 chipped stone pieces (including 3 points), and 1 groundstone artifact. Locus 2 surface scrapes yielded 16 grams of faunal, 16 rocks, and 1 chipped stone piece. 17 73 EXCAVATION UNITS No artifacts were recovered from any of the excavation units dug at Sites CA-IZIV-6765, -6766, and -6767 during this study. NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTATION A suspected human cremation was uncovered at Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767 during the re -survey phase of the testing program. A description of the find was immediately given via a telephone call to the Riverside County Coroner's Office. The coroner determined it was prehistoric in origin and directed CRM TECH personnel to contact Rob Wood of the Native American Heritage Commission. Wood identified the Torres Martinez Band of Cahuilla Indians as the most likely descendants of the individual and notified them of the find. Ernest Morreo, one of the tribal elders of the Torrez Martinez Band, blessed the remains and gave CRM TECH archaeologists permission to excavate the feature for further analysis. A surface scrape (SS3) was placed in the area of greatest bone concentration. Nine additional surfaces scrapes were excavated as extensions of SS3 in order to thoroughly collect all human remains present. The cremation remains are currently housed at the CRM TECH laboratory in Riverside until arrangements for re -interment are made. RESULTS AND FINDINGS: LABORATORY ANALYSIS SITE CA-RIV-6765 Faunal Remains Three bone fragments were found in Site CA-RIV-6765. One of these has been identified as a possible human long bone shaft fragment. The bone has been highly fire -affected. The other two specimens appear to be bone fragments from a medium-sized mammal. Chipped Stone Only one piece of chipped stone was recovered from the surface of Site CA-RPI-6765. It has been identified as a piece of shatter that consists of a red -brown and gray, banded and vuggy wonderstone. Rock Four rocks were recovered from Site CA-RIV-6765, all from the surface. None of these rocks were burned and one had a caliche/tufa coating. Such coatings were commonly observed on unburned rocks associated with material from the adjacent canal construction. The south portion of this site is near the base of a large stockpile of sand and gravel from the canal construction, so the presence of this coating suggests that at least one of the rocks collected may have rolled off of the stock pile and onto the site. 18 074 Ceramics The six ceramic sherds recovered from CA-RIV-6765 are comprised of brownware body sherds. Analysis of the ceramics indicated that four were from bowls and two, which fit together, were from a storage vessel. SITE CA-RIV-6766 Faunal Remains Two animal bone fragments were found in Locus 2 of Site CA-RIV-6766. One specimen is a fish vertebra, while the other appears to be a bone fragment from a small -sized mammal. Chipped Stone Only one piece of chipped stone was recovered from Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6766. It was a surface find consisting of an early stage percussion flake made from a basalt porphyry. Groundstone Two pieces of groundstone were recovered from the surface of Locus 1, CA-RIV-6766. One of the specimens is a small fragment of a mano made from a hard sandstone. This mano fragment is too small to type and appears to be unburned. The other piece of groundstone is a fire -affected pestle fragment made from Orocopia type schist. Rock A total of 47 rocks were recovered from Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6766. Of this total, 39 were unburned and 8 were fire -affected (these came from the surface). Furthermore, six rocks had caliche/tufa coatings, which were commonly observed on unburned rocks. associated with dirt from the adjacent canal construction. The presence of this coating suggests that at least six of the rocks collected from this locus are of recent origin. Two rocks were collected from Locus 2 and have been identified as a piece of a foliated quartzite and a piece of quartz-biotite schist. Both of the specimens were unburned. Ceramics A ceramic sherd identified as a brownware body fragment from a bowl was recovered from Locus 1. Two other brownware sherds from bowls were found in Locus 2. One of the sherds is from the rim portion of a bowl, while the other is from the body portion. Beads and Ornaments An elongated Mytilus sp. shell pendant measuring 41.0 min in length was found in Locus 1 of Site CA- RIV-6766 (Fig. 8). The specimen possesses 3.0 min biconical-shaped perforation that has been drilled mostly from the inside out. WE 0 1 2cm Figure 8. Mytilus sp. pendant (784-0071) recovered from Site CA-RIV-6766. a76 SITE CA-RIV-6767 Faunal Remains Human Remains A total of 249 fragments of human bone were recovered from Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767. Of this total, 30 belong to the cranial vault,164 are either flat or long bones, and 55 are unidentifiable further than as human (Table 1). There is no indication, such as the hypothetical finding of two lefts and a right humerus, that more than one individual is present at this site. The individual appears to have been an adult of undetermined sex. Table 1 Human Remains, Site CA-RIV-6767 Element Part Property Count Weight Cranium Vault Burned 30 33.1 Flat bone Fragment Bumed 3 2.9 Long bone Shaft fragment Burned 161 122.7 Unidentifiable Burned 55 15.7 Total 249 174.4 Vertebrate (Non -Human) Remains A total of five vertebrate remains with a total weight of 1.9 grams were identified from the excavated material (Table 2). This is a particularly small collection, of which small mammals constitute the most common class with two specimens. Table 2. Identified Vertebrate Species, Site CA-RIV-6767 Mammalia Class of Mammals, unid. 1 0.1 Bovidae Cow, Sheep and Goat Family Sm. Bovid Sheep and Goats 1 0.6 Lagomorpha Order of Rabbits and Hares 1 0.4 Mammalia, sm Mammal —Small 2 .8 Grand Total 5 1.9 11 Chipped Stone Eight chipped stone pieces were found in Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767. Three of these have been identified as debitage consisting of a piece of milky quartz shatter, a wonderstone shatter, and a milky quartz early stage percussion flake. Four chipped stone pieces appear to be part of a single blade artifact made from off-white wonderstone. All but one of the blade pieces exhibit fire crazing on the worked surfaces, which have been sand blasted from long term exposure. The largest fragment of this blade, the tip portion, has no fire crazing on the broken surface, while all but the sandblasted smaller pieces exhibit fire crazing on all surfaces (Fig. 9). This suggests that part of the blade was broker, before being added to the cremation, and that at least one fragment was broken after it was burned. Another fire -affected chipped stone piece is a portion of a Desert Side -notched projectile point also made of the same type of wonderstone (Fig. 9). 076 20 A piece of debitage made of milky quartz was recovered from the surface of Locus 2. It has been identified as an early stage percussion flake that has been fractured, probably from having been burned. Groundstone A small mano fragment was recovered from Locus 1. It is made from a fine-grained hornblende gabbro/diabase and is too small to type. Locus 2 yielded two burned metate fragments that were too small to type. One of the fragments is made from a very coarse - grained granitic gneiss, while the other is made from sandstone. Rock Eight pieces of rock and a small fragment of a concretion were recovered from Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767. Only one of the rocks has been fire -affected. Locus 2, on the other hand, yielded a total of 67 rocks. Only seven of these had been fire -affected. Beads and Ornaments 0® cm 0 1 cm Figure 9. Chipped stone artifacts recovered from Site CA-RIV-6767. Top: blade (784-0006); Bottom: DesertSide-notchedpoint(784-0042). Four beads were recovered from Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767. Two of these are disk - shaped beads made of clam and an unidentified gastropod shell. The clam bead measures 3.75 mm in diameter, .75 mm thick, and has a 1.0 mm perforation, while the gastropod bead is 4.0 mm in diameter, 1.0 mm thick, and possesses a 1.5 mm hole. Both perforations are biconical (drilled from both sides) in shape. The other two beads from this locus are made of Olivella sp. shell and have been identified as the Tiny Saucer type (Bennyhoff and Hughes 1987). The first specimen is circular in shape and measures 3.25 mm in diameter. The second specimen in oval -shaped and measures 3.5 mm in length and 4.0 mm in width. Both of the beads have 1.0 mm biconical- shaped perforations. RESEARCH QUESTIONS REVISITED GENERAL RESEARCH QUESTIONS Chronology The artifact assemblages recovered from Sites CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767 give little information about the time of occupation. Only one Desert Side -notched type point 21 077 fragment was recovered during this investigation. The Desert Side -notched series was originally defined as a projectile point type with four variants by Baumhoff and Byrne (1959). Based on published associated radiocarbon dates (Baumhoff and Byrne 1959; Hester 1973:35-37), points of this series originated around A.D. 1000 and continued in use into historic times. Ties to what appears to be occupation after the last high stand of the Holocene Lake Cahuilla are inferred by stratigraphic position of the cultural materials. Even though the project area contains an abundance of fresh water shells, especially those of Tryonia sp., Physa sp., and Anodonta sp., all of the cultural materials were found to be present above the lake bed sediments themselves. The shell material is present in both the lake bed sediments and the overlying wind-blown sands. While some burned Physa sp. were recovered from the cremation, they appear to have been burned during the cremation itself, and thus post-date the last high stand of Holocene Lake Cahuilla. All of them were unmodified, highly burned shells. Since the sands present at these sites contain an abundance of these snail shells, it is most likely that they were present within the sands in which the cremation fire was burned. If so, this means that the cremation took place near the spot where it was found. However, no actual cremation pit was found during the recovery efforts. The absence of burned Anodonta sp. and fish bone suggests that lake resources were not being collected and consumed here. Burned Anodonta sp. shells and fish bone are commonly found at shoreline camps throughout the La Quinta area (Love et al. 1999; Love et al. 2000a). The absence of these food resources indicates that these camps were occupied well after the lake had receded and not while following the lake as it receded. Some additional relative dating for Sites CA-RIV-6765 and -6766 can be inferred from the ceramics recovered. Based on the presence of these ceramics, the sites can be placed into what Schaefer (Love 1996:52) calls the Patayan II period (ca. A.D. 1000-1600/1700). No organic matter was recovered in direct association with cultural material, and since small charcoal pieces can be blown about by the wind, no radiocarbon dates were attempted. A review of the sparse material recovered from the different sites, as well as the stratigraphic position of the artifacts recovered, points to a time of occupation during or after the last high stand of Holocene Lake Cahuilla. While the time of occupation may coincide with the lowering of the last high stand of the lake, the lack of fish bone and burned Anodonta sp. shells suggest that the occupation was most likely well after the lake had dried up. Subsistence If the sites had been used as temporary camp during the harvesting of aquatic resources, such as fish, mussels, shore plants, and migratory water fowl, more remains of these resources should have been present. After the lake had totally receded from the area, the area could still have been used, probably on a seasonal basis, as a gathering area for non - aquatic resources such as mesquite beans, rabbits, and small birds. The presence of groundstone suggests that some plant food preparation was being conducted here. 22 078 Settlement Patterns Nothing was found during this investigation to support the use of these sites as permanent villages. The sites produced little groundstone and only a minor amount of chipped stone. Even the amount of ceramic sherds recovered is less than what would be expected from a permanent village site. However, the presence of the cremation suggests that occupation of the area may have been for periods greater than just a few days. Trade The project area produced a very limited amount of chipped stone materials that are not common to the area. Materials such as wonderstone came from the Wonder Canyon area below Travertine Point in Imperial County. Wonderstone of the type found in the project area was a common lithic material found at nearby sites to the northwest during the Rancho La Quinta studies (Love et al.1999; Love et al. 2000a). Except for one pestle fragment, the meager amount of groundstone and all of the rocks recovered from the project area can be obtained from the nearby Santa Rosa Mountains, either from along the mountain front or on the Bear Creek alluvial fan. Only one piece of Orocopia-type schist was found. This would have come from the Orocopia Mountains east of Mecca. Pieces of Orocopia-type schist were also found at nearby sites to the northwest during the Rancho La Quinta studies (Love et al.1999; Love et al. 2000a). Ethnicity As predicted in the research design, little new evidence has been added by this archaeological investigation concerning the ethnic identity of the inhabitants al: any of these sites. But the occupation time, occurring after the last lake recession, suggests that the forebears of today's Desert Cahuilla were the people using this area. There is certainly no evidence to suggest the contrary. REGIONAL RESEARCH QUESTION Rock The most common item recovered from these sites was rock, most of which exhibited no signs of having been burned. The rock material collected, excluding the groundstone, can all be found in the local mountain areas. That is, they could all have been obtained from the Santa Rosa Mountains. Some of the unburned rocks had caliche/tufa coatings. This type of coating was prevalent on rocks associated with the dirt piles from the canal construction. This coating suggests a very recent age for these rocks. SUMMARY While only a small amount of cultural material was recovered from Sites CA-RIV-6765, -6766, and -6767, the materials recovered do shed light on their time of occupation. The presence of a Desert Side -notched type point and pottery suggests occupation after about A.D. 1000 (Hester 1973:35-37; Love 1996:52). Many of the shoreline camps present in the La Quinta area contain fish bone and burned shells of Anodonta sp. and Physa sp. (Love et al. 23 0l9 1999; Love et al. 2000a) but are lacking at these three sites. This indicates that the sites were not associated directly with the lake. The stratigraphic position of the cultural :materials above the lake bed sediments, when coupled with the lack of burned shell and fish bone, suggests that occupation of this area was well after the last lake had receded. Since the last lake was present until around A.D. 1680 (Quinn 2002:6-7), the materials recovered suggest a later time of occupation for these sites than A.D. 1680. DISCUSSION Based on the research results discussed above, the following sections present CRM TECH's conclusion on whether any of the archaeological sites encountered within the project area meets the official definitions of a "historical resource," as provided in the California Public Resources Code, in particular CEQA. DEFINITION According to PRC §5020.1(j), "'historical resource' includes, but is not limited to, any object, building, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which is historically or archaeologically significant, or is significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of Califorrua." More specifically, CEQA guidelines state that the term "historical resources" applies to any such resources listed in or determined to be eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, included in a local register of historical resources, or determined to be historically significant by the Lead Agency (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(1)-(3)). Regarding the proper criteria of historical significance, CEQA guidelines mandate that "a resource shall be considered by the lead agency to be 'historically significant' if the resource meets the criteria for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources" (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(3)). A resource may be listed in the California Register if it meets any of the following criteria: (1) Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage. (2) Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past. (3) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values. (4) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (PRC §5024.1(c)) A local register of historical resources, as defined by PRC §5020.1(k), "means a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution." For properties within the City of La Quinta, the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance (Title 7, La Quinta Municipal Code) provides for the establishment of a historic resources inventory as the official local register. A property may be considered for inclusion in the historic resources inventory based on one or more of the following: 24 080 A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural history; or B. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; or C. It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, is a valuable example of the use of the indigenous materials or craftsmanship or is representative of a notable work of an acclaimed builder, designer or architect; or D. It is an archaeological, paleontological, botanical, geological, topographical, ecological or geographical site which has the potential of yielding information of scientific value; or E. It is a geographically definable area possessing concentration of sites, buildings, structures, improvements or objects linked historically through location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and/or association, in which the collective value of the improvements may be greater than the value of each individual improvement. (LQMC §7.06.020) Pursuant to these statutory and regulatory guidelines, the three archaeological sites in the project area are evaluated under both the criteria for the California Register and those for the City of La Quinta's historic resources inventory. The results of the evaluation are discussed below. SITE EVALUATION Sites CA-RIV-6765 and -6766 Relatively few artifacts were recovered from Sites CA-RIV-6765 and -6766, and none of the items in these artifact assemblages, nor the assemblages as a whole, demonstrate the potential to yield important information of scientific value. Both of these sites consisted of sparse surface artifact scatters, with essentially no intact subsurface deposits. The only notable items collected from these two sites, a possible human bone fragment from CA- RIV-6765 and a shell pendant from CA-RIV-6766, occurred out of context and without other associated artifacts, which greatly diminished the value of these finds. Based on these considerations, the present study concludes that neither CA-RIV-6765 nor CA-RIV- 6766 met any of the criteria listed above, and thus neither qualified as a "historical resource." Site CA-RIV-6767 Like CA-RIV-6765 and -6766, CA-RIV-6767 consisted entirely of artifacts occurring within 20 cm of the ground surface, and no cultural deposits were detected below that depth during the testing program. However, human cremation remains were discovered at Locus 1 of this site, along with apparent funerary goods. The presence of prehistoric human remains, as always, rendered Site CA-RIV-6767 highly significant from the perspective of traditional cultural value to the local Native American community, which represents the most likely descendants of the individual. In deference to Native American spiritual and traditional cultural concerns over these discoveries, CRM TECH :recommends that the Lead Agency for the proposed undertaking, namely the City of La Quinta, determine Site CA-RIV-6767 to be historically significant under CEQA provisions (Title 14 CCR §15064.5(a)(1)-(3)). 25 081 PROJECT EFFECTS ASSESSMENT CEQA establishes that "a project that may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource is a project that may have a significant effect on the environment" (PRC §21084.1). "Substantial adverse change," according to PRC §5020.1(q), "means demolition, destruction, relocation, or alteration such that the significance of a historical resource would be impaired." The results of the present testing program suggest that Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767 meets CEQA's definition of a "historical resource." The potential impacts of the proposed project on this locus, therefore, would constitute "a significant effect on the environment." However, during the course of this study, the locus was systematically excavated, and the cremation remains and associated artifacts were salvaged, recovered, and analyzed, with the results of these procedures documented in this report and in a site record update filed at the Eastern Information Center. The completion of the present testing program, therefore, serves to mitigate any adverse effect the project would have on this historical resource through complete data recovery, reducing such effect to a level less than significant. RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the information and analysis discussed above, CRM TECH recommends the following findings and/or conditions to the City of La Quinta: • Locus 1 of Site CA-RIV-6767, containing human cremation remains and associated funerary goods, should be determined as historically significant due to Native American spiritual and traditional cultural concerns. • The proposed project's potential effect on this historical resource has been adequately mitigated through the present study and reduced to a level less than significant. • The Clubhouse at La Quinta project, therefore, will cause no substantial adverse change to any known historical resource. • Due to the demonstrated sensitivity of the project area for cultural deposits, including the possibility of additional human remains, any grading, grubbing, trenching, excavations, and/or other earth -moving activities in the project area should be monitored by a qualified archaeologist. • All cultural materials collected during this study are to be properly packaged for long- term curation and delivered to the City of La Quinta, along with a descriptive catalogue, field notes and records, primary research data, and the original graphics, prior to the issuance of building permits on the subject property. CONCLUSION In summary, among the three archaeological sites tested during the present study, Locus 1 of Site CA-R1V-6767 appears to qualify as a "historical resource,' as defined by CEQA. The proposed project's potential effect on this locus, however, has been adequately mitigated through the archaeological testing procedures completed for this study. Therefore, the project as currently proposed will not cause a substantial adverse change to any known 26 - 082 historical resource. Nevertheless, due to the demonstrated sensitivity of the project area for cultural deposits, including the possibility of additional human remains, archaeological monitoring is recommended during any earth -moving activities in the project area. The artifact assemblage collected as a result of this study will be properly processed and delivered to the City of La Quinta for long-term curation prior to the issuance of the necessary permits for the project. 083 27 REFERENCES Bass, William M. 1995 Human Osteology: A Laboratory and Field Manual. Missouri Archaeological Society, Columbia, Missouri. Baumhoff, N. A., and J. S. Byrne 1959 Desert Side -Notched Points as a Time Marker in California. Reports c f the University of California Archaeological Survey 48:32-65. Berkeley, California. Bennyhoff, James A., and Richard E. Hughes 1987 Shell Beads and Ornament Exchange Networks between California and the Western Great Basin. Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History 64(2):79-175. New York. Gifford, Edward Winslow 1947 Californian Shell Artifacts. Anthropological Records, Vol. 9, No. 1. University of California Press, Berkeley. Hester, Thomas R. 1973 Chronological Ordering of Great Basin Prehistory. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility; No. 17. Berkeley, California. Hillson, Simon 1992 Mammal Bones and Teeth: An Introductory Guide to Methods of Identification. Dorset Press, Dorchester, England. Jenkins, Olaf P. 1980 Geomorphic Provinces Map of California. California Geology 32(2):40-41. California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento, California. King, Chester De Witt 1981 The Evolution of Chumash Society: A Comparative Study of Artifacts Used in Social System Maintenance in the Santa Barbara Channel Region before A.D. 1804. Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis. Knecht, Arnold A. 1980 Soil Survey of Riverside County, California; Coachella Valley Area. U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service Report. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Laylander, Don 1997 The Last Days of Lake Cahuilla: The Elmore Site. Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly 33(1/2):1-138. Love, Bruce 1997 Unpublished paper presented at the 1997 Kelso Conference, Ocotillo, California. Love, Bruce (ed.) 1996 Archaeology on the North Shoreline of Ancient Lake Cahuilla: Final Results from Survey, Testing, and Mitigation -Monitoring. Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. Love, Bruce, Harry M. Quinn, Thomas A. Wake, Leslie Quintero, and David Largo 1999 Final Report: Archaeological Testing and Mitigation, Rancho La Quinta Project, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. Love, Bruce, Harry M. Quinn, Michael Hogan, and Thomas A. Wake 2000a Archaeological Monitoring Report: Rancho La Quinta Project, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. 28 084 Love, Bruce, Harry M. Quinn, Thomas A. Wake, Wendy G. Teeter, Michael Hogan, and Kathryn J. W. Bouscaren 2000b Final Report on Data Recovery at the Buried Locus of CA-RIV-2936, La Quinta Corporate Centre Project, La Quinta, Riverside County, California. Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. Love, Bruce, Harry Quinn, Michael Hogan, and Mariam Dandul 2001 Final Report on Archaeological Testing at the Palmilla Project, Sites CA-RIV-6352 to -6357, Southwest Corner of Avenue 50 and Jefferson Street, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. Proctor, Richard J. 1968 Geology of the Desert Hot Springs -Upper Coachella Valley Areas, California. California Division of Mines and Geology Special Report 94. San Francisco, California. Quinn, Harry M. 2002 The Last High Stand of Holocene Lake Cahuilla. Coachella Valley Archaeological Society Newsletter 14(1). Palm Springs, California. Rockwell, Thomas K 1995 Unpublished lecture presented at the Coachella Valley Archaeological Society. 1997 Personal communication. Rogers, Thomas H. 1965 Geologic Map of California, Santa Ana Sheet. California Division of :Mines and Geology, Sacramento, California. Schaefer, Jerry 1994 The Challenge of Archaeological Research in the Colorado Desert: Recent Approaches and Discoveries. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology 16(1):60- 80. Sutton, Mark Q. 1998 Cluster Analysis of Paloefecal Data Sets: A Test of Late Prehistoric Settlement and Subsistence Patterns in the Northern Coachella Valley, California. American Antiquity 63(1):86-107. USGS (United States Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior) 1972 Map: Indio, Calif. (7.5', 1:24,000); 1956 edition photorevised in 1972. 1979 Map: Santa Ana, Calif. (1:250,000);1959 edition revised. 1980 Map: La Quinta, Calif. (7.5', 1:24,000); 1959 edition photorevised in 1978. W & S Consultants 2002 Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Clubhouse at La Quinta Study Area (APN 772-300-002 & 003), La Quinta, Riverside County, California. Report on file,, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside. Waters, Michael R. 1983 Late Holocene Lacustrine Chronology and Archaeology of Ancient Lake Cahuilla. Quaternary Research 19:373-387. Wilke, Philip J. 1976 Late Prehistoric Human Ecology at Lake Cahuilla, Coachella Valley, California. Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Rverside. 1978 Late Prehistoric Human Ecology at Lake Cahuilla, Coachella Valley, California. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facihty 38. Berkeley, California. 085 29 APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Bruce Love, Ph.D., RPA (Register of Professional Archaeologists) Education 1986 Ph. D., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1981 M.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1976 B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1996 "CEQA 101," presented by the Association of Environmental Professionals. 1995 "CEQA Workshop," presented by Association of Environmental Professionals. 1994 "Assessing the Significance of Historic Archaeological Sites," presented by the Historic Preservation Program, University of Nevada, Reno. 1994 "CEQA 1994: Issues, Trends, and Advanced Topics," presented by UCLA Extension. 1990 "Introduction to Federal Projects and Historic Preservation Law," presented by U.S. General Services Administration Training Center. Professional Experience 1993- Owner and Principal, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1990-1993 Director, Archaeological Research Unit, UC Riverside; Coordinator, Archaeological Information Center, UC Riverside. 1989-1990 Coordinator, Archaeological Information Center, UCLA. 1987-1990 Owner and Principal, Pyramid Archaeology, Palmdale, California. 1986-1987 Junior Fellow, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Pre -Columbian Research, Washington, D.C. 1981-1986 Part-time cultural resources management consultant; doctoral student at UCLA. Memberships Register of Professional Archaeologists. Association of Environmental Professionals. American Planning Association. Society for American Archaeology. Society for California Archaeology. Pacific Coast Archaeological Society. Coachella Valley Archaeological Society. Archaeological Survey Association. 30 086 LEAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYOR/EXCAVATION CREW CHIEF Harry M. Quinn, M.S. Education 1978 Certificate in Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles. 1968 M.S., Geology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. 1964 B.S., Geology, Long Beach State College, Long Beach. 1962 A.A., Los Angeles Harbor College, Wilmington. 2001 "The Art and Science of Flintknapping," presented by Jeanne D. Binning, Zzyzx. 1999 "Certified Local Government Preservation Commission, Board, and Staff Training Program," presented by the California Preservation Foundation, Long Beach and Palm Springs. 1998 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard Norwood, Torres -Martinez Indian Reservation. 1997 'Native American Archaeology," presented by Russell Kaldenberg, College of the Desert, Palm Desert. 1996-1998 'Project Archaeology," presented by BLM and DOE, North Palm Springs. 1996 "Mojave Desert Heritage Interagency Workshop," Palm Springs,. 1996 "Cultural Resources and CEQA: Your Responsibility," presented by the Association of Environmental Professionals, Hemet. 1991 "Ceramic Workshop," presented by Jerry Schaefer, Palm Springs. 1990 "Introduction to Coachella Valley Archaeology," presented by Anne Duffield, Palm Desert. 1989 'Prehistoric Rock Art and Archaeology of the Southern California Deserts," presented by Anne Duffield, UC Riverside Extension, Palm Springs. Professional Experience 1998- Project Archaeologist/Field Director, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1994-1996 Environmental Geologist, E.C.E.S., Inc., Redlands. 1992-1998 Independent Geological/Archaeological/Environmental Consultant, Pinyon Pines. 1988-1992 Project Geologist/Director of Environmental Services, STE Associates/ Soil and Testing Engineers, San Bernardino. 1966-1988 Geologist/Senior Geologist, Texaco, Inc., Los Angeles; Tenneco Oil Exploration and Production, Englewood, Colorado; Loco Exploration, Inc., Aurora, Colorado, Jirsa Environmental Services, Norco. Memberships Society for American Archaeology; Society for California Archaeology; Archaeological Survey Association of Southern California; Coachella Valley Archaeological Society (President,1993-1994, 2000; Vice President, 1992, 1995-1999,2001; Basic Archaeology Training Course Instructor, 1996- 2000; Environmental Assessment Committee Chair,1997-1999); Coachella Valley Historical Society; Malki Museum; Southwest Museum; El Paso Archaeological Society; Ohio Archaeological Society; West Virginia Archaeological Society; Museum of the Fur Trade; Cahokia Mounds Association. Publications in Archaeology and History More than 55 articles in the publications of the Southwest Museum, the American Rock Art Research Association, The Colorado Archaeological Society, the Utah Rock Art Research Association, the Coachella Valley Archaeological Society, Anza Valley Outlook, and the Coachella Valley Historical Society. Co-author of more than 100 CRM reports. 31 6'87 PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Mariam Dandul, B.A. Education 2002 (Exp.) M.A., Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton. 1993 B.A., Geography, California State University, Fullerton. Professional Experience 2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. Laboratory and Field Experience 2001 Archaeological field school under the direction of Dr. Brian Byrd. Test excavations of sites at the San Elijo Lagoon Reserve, including flotation of soil samples and sorting and cataloguing of artifacts. 2000 Archaeological field class under the direction of Dr. Claude Warren. Excavated units at Soda Lake in the Mojave Desert and produced lake bottom stratigraphic profiles. 1999-2000 Assisted in the catalogue of artifacts at the CSU, Fullerton archaeology laboratory. 1999 Field survey course under the direction of Dr. Phyllisa Eisentraut; surveyed and mapped prehistoric site in the Mojave Desert. PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Adrian Sanchez Moreno, B.A. Education 1999 B.A., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), University of San Diego. Professional Experience 2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1999 Field Crew, excavation in Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Air Base, Oceanside. K.E.A. Environmental, San Diego. 1999 Field Crew, excavation at Freedmen's Cemetery site in Alexandria, Virginia. URS Greiner Woodward & Clyde. 1999 Field Crew, survey and excavation in Guerrero Negro, Mexico. • Including identification of osteological specimens. 1999 Field Crew, excavation at Lake Chapala, Baja California, Mexico. • Excavation and cataloguing of lithic artifacts from the oldest known site in Baja California. 1998 Field Crew, petroglyph survey in San Pedro Atacama, Chile. • Focusing on identification of possible habitation and petroglyph sites. 32 088 PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Daniel Ballester, B.A. Education 1998 B.A., Anthropology, California State University, San Bernardino. 1997 Archaeological Field School, University of Las Vegas and University of California, Riverside. 1994 University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Professional Experience 1999- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 1998-1999 Field Crew, K.E.A. Environmental, San Diego. • Two and a half months of excavations on Topomai village site, Camp Pendleton. 1998 Field Crew, A.S.M. Affiliates, Encinitas. • Two weeks of excavations on a site on Red Beach, Camp Pendleton, and two weeks of survey in Camp Pendleton, Otey Mesa, and Encinitas. 1998 Field Crew, Archaeological Research Unit, University of California, Riverside. • Two weeks of survey in Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Eureka Valley, Death Valley National Park. PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST Robert Allen Porter, B.A. Education 2000 B.A., Anthropology, California State University, San Bernardino. Professional Experience 2001- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside. 2000 Archaeological field class under the direction of Claude Warren. Excavated units at Soda Lake in the Mojave Desert and produced lake bottom stratigraphic profiles, carbon sample collection. Honors and Awards Spring 2000 Dean's Honors List (G.P.A. of 4.0 in 15 units) Fall 2000 Dean's Honors List (G.P.A. of 3.9 in 12 units) 33 089 131 #D HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION STAFF REPORT DATE: MAY 16, 2002 ITEM: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ELIGIBILITY EVALUATION OF CA-RIV-2195, CITY OF LA QUINTA, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA LOCATION: SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AVENUE 47 AND ADAMS STREET APPLICANT: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PRESBYTERIAN HOMES ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT: PACIFIC WEST ARCHAEOLOGY (BRIAN K. GLENN) BACKGROUND: The property is an irregularly shaped 10+ acre parcel adjacent to the north side of Lake La Quinta. A Phase I (survey level) cultural resources assessment was accepted by the Historic Preservation Commission on March 21, 2002 for an application for construction of a senior housing apartment project. The Phase I report recommended that Phase II testing program be conducted on an identified prehistoric site (CA-RIV- 2195). A report on the testing has been completed and submitted for review. DISCUSSION: The Phase I report identified an archaeological site consisting of four loci. Phase II testing consisted of site mapping, surface collection, description of featuires and surface characteristics, and excavation of one test unit (1x1 meter test units excavated in 10 centimeter levels) and four shovel test pits in each of the four loci. Artifacts found consisted of 99 pottery sherds and small amounts of other items including debitage, shell, and granite fragments. None of the artifacts found provide new or additional information that is considered important. CONCLUSION: The report concludes that the prehistoric archaeological site CA-RIV-2195 does not represent a significant cultural resource and therefore, no further action is needed. Due to the sensitivity of the area for archaeological resources, monitoring by a qualified monitor is recommended during earth -moving and grading activities. p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 2 prebyterian.wpd 0 9 u• RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Minute Motion 2002- , accepting the "National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Evaluation of Ca-Riv-2195 City of La Quinta Riverside County California", as prepared by Pacific West Archaeology, subject to the following conditions: 1. A monitoring report shall be submitted to the City for approval prior to final inspection of the project. Attachment: 1. National Register of Historic Places Eligibility Evaluation of Ca-Riv-2195, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California (Commissioners only) Prepared by: Q. -�5a Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner n91 p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 2 prebyterian.wpd