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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
The Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room at the
La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
MARCH 20, 2003
3:00 P.M.
Beginning Minute Motion 2003-002
I. 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 February 20, 2003.
B. Approval of the special Minutes for the meeting of March 6, 2003.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. Phase I Paleontological Results and Phase I and II Archaeological Testing and
Mitigation of Site CA-RIV-14367 for Tentative Tract 31 123
Applicant: Matt Hladek (Vista Encanto La Quinta, LP)
Archaeological Consultant: CRM TECH (Michael Hogan, Principal)
B. WQrk Program .. - - 0 U 1
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VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Liu?
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MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
February 20, 2003
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Chairman
Leslie Mouriquand at 3:07 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, Puente, Wright and Vice Chairman
Sharp. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Irwin/Wright to excuse Chairman Mouriquand. Unanimously
approved.
Staff Present: Principal Planner Stan Sawa, and Executive Secretary
Betty Sawyer.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: None.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Puente to approve
the Minutes of December 19, 2002, as submitted. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
• • • 1 • 1 11 • l • • . • • . 11
1 . Staff relayed a request by Chairman Mouriquand to continue this
item to the next regularly scheduled meeting of March 20, 2003.
2. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Wright/Irwin to Continue the Work Program to the
regular meeting of March 20, 2003. Unanimously approved.
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
February 20, 2003
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
A. Vice Chairman Sharp introduced Mr. Nicolas Pierre Hemes, Cultural Arts
Commissioner.
Mr. Hemes stated he had a conversation with Elsa Louden, Chairperson
of the Cultural Arts Commission, regarding the possibility of combining
the efforts of the Cultural Arts Commission and the Historic Preservation
Commission to produce a map of La Quinta which would identify
historical sites, Art in Public Places sites, and possibly the inclusion of
the Bike and Walk Trails throughout the City. There would then be one
map made which would be distributed to all citizens and visitors to La
Quinta. Cultural Arts Commissioner Hemes was designated to consult
with the Historic Preservation Commission regarding their participation
in this project.
The Commission then discussed the number and placement of Historic
Plaques in La Quinta. The Commissioners decided to discuss this item
more thoroughly during review of the 2003 Work Program which will be
on the Agenda for March 20, 2003. Commissioner Hemes was
acknowledged their decision.
B. Staff informed the Commission the State Historic Preservation
Conference, would be held in Santa Barbara, April 24-27, 2003 and
asked who would be able to attend. Discussion followed regarding
attendance at the Conference.
C. Principal Planner Stan Sawa stated Staff informed the Commission there
was a need for a special meeting on March 6, 2003, to discuss an
addition to the Chester Residence; a site on the historic survey.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Puente to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to the
Special Meeting to be held on March 6, 2003. This meeting of the Historical
Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. Unanimously approved.
Submitted by: 004
Betty Sawyer
Executive Secretary
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MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A special meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
March 6, 2003
This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was called to order by Vice
Chairman Sharp at 3:00 p.m. who led the flag salute and asked for the roll call.
:eLlmI[OXi7101:1G1
A. Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Roll Call.
Present: Commissioners Irwin, Puente, Wright, and Vice
Chairman Sharp.
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Irwin/Puente to excuse
Chairman Mouriquand. Unanimously approved.
Staff Present: Planning Manager Oscar Orci, Principal Planner Stan
Sawa and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: None
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
ConsiderationA. of ,. Addition t. Property Located46-370-Caiieo
Palms; Applicant: Mr. & Mrs. James Chester
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.
2. Commissioner Puente asked staff to explain a minor use permit.
Staff explained the purpose and process for a permit.
3. Mr. Chester explained the purpose of his request.
4. Commissioner Irwin stated she had done some research and the
house was not moved as stated in the newspaper article. It was
used as a guest house for the Point Happy visitors. She just
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 6, 2003
walked the property before the meeting and unless the
Commission asks the owner to put the sun porches back on, what
is proposed by the applicant is acceptable. The lines seem to
follow the design of what was there. She does not know why it
is on the City's registry except for the age of the building.
Somewhere on the property she would like to see a plaque
designating that the property had been built by Chauncy and Marie
Clark and state when the structure was built. Mr. Chester
explained what had happened to the house based on what he
knew.
5. Vice Chairman Sharp stated the existing structure is
undistinguished in its current shape. Mr. Chester stated the
windows are not even functional. Vice Chairman Sharp stated the
new design appears to be more modern and does not match the
desert bungalow look. Mr. Chester stated he had been to the
Community Development Department and wanted to remodel the
house to a modern structure. Some facets of the house are
usable. The issue of the house being historic came up before they
bought the property but they were unaware of any issues at that
time.
6. Commissioner Irwin explained it is historic because it was built in
the 1920's and 30's. Mr. John Pena, an associate of Mr. Chester,
asked how accurate the information was in the article of
November 6, 1966.
7. Commissioner Irwin stated the DuPonts could have lived there
during the construction of their home as it was originally a part of
Point Happy.
8. Commissioner Wright commended Mr. Chester on his plans and
stated he had no issues with the proposed plans. He wound agree
with staff's recommendation that a plaque be placed on the
property. Mr. Chester stated he had no objections to the plaque.
9. Commissioner Puente asked what staff was referring to in the
staff report where it says it is eligible for "special consideration on
local planning". Staff explained there are no guidelines and staff
is looking to the Commission for review as the"special
consideration on local planning".
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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
March 6, 2003
10. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Wright to adopt Minute Motion 2003-001,
approving the addition to the property located at 46-370 Cameo
Palms, as recommended by staff. Unanimously approved.
It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Puente/Sharp to continue
discussion of the Work Program to the meeting of March 20, 2003.
Unanimously approved.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Puente to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to a
regular meeting to be held on March 20, 2003. This meeting of the Historical
Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:25 p.m. Unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted by:
Betty J. Sawyer
Executive Secretary
00 i7
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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: MARCH 20, 2003
ITEM: PHASE I PALEONTOLOGICAL RESULTS AND PHASE I AND
II ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING AND MITIGATION OF SITE
CA-RIV-7013 FOR TENTATIVE TRACT 31123
LOCATION: NORTH SIDE OF AVENUE 52, APPROXIMATELY 1,300
FEET WEST OF MADISON STREET
APPLICANT: MATT HLADEK (VISTA ENCANTO LA QUINTA LPI
ARCHAEOLOGICAL/
PALEONOTOLOGICAL
CONSULTANT: CRM TECH (MICHAEL HOGAN, PRINCIPAL)
BACKGROUND:
The study area is a 19.6 acre rectangular parcel of vacant land on the north side of
Avenue 52, west of Madison Street. The applicant is presently processing a request
for a residential project on the property. The Coachella Canal touches the northwest
corner of the site. A Phase I (survey level) paleontological resources assessment and
Phase I and II (testing) interim cultural resources assessment has been submitted for
approval. The Phase II testing program has been conducted on a prehistoric site
found during the field survey and subsequently designated as CA-RIV-7013.
DISCUSSION:
Paleontological:
A records search found the area had not been studied for paleontological resources.
Nearby areas have been studied and it has been determined the study area contains
lake and fluvial sediments from the ancient Lake Cahuilla. During the field survey,
scattered shells and shell fragments of freshwater snails were found. No fish bone
or other vertebrate fossil remains were found.
Due to the significant presence of Quaternary lakebed sediments, the study area is
determined to have a high potential for paleontological resources. Therefore, the
report recommends the following: 0108
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1. Monitoring undisturbed lakebed area during earthmoving.
2. Collection, identification and curation of samples of sediments (including
fossils)•
3. Preparation of a report of findings for preparation and submission to the City.
Historical/Archaeological:
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 historic human activities or development on or
adjacent to the property other than the development of Avenue 52 and the Coachella
Canal.
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 the study area or adjacent to the study
area. Within a one-half mile radius of the property approximately 75% of the acreage
have been surveyed in six cultural resource studies. As a result of these studies, a
large number of prehistoric archaeological sites have been recorded, including one
cremation site.
The on -foot field survey of the study area resulted in the discovery of a previously
unknown prehistoric site, designated CA-RIV-7013, encompassing most of the study
area. Over 500 pottery sherds, along with numerous fire -affected clay pieces, fire -
affected rocks, two pestle fragments, a large quartz core, and a bone fragment were
found. As a result of the large amount of cultural material and the lack of knowledge
of the horizontal and vertical extent of CA-RIV-7013, CRM TECH implemented a
Phase II testing and evaluation program.
The testing consisted of complete collection of surface artifacts, surface scrapes, test
unit excavations,, and backhoe trenches. Cultural material collected from the surface
consisted of 900+ ceramic sherds, 150+ rocks (some fire -affected), 70+ pieces of
fire -affected clay, 25+ shell fragments, 22 bone fragments, 4 chipped stone pieces,
and 3 groundstone fragments. The surface scrapes, test unit excavations and
backhoe trenches resulted in a relatively small amount of cultural material, leading to
the conclusion that CA-RIV-7013 is primarily a surface site with no subsurface
archaeological deposits.
All of the artifacts recovered have been cleaned, sorted, counted, and cataloged at
the CRM TECH laboratory. Final analysis of the artifacts remains to be completed by
CRM TECH staff. Preliminary analysis of some of the fire -affected bone fragments
indicated they might be human. The Riverside Coroner's Office was contacted and
determined at least one of the fragments was prehistoric human. As required by
state law, the Torres Martinez Band of Cahuilla Indians, designated as the "most likely
009
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 &2 tt 31123.wpd
descendent', has been contacted and will be responsible for reburial of the remains
as they deem appropriate.
The report states Site CA-RIV-7013 may provide information important in prehistory
and is an archaeological site which has potential of yielding information of scientific
value, and as such, may be a "historic resource."
The large amount of surface and relative lack of subsurface artifacts leads CRM TECH
to suggest the site was a temporary campsite. Analysis of the artifacts may provide
additional information regarding prehistoric life and function of the site.
CONCLUSION:
Due to the human remains and large quantity of ceramic sherds, Site CA-RIV-7013
is potentially significant. The reports goes on to state the final evaluation and its
qualification as a "historical resource" cannot be fully determined without the results
of the laboratory analysis of the artifacts recovered. In the past, the finding of human
remains on the south side of Avenue 52, just west of this study area was determined
to be a "historic resource" (Archaeological Testing and Mitigation Report on Sites CA-
RIV-6765, 6766, and 6767, prepared by CRM TECH, April 2, 2003). As such, this
site should be determined to be a "historic resource" and appropriately mitigated.
The recommendations in the reports and as recommended by Staff will provide
mitigation as required by the California Environmental Quality Act and City
requirements.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt Minute Motion 2003-__, accepting the "Paleontological Resources
Assessment Report Parcel - Mao 14367 (now Tentative Tract 31123). City of
La Quinta Riverside County. California", as prepared by CRM TECH, subject
to the report recommended and following conditions:
A. A monitoring report shall be submitted to the City for approval prior to
final inspection of the project. Monitoring shall include all off -site
trenching and grading
B. Collected paleontological resources shall be properly packaged for long
term curation, in polyethylene sel-seal bags, vials, or film cans as
appropriate, all within acid -free, standard size, comprehensively labeled
archive boxes and delivered to the City prior to issuance of first building
permit for the property. Materials will be accompanied by descriptive
catalogue, field notes and records, primary research data, and the
original graphics.
CA
0
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2. Adopt Minute Motion 2003-_, accepting the "Interim Cultural Resources
Report - Archaeological Sur vgi and Testing at Site CA-RIV-7013 - Parcel Mao
14367 (now Tentative Tract 31123) City of La Quinta, Riverside County.
California as prepared by CRM TECH, subject to the report recommended and
following conditions:
A. A monitoring report and final cultural resources report, including copies
of all site records for the project area, shall be submitted to the City for
approval prior to final inspection of the project. Monitoring shall include
all off -site trenching and grading
B. Collected archaelogical resources, except for the human remains, shall
be properly packaged for long term curation, in polyethylene sel-seal
bags, vials, or film cans as appropriate, all within acid -free, standard
size, comprehensively labeled archive boxes and delivered to the City
prior to issuance of first building permit for the property. Materials will
be accompanied by descriptive catalogue, field notes and records,
primary research data, and the original graphics.
Attachments:
1. Paleontological Resources Assessment Report Parcel - Map 14367 (now
Tentative Tract 31123), City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California
2. Interim Cultural Resources Report - Archaeological Survey and Testing at Site
CA-RIV-7013 - Parcel Map 14367 (now Tentative Tract 31123), City of La
Quinta, Riverside County, California
Prepared by:
Pam- Sam n
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner
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ATTACHMENT #1
PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT REPORT
PARCEL MAP No.14367
City of La Quinta
Riverside County, California
Submitted to:
Matt Hladek
Vista Encanto La Quinta LP
23679 Calabasas Road
Calabasas, CA 911302
Submitted by:
Harry M. Quinn, Paleontologist/Geologist
Mariam Dandul, Archaeologist/Report Writer
CRM TECH
4472 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Bai Tang, Principal Investigator
Michael Hogan, Principal Investigator
March 12, 2003
CRM TECH Contract #972
Appg�roximately 20 Acres
USGS La (Zumta, Calif., 7.5' Quadrangle
Section 4, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian
MANAGEMENT SUMMARY
In December 2002 and January 2003, CRM TECH performed a
paleontological resource assessment on approximately 20 acres of vacant land
in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. The subject property
of the study, Parcel Map No. 14367, is located on the north side of Avenue 52
and approximately 1,300 feet west of Madison Street, consisting of a portion
of the southwest 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 residential development on the 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
project would potentially disrupt or adversely affect any paleontological
resources, as mandated by CEQA, and to design a paleontological salvage
program for the project, if necessary. In order to identify any paleontological
resource localities that may exist in or near the project area and to assess the
possibility for such resources to be encountered in future excavation and
construction activities, CRM TECH initiated records searches at the San
Bernardino County Museum and the Natural History Museum of Los
Angeles County, conducted a literature search, and carried out a field survey
of the project area, in accordance with the guidelines of the Society of
Vertebrate Paleontology.
Based on the results of the records, the literature search, and the field
inspection, the proposed project's potential impact on paleontological
resources is determined to be high in subsurface layers identified as part of
the Quaternary Lake Cahuilla Beds. Therefore, on -site monitoring; for
paleontological resources is recommended in order to identify any large fossil
resources that may be uncovered. It is also recommended a surface collection
of the freshwater mollusk remains be completed and that sediment samples
be collected from the project area so that the presence or absence of smaller
fossils can be verified.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MANAGEMENTSUMMARY.............................................................................................................ii
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................
I..................1
SETTING...............................................................................................................................................3
METHODSAND PROCEDURES......................................................................................................3
RecordsSearches.............................................................................................................................3
Field Survey
.....................................4
RESULTSAND FINDINGS...........................................................................
Existing Data Summary
4
Geology
"'
Paleontology....................................................................................................................................6
DISCUSSION.....................................................................................................................................
RECOMMENDATIONS......................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................9
APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS..........................................................................11
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Project vicinity '***'* ..... --1
Figure2. Project area......................................................................................................I.
Figure 3. Overview of the current natural setting of the project area.......................................4
01.4
iii
INTRODUCTION
In December 2002 and January 2003, CRM TECH performed a paleontological resource
assessment on approximately 20 acres of vacant land in the City of La Quinta, Riverside
County, California (Fig. 1). The subject property of the study, Parcel Map No. 14367, is
located on the north side of Avenue 52 and approximately 1,300 feet west of Madison
Street, consisting of a portion of the southwest 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 residential development on the 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 project would
potentially disrupt or adversely affect any paleontological resources, as mandated by
CEQA, and to design a paleontological salvage program for the project, if necessary. In
order to identify any paleontological resource localities that may exist in or near the project
area and to assess the possibility for such resources to be encountered in future excavation
and construction activities, CRM TECH initiated records searches at the San Bernardino
County Museum and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, conducted a
literature search, and carried out a field survey of the project area, in accordancewith the
guidelines of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. The following report is a complete
account of the methods, results, and final conclusion of this study.
G clop.
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Figure2. Project area. (Based on USGS Indio and La Quinta, Calif., 1:24,000 quadrangles [USGS 1972; 19801)
0,10
SETTING
The project area is located in the Coachella Valley, which 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), which widens to the southeast through the
Imperial Valley and into Mexico.
One of the major features to be found within the Colorado Desert province is the Salton
Trough, a 290-kilometer-long (ca. 180 miles) structural depression containing the present
day Salton Sea. This depression extends from the Banning Pass area southward :into
Mexico. During Pleistocene and Holocene times, 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. The Salton Sea, therefore, occupies the Salton Basin portion of
the Salton Trough.
At least seven times in the past, water flowed into the Salton Basin, creating what is called
Holocene or ancient Lake Cahuilla (Waters 1983). These in -fillings of Holocene Lake
Cahuilla occupied a much larger portion of the Salton Basin than that of the present-day
Salton Sea (Rogers 1965). In fact, 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). When this ancient lake was present,
lacustrine sediments were deposited in the basin, while fluvial and dune sediments
accumulated there during the intervening low stands and when the Salton Basin was dry.
The project area is situated just southeast of the Coachella Canal and north of Avenue 52.
Chain -link fences are situated along the southern, eastern, and northern boundaries of the
subject property while a nursery is located on the western side. The terrain is relatively
level with soils composed primarily of loose sand containing a fair amount of freshwater
shell scattered throughout (Fig. 3). A number of blow out areas exposing compact clay
soils are evident in the project area. The property retains much of its natural state as
evidenced by vegetation consisting of creosote bush, saltbush, and small desert grasses and
shrubs (Fig. 3). However, several rows of date palms are present in the northwest corner
while a large concentration of landscaping waste from the adjacent nursery is noted to the
south along with some tamarisk trees.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
RECORDS SEARCHES
The records search service was provided by the Regional Paleontologic Locality Inventory
located at the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands (Scott 2002) and the Natural
History Museum of Los Angeles County in Los Angeles (McLeod 2002). These institutions
maintain on file regional paleontological site records as well as supporting maps and
documents. The records search results are used to identify previously performed
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Figure 3. Overview of the current natural setting of the project area. (View to the west; photo taken on
January 2, 2003)
paleontological resource assessments and known paleontological localities near the project
area. In addition, a literature search was conducted using materials in the CRM TECH
library and the personal library of the author, including unpublished reports produced
during surveys of other properties in the area.
FIELD SURVEY
On January 2, 2003, CRM TECH geologist/paleontologist Harry M. Quinn and
paleontological monitors Daniel Ballester and Adrian Sanchez Moreno (see App. 1 for
qualifications) conducted the field assessment of the project area. The field crew carried out
the on -foot survey of the project area by walking parallel east -west transects spaced 15
meters (ca. 50 feet) apart.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
EXISTING DATA SUMMARY
The paleontology records searches conducted by the San Bernardino County Museum and
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County indicate that the project area contains
surficial Quarternary lake and fluvial sediments known as the Lake Cahuilla Beds, but no
paleontological localities have been discovered within the boundaries of the subject
property (Scott 2002; McLeod 2002). However, several paleontological localities previously
018
4
reported nearby are known to have produced fossils from sediment lithologfes similar to
those in the project area (ibid.).
Whistler et al. (1995) reported the discovery of terrestrial and freshwater vertebrate
remains as well as diatoms, land plants, clams, snails, and crustaceans at localities situated
south of the project area and possibly within a one mile radius. Those sites lie within
similar lacustrine sediments that are characterized by interbedded sediments of lacustrine
and fluvial origin, but it is not clear which interval the terrestrial fauna came from.
However, terrestrial faunas do not live in lacustrine environments, the terrestrial
vertebrate remains most likely came from the fluvial sediments. The terrestrial vertebrate
faunas discovered at those localities, like the freshwater mollusks that are commonly found
in the surrounding area, have living representatives today (Whistler et al. 1995:117).
No Pleistocene age fossil localities have been reported from the lakebeds or their
equivalent strata within the Coachella Valley area. A preliminary study of soil borings
drilled for engineering purposes indicates that at least the upper 25 feet (ca. 7.6 meters) of
sediments within the lower Coachella Valley are Holocene in age. A few borings have
been drilled to 50 feet (ca. 15.2 meters) below grade without encountering any apparent
Pleistocene sediments. The nearest Pleistocene and older fossil -bearing sediments are
known to be present along the up -thrown side of the San Andreas Fault System, such as in
the Indio and Mecca Hills (Dibblee 1954:21-28). There, a small number of early Pleistocene
vertebrate fossils have been found as float and in outcrop.
Some vertebrate fossils, including portions of a whale skeleton, have been found in the
Imperial formation near Painted Hill. A thick section of the Imperial formation was
encountered in the Texas Company Stone 1 "Edom" well, with the top of the Imperial
formation over 3,000 feet below the present surface (Quinn and Weismeyer n.d.). These
data further support the theory of a rapidly filling, subsiding basin, making it very
doubtful that any pre -Holocene sediments will be encountered within the Coachella Valley
proper, especially by normal development grading.
Based on these findings, the project area is assigned a "high paleontologic sensitivity" (Scott
2002). Therefore, the proposed project has a "high potential to impact significant
nonrenewable fossil resources" (ibid.), primarily Holocene age lacustrine invertebrate
fossils.
GEOLOGY
The 1975 aerial photograph on which the soils have been mapped shows the area to the
north and west of the subject property to be open, undeveloped land while that to the east
is planted in row crops. The site geology is mapped by Rogers (1965) as Qs and Qal, or
Recent dune sand and Recent alluvium. Dibblee (1954:Plate 3) mapped the geology as Qal,
or Recent alluvial -fan, flood -plain, swamp, lake, and sand dune deposits. Surface soils in
the project area are mapped mainly as MaB (Knecht 1980:Sheet 11). The MaB soils belong
to the Myoma Series and are defined as the Myoma fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes (Knecht
1980:23). It is described as a nearly level soil about 18 inches thick with a substratum down
to 60 inches of olive gray fine sand and very fine sand and containing some concha shells
(ibid.).
5 - 019
PALEONTOLOGY
During the field survey, scattered shells and shell fragments of the freshwater snails
Gyraulus sp., Physa sp., Tryonia sp., and Amnicola sp. were observed along with numerous
concentrations of shell material in blow-out areas. Also present on the surface of the
property were shell fragments of the freshwater mussel Anodonta sp., occurring cis paired
valves and exposed in the silts uncovered by the wind at the base of the blow-out areas.
Some of the Anodonta sp. shells are in a closed position while others are open, thus
indicating both a living position and a possible in -situ die off. Many of the Gyraulus sp.,
Physa sp., and Tryonia sp. occur concentrated in separate clusters at different blow-out
areas, an assemblage differentiation rarely seen. The shells of these freshwater mollusks
were found scattered throughout most of the property. No fish bone or other vertebrate
fossil remains were found, even though several blowout areas containing localized shell lag
deposits were present on the property. The freshwater mollusk remains found during the
field survey reinforce the presence of sediments that can be attributed to Holocene Lake
Cahuilla lakebed sequence. As with other areas within the former lakebed, vertebrate
fossil remains are rare to non-existent.
DISCUSSION
The literature research indicates that the project area should contain sediments deposited
by Holocene Lake Cahuilla. In fact, many Holocene paleontological localities are known
from the Holocene Lake Cahuilla sediments. Specimens from these localities usually
consist only of freshwater mollusks. In one instance, invertebrates, such as gastropods
(snails) and pelecypods (clams and mussels), were found in association with the vertebrate
remains of fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians (Whistler et al. 1995:109-118). Some plants
spores and pollens were also found (ibid.). However, the fresh water mollusks are usually
the only fossils found within the lakebed sediments themselves.
The field survey of the project area resulted in the identification of numerous fossil
freshwater mollusks, which indicate the presence of sediments that can be attributed to this
ancient lakebed sequence. A number of the Anodonta sp. shell were found in -situ and in
living positions. This is not only indicative of freshwater that is in motion but also shows
that deposition was below the lake surface (Schneider 1989). Since this was a large lake
area, the water movement was probably restricted to shallow water areas, probably within
the surf -zone. However, the presence of these mussels in high desert lakes (Schneider
1989:42-49) suggests that they were rather adaptable. The great majority of freshwater
snails are vegetarians, eating the coatings of algae covering submerged surfaces and
utilizing dead plant debris (Pennak 1989:671). The identification of freshwater snails at this
locality suggests that organic debris, such as vegetation -like reeds and bull rushes, once
grew along the shoreline at this location.
The shells and shell fragments of Physa sp., Anodonta sp., Tryonia sp., and Gyraulus sp.,
which are the most common mollusks to be found in the lake sediments (Quinn 2000), are
light and can be blown about by the same winds that create the shifting sand dunes. When
found in a living position, such as the closed paired valves for the Anodonta sp. and clusters
of Physa sp. and Tryonia sp., these materials can be used as paleo-environmental indicators.
However, when they are found as scattered fragments, their paleontological use is
�.1,)o
6
questionable at best. To date, no one has found a difference in the lake faunas that
inhabited the many separate Holocene lakes that have filled the basin. Since this fauna
came with the water from the Colorado River when it filled the basin, all of the lake fillings
probably had the same, or very similar, fauna.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the study results presented above, the proposed project's potential impact on
paleontological resources is determined to be high due to the presence of Quaternary
lakebed sediments in the project area. Therefore, monitoring of earth -moving activities for
paleontological resources during grading and a program to mitigate impacts to the
resources that might be exposed or unearthed during all such excavation is recornmended.
During the monitoring program a surface collection of the freshwater mollusk remains
should be completed. All recovered specimens should be identified, curated, and placed
into a repository with permanent retrievable storage. This monitoring program should be
developed in accordance with the provisions of CEQA as well as with regulations currently
implemented by the County of Riverside and the proposed guidelines of the society of
Vertebrate Paleontology, and should include, but not be limited to the following, as
outlined by Scott 2002.
e The excavation of areas identified as likely to contain paleontologic resources should be
monitored by a qualified paleontological monitor. Monitoring should be restricted to
undisturbed Lake Cahuilla beds and any older undisturbed subsurface alluvium that
might be present below the surface. The monitor should be prepared to quickly
salvage fossils as they are unearthed to avoid construction delays. The monitor should
also remove samples of sediments that are likely to contain the remains of small fossil
invertebrates and vertebrates. The monitor must have the power to temporarily halt
or divert grading equipment to allow for removal of abundant or large specimens.
• Collected samples of sediments should be washed to recover small invertebrate and, if
present, vertebrate fossils. Recovered specimens should be prepared so that they can
be identified and permanently preserved.
• Specimens should be identified and curated and placed into a repository with.
permanent retrievable storage.
A report of findings, including an itemized inventory of recovered specimens, should
be prepared upon completion of the steps outlined above. The report should include a
discussion of the significance of all recovered specimens. The report and inventory,
when submitted to the City of La Quinta, would signify completion of the program to
mitigate impacts to paleontologic resources.
CONCLUSION
CEQA Appendix G provides that "a project may be deemed to have a significant effect on
the environment if it will ... disrupt or adversely affect a ... paleontological site except as a
part of a scientific study." The present study, conducted in compliance with this provision,
021
is designed to identify any significant, non-renewable paleontological resources that may
exist within or adjacent to the project area, and to assess the possibility for such resources
to be encountered in future excavation and construction activities.
Based on the study results presented above, the proposed project's potential impact on
paleontological resources is determined to be high due to the presence of Quaternary
lakebed sediments within the property. Therefore, monitoring of earth -moving activities
for paleontological resources, along with a program to mitigate impacts to the resources
that are unearthed, is recommended. Paleontological monitoring would serve to identify
any large fossil resources that may be uncovered during earth -moving activities, while a
collection of sediment samples from the property would verify the presence or absence of
smaller fossils.
q i)
44.
0
REFERENCES
Dibblee, T. W., Jr.
1954 Geology of the Imperial Valley Region, California. In Geology of Southern
California; edited by R. H. Jahns, pp. 21-28. California Division of Mines Bulletin 170,
Part 2. Sacramento.
Jenkins, Olaf P.
1980 Geomorphic Provinces Map of California. California Geology 32 (2):40-41.
California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento.
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.
McLeod, Samuel A.
2002 Paleontological Resources for the 973: 52 Near Madison, Paleo Project Area.
Records review letter report prepared by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
County, Vertebrate Paleontology Section, Los Angeles.
Pennak, Ralph W.
1989 Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States (3rd edition). John Wiley and Sons,
Inc., New York.
Proctor, Richard J.
1968 Geology of the Desert Hot Springs -Upper Coachella Valley Area, California, with a
Selected Bibliography of the Coachella Valley, Salton Sea, and Vicinity. California Division of
Mines and Geology Special Report 94, Sacramento.
Quinn, Harry M.
2000 Fresh -Water Snails, Clams and Mussels of Ancient Lake Cahuilla. In Mike Swank
(ed.): Coachella Valley Archaeological Society Newsletter 12(7): 2-6. Palm Springs,
California.
Quinn, Harry M. and Albert "Lee" Weismeyer
nd. Of Rock, Sand, Wind and Water: An Explorer's Guide to the Geology of The
Coachella Valley and Santa Rosa Mountain Area, Riverside County, California.
Unpublished manuscript in possession of the authors.
Rogers, Thomas H.
1965 Geological Map of California, Santa Ana Sheet (1:250,000). California Division of
Mines and Geology, Sacramento.
Schneider, Joan S.
1989 Fresh Water Bivalves as Paleoenvironmental Indicators; abstract of a :paper
presented at Mojave Desert Quaternary Research Symposium, 1989. San Bernardino
County Museum Association Quarterly XXXVI (2):65.
Scott, Eric
2002 Paleontology Records Review, Avenue 52 Near Madison, La Quinta Region,
Riverside County, California. Records review letter report prepared by the San
Bernardino County Museum, Section of Geological Sciences, Redlands.
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.
9 �<3
Waters, Michael R.
1983 Late Holocene Lacustrine Chronology and Archaeology of Ancient Lake
Cahuilla. Quaternary Research 19:373-387.
Whistler, David P., E. Bruce Lander, and Mark A. Roeder
1995 A Diverse Record of Microfossils and Fossil Plants, Invertebrates, and Small
Vertebrates from the Late Holocene Lake Cahuilla Beds, Riverside County, California.
In Paleontology and Geology of the Western Salton Trough Detachment, Anza-Borrego Desert
State Park, California, Volume I, edited by Paul Remeika and Anne Strutz, pp. 109-118.
San Diego Association of Geologists, San Diego.
Wilke, Philip J.
1978 Late Prehistoric Human Ecology at Lake Cahuilla, Coachella Valley, California.
Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility 38.
University of California, Berkeley.
0,q
c.
10
APPENDIX 1:
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS
025
11
PROJECT GEOLOGIST/PALEONTOLOGIST
Harry M. Quinn
Education
1968 M.S., Geology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
1964 B. S, Geology, Long Beach State College, Long Beach.
1962 A.A., Los Angeles Harbor College, Wilmington North Palm Springs, California.
• Graduate work oriented toward invertebrate paleontology; M.S. thesis completed as a
stratigraphic paleontology project on the Precambrian and Lower Cambrian rocks of Eastern
California.
Professional Experience
2000-Present Project/Field Paleontologist, CRM TECH, Riverside, California.
1998-Present Project/Field Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside, California.
1992-1998 Independent Geological/Geoarchaeological/Environmental Consultant, Pniyon
Pines, California.
1994-1996 Environmental Geologist, E.0 E.S., Inc, Redlands, California.
1988-1992 Project Geologist/Director of Environmental Services, STE, San Bernardino, California.
1987-1988 Senior Geologist, Jirsa Environmental Services, Norco, California.
1986 Consulting Petroleum Geologist, LOCO Exploration, Inc. Aurora, Colorado.
1978-1986 Senior Exploration Geologist, Tenneco Oil E & P, Englewood, Colorado.
1965-1978 Exploration and Development Geologist, Texaco, Inc., Los Angeles, California.
Previous Work Experience in Paleontology
1969-73 Attended Texaco company -wide seminars designed to acquaint all paleontological
laboratories with the capability of one another and the procedures of mutual assistance in
solving correlation and paleo-environmental reconstruction problems.
1967-1968 Attended Texaco seminars on Carboniferous coral zonation techniques and
Carboniferous smaller foraminifera zonation techniques for Alaska and Nevada.
1966-1972, 1974, '1975 Conducted stratigraphic section measuring and field paleontological
identification in Alaska for stratigraphic controls. Pursued more detailed fossil identification
in the paleontological laboratory to establish closer stratigraphic controls, mainly with
Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks and some Tertiary rocks, including both megafossil and
microfossil identification, as well as fossil plant identification.
1965 Conducted stratigraphic section measuring and field paleontological identification in
Nevada for stratigraphic controls. Pursued more detailed fossil identification in the
paleontological laboratory to establish closer stratigraphic controls, mainly with Paleozoic
rocks and some Mesozoic and Tertiary rocks. The Tertiary work included identification of
ostracods from the Humboldt and Sheep Pass Formations and vertebrate and plant remains
from Miocene alluvial sediments.
Memberships
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology; American Association of Petroleum Geologists; Canadian
Society of Petroleum Geologists; Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, Pacific Section; Society
of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists; San Bernardino County Museum.
Publications in Geology
Five publications in Geology concerning an oil field study, a ground water and earthquake study, a
report on the geology of the Santa Rosa Mountain area, and papers on vertebrate and invertebrate
Holocene Lake Cahuilla faunas.
12 l
PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST/REPORT WRITER
Mariam Dandul, M.A.
Education
2002 M.A., Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton.
Thesis title: Beads and Ornaments from the Coachella Valley
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Phyllisa Eisentraut
1993 B.A., Geography, California State University, Fullerton
2002 "Section 106-National Historic Preservation Act: Federal Law at the Local
Level," UCLA Extension Course
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard H. Norwood, Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base
Professional Experience
2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside
• Prepare cultural resources management reports, maps, and site records
• Analyze beads, ornaments, and shell
• Conduct archaeological surveys
• Participate in various testing, evaluation, and mitigation programs
Laboratory and Field Experience
2001 Archaeological field school under the direction of Dr. Brian Byrd
• 'rest 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 Archaeology Laboratory, CSU, Fullerton
Assisted in the cataloguing of artifacts
1999 Field survey course under- the direction of Dr. Phyllisa Eisentraut
• Surveyed and mapped prehistoric site in the Mojave Desert
Papers Presented
2002 "Shell Beads from the Coachella Valley," Coachella Valley Archaeological
Society's 6th Annual Symposium
2002 "Shell Beads from the Coachella Valley," Kelso Conference on the
Archaeology of the California and Mojave Deserts
Cultural Resources Management Reports
Co-author of and contributor to numerous cultural resources management study reports
since 2000.
- 012 7
13
PALEONTOLOGICAL MONITOR
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.
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard Norwood., Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base; presented at CRM TECH, Riverside.
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, Marine
Corp Air Station, 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, Otay 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.
PALEONTOLOGICAL MONITOR
Adrian Sanchez Moreno, B.A.
Education
1999 B.A., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), University oil San Diego.
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard Norwood, Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base; presented at CRM TECH, Riverside.
Professional Experience
2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside.
1999 Field Crew, excavation on Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton.
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.
14 <. 43
ATTACHMENT #2
INTERIM CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND TESTING AT
SITE CA-RIV-7013
PARCEL MAP No.14367
City of La Quinta
Riverside County, California
Submitted to:
Matt Hladek
Vista Encanto La Quinta LP
23679 Calabasas Road
Calabasas, CA 911302
Submitted by:
Mariam Dandul, Archaeologist
Harry Quinn, Archaeologist
CRM TECH
4472 Orange Street
Riverside, CA 92501
March 12, 2003
Bai Tang, Principal Investigator
Michael Hogan, Principal Investigator
CRM TECH Contract #972
Appproximately 20 Acres
USGS La (Zuinta, Calif., 7.5' quadrangle
Section 4, T6S WE, San Bernardino Base Meridian
Site CA-RIV-7013
029
MANAGEMENT SUMMARY
In January 2003, CRM TECH performed a cultural resources study on Parcel Map
No. 14367 in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California. The subject
property of the study consists of approximately 20 acres of vacant land in a portion
of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4, T6S R7E, San
Bernardino Base Meridian, located on the north side of Avenue 52 and
approximately 1,300 feet west of Madison Street. The study included a systematic
historical/archaeological resources survey of the project area and a testing program
on the archaeological site that was discovered during the survey. The cultural
resources study is part of the environmental review process for a proposed
residential development project to be undertaken on Parcel Map No. 14367. The City
of La Quinta, as Lead Agency for the project, required the study pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City of La Quinta's Historic
Preservation Ordinance.
The purpose of the study is to provide the City of La Quinta with sufficient
information and analysis to determine whether the proposed project would cause
substantial adverse changes to any historical/archaeological resources that may exist
in or around the project area, as mandated by CEQA. During the survey phase of
the study, CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records
search, historical background research, and an intensive -level field inspection of the
project area. As a result of that study, a prehistoric—i.e., Native
American —archaeological site was identified and subsequently designated CA.-RIV-
7013. Upon conclusion of the survey, CRM TECH commenced and carried out an
archaeological testing program, including the collection of all artifacts from the
surface of the site and the excavation of 35 surface scrapes, 5 lxl-m test units, and 8
backhoe trenches. Laboratory analyses of the artifacts recovered through the field
testing procedures as well as site interpretation are currently on -going.
The field procedures conducted at Site CA-RIV-7013 yielded numerous ceramic
sherds as well as fire -affected clay pieces, rocks, shell, groundstone, chipped stone,
and bone fragments. One of the fire -affected bone fragments was determined to be
human, most likely associated with a cremation. These findings indicate that Site
CA-RIV-7013 has a high potential for being significant; however, the site's final
evaluation and its qualification as a "historical resource" cannot be fully determined
without the results of the laboratory analysis of the artifacts recovered. If, at the
conclusion of artifact analysis, the site is deemed a "historical resource," the
proposed project's potential impacts on the site will have been partially
accomplished by the data recovery procedures conducted at the site. As a result of
the extensive amount of data collected during the fieldwork phase of this study, no
further archaeological excavations or other data collection field procedures will be
necessary at Site CA-RIV-7013. The analysis of recovered artifacts, aimed at an
overall interpretation of the assemblage and the site in general, is currently
underway at CRM TECH's laboratory, and would constitute the final mitigation
measure required for the site, along with the proper treatment of the human remains
and curation of all artifacts once the analysis is completed. In the meantime, due to
the project area's possible sensitivity for subsurface cultural deposits, archaeological
monitoring is recommended during all grading and other earth -moving activities
within the project boundaries.
030
TABLE; OF CONTENTS
MANAGEMENTSUMMARY............................................................................................................i
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................1
SETTING..............................................................................................................................................3
CURRENTNATURAL SETTING..................................................................................I..............3
SiteGeology .......................................................................................3
CULTURALSETTING...................................................................................................
EthnohistoricContext.................................................................................................................4
H4 ' C t t.........................................................5
lstorlcon ex...................................................................
RESEARCH METHODS: HISTORICAL/ ARCHAELOGICAL SURVEY PHASE ..RECORDS SEARCH..............................!..............................................................................
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND RESEARCH....................................................................
FIELDSURVEY.....................................................................................................................
RESULTS AND FINDINGS: HISTORICAL/ARCHAELOGICAL SURVEY PHASE.....
RECORDSSEARCH.............................................................................................................
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND RESEARCH....................................................................
FIELDSURVEY.....................................................................................................................
RESEARCHDESIGN................................................................................................................
CHRONOLOGY..........................................................................................................................
SUBSISTENCE.............................................................................................................................
SETTLEMENTPATTERNS.......................................................................................................
..9
..9
11
11
12
TRADE............................................................................................................................................12
ETHNICITY...................................................................................................................................12
SUMMARY....................................................................................................................................13
EXCAVATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES: FIELDWORK............................................13
RE -SURVEY, MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION...................................................13
SURFACESCRAPES...................................................................................................... I.............14
TESTUNITS...................................................................................................................................14
BACKHOETRENCHES...............................................................................................................14
RESULTS AND FINDINGS: FIELDWORK...................................................................................14
RE -SURVEY, MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION...................................................14
SURFACESCRAPES....................................................................................................................16
TESTUNITS...................................................................................................................................16
BACKHOETRENCHES...............................................................................................................16
LABORATORY METHODS AND PROCEDURES: ARTIFACT ANALYSIS ...........................16
CERAMICS.....................................................................................................................................16
CHIPPEDSTONE.........................................................................................................................17
GROUNDSTONE..........................................................................................................................18
SHELL.............................................................................................................................................18
ROCKS............................................................................................................... . ............................18
FIRE -AFFECTED CLAY...............................................................................................................18
FAUNAL.........................................................................................................................................18
NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTATION.................................................................................19
DISCUSSION.....................................................................................................................................19
SITE EVALUATION.....................................................................
19
DEFINIT.........................................
11 •• .. - O i) .I
PROJECTEFFECT ANALYSIS........................................................................................................21
RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................................................21
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES....................................................................................................................................23
APPENDIX 1: PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS.......................................................................25
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure1.
Project vicinity....................................................................................................................1
Figure2.
Figure 3.
Project area..........................................................................................................................2
Overview of the current natural setting of the project area........................................4
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 1941..............................................................................8
Figure 8.
The project area and vicinityin the 1950s......................................................................8
Figure 9.
Location of Site CA-RIV-7013.......................................................................................9
Figure 10.
Sketch map of CA-RIV-7013.........................................................................................10
re 11.
Results of field
sma survey
Figure 12.
Updated sketch CA-RIV-7013..................................................•.•..................15
INTRODUCTION
In January 2003, CRM TECH performed a cultural resources study on Parcel Map No.
14367 in the City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California (Fig. 1). The subject property
of the study consists of approximately 20 acres of vacant land in a portion of the southwest
quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 4, T6S R7E, San Bernardino Base Meridian,
located on the north side of Avenue 52 and approximately 1,300 feet west of Madison Street
(Fig. 2). The study included a systematic historical/archaeological resources survey of the
project area and a testing program on the archaeological site that was discovered during
the survey. The cultural resources study is part of the environmental review process for a
proposed residential development project to be undertaken on Parcel Map No. 14367. The
City of La Quinta, as Lead Agency for the project, required the study 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 sufficient
information and analysis to determine whether the proposed project would cause
substantial adverse changes to any historical/archaeological resources that may exist in or
around the project area, as mandated by CEQA. During the survey phase of the study,
CRM TECH conducted a historical/archaeological resources records search, historical
background research, and an intensive -level field inspection of the project area. As a result
of that study, a prehistoric—i.e., Native American —archaeological site was identified and
subsequently designated CA-RIV-7013. Upon conclusion of the survey, CRM TECH
commenced and carried out an archaeological testing program, including the collection of
all artifacts on the surface of the site and the excavation of 35 surface scrapes, 51 x1-m test
units, and 8 backhoe trenches. While laboratory analysis of the artifacts is still ongoing, an
interim report is submitted at this time to present the methods, results, and conclusions of
research procedures that have been completed to date. The final report for this study,
including artifact analysis results and discussion of research questions in the context of
regional prehistory, will be completed and submitted to the City under a separate cover.
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Figure 2. Project area. (Based on USGS Indio and La Quinta, Calif.,1:24,000 quadrangles [USGS 1972;19801)
2 = 0 34
SETTING
CURRENT NATURAL SETTING
The project area is situated in the Coachella Valley, a part of the Colorado Desert, at
elevations ranging around 20 feet above mean sea level. The project area and its environs
are marked by extremes in temperature and aridity. Temperatures in the area top 120
degrees in summer and dip to near freezing in winter. Average annual precipitation is less
than five inches and average annual evaporation rates exceed three feet.
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.
Elevations within the Colorado Desert tend 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, with coarse sediments.
One of the major features to be found within the Colorado Desert is the Salton Trough, a
290-km (180-mile) long structural depression containing the present day Salton Sea. This
depression extends from the Banning Pass area southward into Mexico. 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. The Salton Sea, therefore, occupies the Salton Basin portion of the Salton Trough.
Holocene Lake Cahuilla occupied a much larger portion of the Salton Basin than that of the
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). Thus, the current project area was
under water when Holocene Lake Cahuilla was at a high stand.
The project area is situated just southeast of the Coachella Canal and north of Avenue 52.
Chain -link fences are situated along the southern, eastern, and northern boundaries of the
subject property while a nursery is located on the western side. The terrain is relatively
level with soils composed primarily of loose sand containing a fair amount of freshwater
shell scattered throughout (Fig. 3). A number of blow out areas exposing compact clay
soils are evident in the project area. The property retains much of its natural state as
evidenced by vegetation consisting of creosote bush, saltbush, and small desert ;grasses and
shrubs (Fig. 3). However, several rows of date palms are present in the northwest corner
while a large concentration of landscaping waste from the adjacent nursery is noted to the
south along with some tamarisk trees.
Site Geology
The 1975 aerial photograph on which the soils have been mapped shows the area to the
north and west of the subject property to be open, undeveloped land while that to the east
is planted in row crops. The site geology is mapped by Rogers (1965) as Qs and. Qal, or
C)35
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Figure 3. Overview of the current natural setting of the project area. (View to the west; photo taken on
January 2, 2003)
Recent dune sand and Recent alluvium. Dibblee (1954:Plate 3) mapped the geology as Qal,
or Recent alluvial -fan, flood -plain, swamp, lake, and sand dune deposits. Surface soils in
the project area are mapped mainly as MaB (Knecht 1980:Sheet 11). The MaB soils belong
to the Myoma Series and are defined as the Myoma fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes (Knecht
1980:23). It is described as a nearly level soil about 18 inches thick with a substratum down
to 60 inches of olive gray fine sand and very fine sand and containing some concha shells
(ibid.).
CULTURAL SETTING
Ethnohistoric Context
The Coachella Valley is a historical center of Native American settlement, where a large
number of Indian villages and rancherfas, occupied by the Cahuilla people, were observed
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 Cabazon, Augustine, Torres Martinez, 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 today's 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.
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 7.9th city in
Riverside County.
I... 37
5
RESEARCH METHODS: HISTORICAL/ARCHAELOGICAL SURVEY PHASE
The survey phase of this study was completed in January, 2003. Methods and procedures
used during the survey are outlined below.
RECORDS SEARCH
CRM TECH archaeologist Laura Hensley Shaker (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, 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 BACKGROUND 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 and regional
history, the archival records of various government agencies, 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 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/or the California Desert District of
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, also located in Riverside.
FIELD SURVEY
On January 2, 2003, CRM TECH archaeologists Daniel Ballester, Harry M. Quinn, and
Adrian Sanchez Moreno (see App. 1 for qualifications) carried out the intensive -level
archaeological field survey of the project area. During the survey, the field crew walked
the project area in parallel east -west transects spaced at 15-meter (ca. 50-foot) intervals. 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 excellent (90-100%) throughout the subject property due to the sparse vegetation
cover. When artifacts were discovered, their locations were marked with survey flags.
Upon completion of the survey, the artifacts were re -visited and site boundaries were
mapped. The resulting sketch maps and verbal descriptions were then compiled into
standard site record forms and submitted to the EIC for inclusion in the California
Historical Resource Information System. The results of the survey are discussed below.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS: HISTORICAL/ARCHAELOGICAL SURVEY PHASE
RECORDS SEARCH
According to records on file at the Eastern Information Center, the project area had not
been previously surveyed for cultural resources and no archaeological sites or other
potential historical resources were identified within or adjacent to the property. Outside
6 038
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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.
the project area but within a half -mile radius, six cultural resources studies had been
conducted on various tracts of land, including those to the north, east, and south. (Fig. 4). The
cultural resources survey carried out on the property to the north and east resulted in the
recordation of 12 pottery sherds, one of which is situated near the northern boundary of the
current project area (Keller 1985:12). Due to their spatial distribution and the disturbed
context in which the sherds were found, they were not recorded as an archaeological site
(ibid.:3). Nine archaeological sites and sixteen other isolated finds were also recorded within
the scope of the records search. Eight of the sites were prehistoric—i.e., Native American —in
nature and consisted of ceramic and lithic scatters, habitation debris, fire hearths, and a
cremation. A ninth site dated to the historic period and was identified as a segment of the
Coachella Canal built in the 1940s. Since none of these previously recorded sites was located
within or adjacent to the project area, they need no further consideration during this study.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND RESEARCH
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 and 6 illustrate,
throughout the mid- and late 19th century and the early 20th century, no man-made
features of any kind were mapped within the project boundaries. In fact, prior to 1901, 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, 6). Development
activities in the vicinity of the project area were evidenced in the 1940s by the appearance
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Figure 5. The project area and vicinity in 1855-1856. Figure 6. '1 he project area ana vicinity in , 7vi.
(Source: GLO 1856a;1856b) (Source: USGS 1904)
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(Source: USGS 1941a;1941b)
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Figure 8. The project area and vicinity in the 1950s.
(Source: USGS 1956;1959)
040
8
of a dirt road, the forerunner of Avenue 52,
along the southern boundary of the
property (Fig. 7), and in the 1950s by the
completion of the Coachella Canal to the
northwest (Fig. 8). No buildings or other
structures, however, were known to be
present within the project boundaries in the
1940s-1950s, or as late as 1978 (Figs. 7, 8, 2).
FIELD SURVEY
As a result of the field survey, a previously
unknown prehistoric site was identified
encompassing most of the project area (Figs.
9;10). The site, designated CA-RIV-7013,
measured approximately 360 meters north -
south and 160 meters east -west, and
consisted primarily of ceramic sherds, with
three major concentrations uncovered by
blow out areas (Figs. 10,11). Over 500
sherds were noted on the surface of the site
'Confidential
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along with numerous fire -affected clay
pieces, fire -affected rocks, two pestle Figure 9. Location of Site CA-RIV-7013.
fragments, a large quartz core, and a bone
fragment (Fig. 10). A cluster of the freshwater Anodonta sp. shell was also located near the
northwestern corner of the site (Fig. 11). The massive amount of cultural material in the
site area impeded efforts to map all of the artifacts onto the site sketch map. Also, the
horizontal and vertical extent of Site CA-RIV-7013 was not possible to determine without
further testing of the site area by means of excavations. Therefore, a testing and evaluation
program was implemented at the site, guided by a research design that was specifically
developed for this project (see below), in order to determine if the site qualifies as
"historical resource" according to CEQA criteria.
RESEARCH DESIGN
An archaeological investigation must be guided by a thoughtful research design. in order to
contribute new insights to current knowledge and theory within the discipline of
Anthropology. The guidelines set forth for the recovery of scientific data will yield new
clues to past lifeways and help support or refute current theories that are embroiled in
debates. A carefully planned design will also contribute to the advancement of the field by
not only building on previous work but also laying the groundwork for future studies.
A standard set of research questions can be applied to almost any archaeological
investigation; however, the specifics of each case require refinement and focus of the
general research questions. 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)
9 041
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Figure 10. Sketch map of CA-RIV-7013.
10
042
Figure 11. Results of field survey. Left: Pin flags denote locations of ceramic sherds; Right: Anodonta sp. shell
concentration (Photos taken on January 2, 2003)
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, common to site investigations everywhere, generate more focused
inquiries and lines of research when applied to specific areas with unique histories, such as
the current case where Native American activities were near to, but at a lower elevation than,
the old shoreline of ancient Lake Cahuilla and were not necessarily related to the lake.
CHRONOLOGY
The age of Native settlements along the north shore of ancient Lake Cahuilla, at the +42
feet elevation, is correlated to the history of the lake itself. Sites below that elevation, as at
the current project area, must have been occupied after the lake had receded. The lake has
come and gone a number of times during the last millennium and, 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 gathered
within just the last decade, reveals yet another full in -filling of the lake in the 16005, with a
high stand at the 42-foot elevation around A.D. 1650-1680 (Laylander 1997:68, 96; Rockwell
1995;1997). Sites below the 42-foot line could be related to activities along the receding
shoreline, or may have been occupied after the lake had completely disappeared..
Besides the question of settlement during the most recent high stand, there are many
unanswered questions regarding older time periods. 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. Are there records of these earlier visits by the ancestors of
today's Cahuilla people in the form of older, buried archaeological deposits?
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 on the north shore of ancient Lake Cahuilla (Wilke
1976). Since then, dozens of archaeological studies have analyzed animal bone remains
11
Q4
from numerous sites in the La Quinta region and Cahuilla exploitation of lacustrine
resources (particularly in the form of freshwater fish and water fowl) is well documented.
For sites below the high water mark, sites established on the dried lake beds left behind
after desiccation, what were the principal food resources? Detailed studies of food remains
may well establish the nature of the post -lake environment, be it marshy wetlands or bone
dry lake beds. Subsistence questions are especially intriguing for late prehistoric,/
protohistoric sites because settlement there lead directly into the historic period of the
1800s when known Cahuilla villages dotted the landscape in spite of the absence of a
freshwater lake.
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
The question of year-round 'village' occupation vs. temporary campsites in the Coachella
Valley has been debated since the 1970s (reviewed in Schaefer 1994:68 et seq.). Recent
large-scale excavations and data recovery programs have found both. Temporary camps
are usually defined as having light surface scatters of ceramics and fire -affected rock, little
or no midden, no multiple cremations or evidence of cemeteries, no features or site
"furniture" suggesting permanence, and a dearth of ceremonial objects that would occur at
villages where large gatherings would take place for ritual purposes (Love 1996).
Although it has been assumed that full-scale villages, if they did occur, would most likely
be associated with the presence of the ancient freshwater lake, at least one recent
excavation has found a village site not far from the old shoreline with no indicators of
lacustrine dependence (Love et al. 2000). And of course the ethnohistoric villages of the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were centered around hand -dug wells rather than
lakeshores. Current and future investigations of sites on the ancient lakebeds, at elevations
below the old shoreline, will redefine our research questions and expand our
understanding of ancient Cahuilla settlement patterns.
TRADE
Evidence of trade is usually found in the form of materials whose origin is some distance
away. Chipped 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 (presumably by Mohave long-distance traders who had a tradition
of passing frequently between the Colorado River and the western seashore) or the Gulf of
California (apparently passing through present-day Imperial County). Did artifacts from
the current study area enter the region through trade? Careful identification of stone and
shell types can partially address this question, although one must remember there was also
trade in perishable items that do not show up in the archaeological record.
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
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
12 04!A
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 always here, that, in fact, the Cahuilla people were
created here at the beginning of time. 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.
SUMMARY
The foregoing research design is an attempt to guide the archaeological investigations at
Site CA-RIV-7013. The information gathered during this study will prove to be invaluable
in furthering our knowledge of ancient people's habitation activities in the Coachella
Valley, but specifically in areas at a lower elevation than the old shoreline of Holocene Lake
Cahuilla, if it can address some of these research issues.
EXCAVATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES: FIELDWORK
Field procedures for the testing phase of the study were completed between January 8 and
31, 2003, under the supervision of CRM TECH principal investigator Michael Hogan and
field director Harry M. Quinn (see App. 1 for qualifications). The project archaeologists for
the fieldwork phase were Daniel Ballester, Robert Porter, Victoria Avalos, Kathryn
Bouscaren, U. K. Doan, Jeff Roberson, Rachel Dulthey, and William Jensen. A variety of
recovery methods were used to evaluate the site, including surface collection and the
excavation of surface scrapes, test units, and backhoe trenches.
RE -SURVEY, MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION
The site sketch map drawn for Site CA-RIV-7013 during the survey phase of this study was
used to locate the artifacts at the commencement of the testing program. An intensive -level
survey was again conducted. When additional artifacts were encountered, they were
marked with pin flags and mapped onto the site sketch map. The information gleaned
from the re -survey was used to decide if new site boundaries needed to be established and
to determine the placement of surface scrapes, test units, and backhoe trenches (see below).
After all of the artifacts were located, the site area was divided into collection areas in order
to facilitate the recovery of these surface materials. As the artifacts were collected, they
were put in bags and labeled with pertinent information, including site number and artifact
type. The bags were later taken to the lab for sorting, counting, and cataloguing.
13 045
SURFACE SCRAPES
Surface scrapes are used as a recovery method in areas where a high concentration of
artifacts is often seen on the surface but where the deposit appears to have little depth. The
strategy is to excavate horizontally rather that vertically, in order to recover as much
cultural material as possible. They are also used in sandy areas to get down to more
compact soils before starting unit excavations, thus reducing surface contantinat:ion by side
wall caving. A total of 35 surface scrapes were placed at various locations within the site
area, and included 13 measuring 2x2 m, 2 at 1x2 m, and 20 at lxl m. All of these were
excavated in 10-cm (4 in) levels, down to 20 cm and with all material screened through 1/8-
in hardware mesh. The recovered artifacts were then bagged and labeled with
corresponding provenience prior to proceeding to the next level.
TEST UNITS
Excavation units were dug to explore the subsurface content of Site CA-RIV-7013. The
placement of test units is influenced by the location of surface artifacts and what is found in
the surface scrapes. The number of test units is determined by what is found in the surface
scrapes and preceding test units. At Site CA-RIV-7013, five excavation units measuring lxl
m were placed within surface scrapes, starting 20 centimeters below the original surface. In
this way the units were dug in more compacted sand, with the side walls less apt to slough.
Each of these units was hand -excavated in 10-cm (4-in) levels, with all material screened
through 1/8-in hardware mesh. Units 1, 3 and 4 were dug to a depth of 100 cm, Unit 2
went down to 80 cm, and Unit 5 went down to 110 cm. Artifacts and other cultural
materials recovered from each level, if any, were bagged and labeled prior to proceeding
with the next level. After the units were excavated stratigraphic drawings of the unit walls
were completed in order to interpret past site depositional processes.
BACKHOE TRENCHES
Backhoe trenches were dug in an effort to expose potential buried deposits within Site CA-
RIV-7013. A total of 8 trenches were excavated down to approximately 200 cm with the
soils screened through a 1/2-in screen. Each of the backhoe trenches was placed within the
center of a given surface scrape. Drawings of representative trench sidewalls were
completed in the field using a tape measure to record variations in soils and to map the
general stratigraphy of the site.
RESULTS AND FINDINGS: FIELDWORK
The following sections present the results of the fieldwork conducted during the testing
phase of the current investigation.
RE -SURVEY, MAPPING, AND SURFACE COLLECTION
As a result of the re -survey of Site CA-RIV-7013, additional artifacts were identified within
the site boundaries as well as in areas just north of the site. Thus the site boundary was
slightly adjusted in the northern half (Fig. 12). As stated above, after the artifacts had been
located and pin flagged, a grid system was established in order to divide the site area into
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•
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ssfT
SS25
ShrUb��
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SS'2E
@ss
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ss2vss"
TO
u Test unitus
r Backhoe trench
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er
=s�1EFire-affected
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(((
E Chipped stone piece
G Groundatone piece
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'
$, Datum point
Figure 12. Updated sketch map of CA-RIV-7013 showing new site boundary as well as collection areas and
location of surface scrapes, test units, and backhoe trenches.
15 �q7
a number of collection areas that would facilitate the recovery of artifacts from the surface
of CA-RIV-7013 (Fig. 12). Cultural material collected from the surface included 900+
ceramic sherds,150+ rocks (some fire -affected), 70+ pieces of fire -affected clay, 25+ shell
fragments, 22 bone fragments, 4 chipped stone pieces, and 3 groundstone fragments.
SURFACE SCRAPES
Of the 35 surface scrapes placed throughout Site CA-RIV-7013 (Fig. 12), approximately only
half of these yielded subsurface cultural material. A total of 29 ceramic sherds were
recovered from the 0-10 cm level of 12 surface scrapes, while a total of only 3 sherds were
found at the 10-20 cm level of three surface scrapes (SS 6, 9,11).
TEST UNITS
None of the five test units excavated at Site CA-RIV-7013 yielded any cultural material (Fig.
12). Five rodent bones were collected from Units 2 and 5 between the 20 to 100 cm levels,
but these are not cultural in origin. Such results indicate that CA-RIV-7013 is primarily a
surface site with no subsurface archaeological deposits.
BACKHOE TRENCHES
Five ceramic sherds and a rock were collected during the backhoe trenching operations at
CA-RIV-7013. These artifacts were actually situated close to the surface of the eight
trenches dug at the site (Fig. 12), which supports the finding that this site is only a surface
manifestation. Also collected from the trenches were over 40 grams of charcoal that was
situated in the 0-50 cm level.
LABORATORY METHODS AND PROCEDURES: ARTIFACT ANALYSIS
All artifacts recovered from the field work were taken to the CRM TECH laboratory for
cleaning, sorting, counting, and cataloguing. Each artifact was sorted into the basic
categories of ceramics, rock, fire -affected clay, shell, faunal, chipped stone, and
groundstone. Each category of artifact, except for faunal, will be analyzed by Harry M.
Quinn. The faunal analysis will be conducted by CRM TECH archaeologist Adrian
Sanchez Moreno (see App. 1 for qualifications). The following sections outline the methods
that will be followed for artifact analysis.
CERAMICS
Each sherd will be examined using a 10X hand lens to determine clay types —sedimentary
vs. residual —and temper types. Mountain clay sources generally consist of residual clays
and produce ceramics that are referred to as brownware. Sedimentary clay is collected
from lakebed and/or riverbed source areas and produces ceramics referred to as buffware.
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.
16
048
When possible, each sherd will then be typed into functional class, such as water jar,
storage vessel, cooking pot, and bowl. Rim sherds will be used whenever possible as they
are the most reliable for vessel type identification. The body sherds will be 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 mid -sized 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. Though the temper size for water jars
ranges from very fine to coarse, water jars and small pinch pot bowls generally have very
fine temper. The principal reason for the thinness of the water jar vessel walls and fine
temper 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 finished. Finger marks are often well preserved on the interior surfaces of
water jars, especially on the thin walls and shoulder areas. After classifying the sherds in
this assemblage, the resulting data will be tabulated and used for comparisons in the
interpretive analysis.
CHIPPED STONE
The analysis of chipped stone debitage will include identification of material type, e.g.,
chert, jasper, and wonderstone. Material classification can yield information about
geographical sources for stone used by Native Americans, and thus possibly, trading
behavior. Chipped stone, every piece of which will be examined using a 1OX hand lens, is
also classified on the basis of production stage and technology, i.e., whether the flake was
produced by percussion or pressure technology and at what stage of reduction the flake
was produced. Larger flakes with original cortex usually represent earlier stages of
reduction while much smaller flakes are generally produced during final tool shaping or
retouching of used tools.
The flake terminology used in this report includes early stage percussion, early ;stage
pressure, late stage percussion, and late stage pressure. The early stage percussion flakes
are created during the first stage reduction of cobbles and cores. They have the tendency to
have cortex on their sides and/or platforms. The platforms are usually wide, and even
though they may have a single face, they can have smaller areas on that face that exhibit
minor crushing. Many of them display crushed platform areas, making it difficult to
determine if they had cortex surfaces or not. On rare occasions, the larger flakes have point
source platforms, which puts them in the category of early stage pressure flakes, possibly
indicating that direct pressure on cores was used to detach large primary flakes. 'The late
stage percussion flakes are smaller in size and seldom have cortex faces, but do sometimes
exhibit cortex platforms. These are produced during the later stage of reduction, often
from larger flakes made by the early stage reduction process. The late stage pressure flakes
17 049
are created during the final reduction phase of biface tool making. These are commonly
found in areas where biface tools were being finalized and are often associated with biface
tool fragments.
GROUNDSTONE
Groundstone artifacts will be measured, described, and inspected for intensity and patterns
of use. A determination will be 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 the
determination of the source of these rocks and how they were being used.
SHELL
The shell material recovered will first be divided into marine and non -marine shell and will
then be examined using a 10X hand lens. The specimens will also be analyzed and
identified as to genus and species, when possible, using Hill and Tompkins (1962), Morris
(1966), Keen (1963), and Keep (1935).
ROCKS
Both fire -affected rocks and unburned rocks will be examined using a 10X hand lens. The
rocks will be washed to remove any dirt covering them and a few will have fresh surfaces
exposed by breaking them with a rock hammer. The rocks will then be categorized as fire -
affected or unburned and then separated into different rock types, such as granitic, granitic
gneiss, quartzite, etc. After classification of individual rocks, the resulting data will be
tabulated and used for comparison in the interpretive analysis.
FIRE -AFFECTED CLAY
To expedite the clay evaluation, only samples large enough not to be easily transported by
the wind will be evaluated. These samples will be examined using a 10X hand lens. The
clay pieces will then be placed into three distinctive clay types: 1) massive, blocky; 2) thin
bedded, platy; and 3) irregular, vuggy.
FAUNAL
The identification of each animal bone specimen will be made to the most discrete
taxonomic level possible. Thus, faunal elements with sufficient distinguishing features will
be classified to a more detailed taxonomic level than those lacking such features. Bones
lacking discrete morphological features will be 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; for birds, large represents goose size or greater, medium represents
ducks to roadrunners, and small represents jays or smaller.
For each discretely identifiable bone, a series of data will be recorded including catalog
number, complete provenience and screen size information, skeletal element, part of
element, side, age, and modification. Data will also be recorded regarding modification of
bone specimens including evidence of burning, cut marks, gnaw marks, and indications of
18 0,50
tool or other artifact manufacture. The bone will be counted and weighed to the nearest
0.01 g using electronic scales. Archival quality paper tags with the above information will
be included in each individual bag of analyzed bone specimens. Findings will be
organized systematically by vertebrate Class and Order.
NATIVE AMERICAN CONSULTATION
Preliminary analysis of some of the pieces of bone recovered during the fieldwork
determined that three of the fire -affected fragments might be human. With this discovery,
Deputy Coroner Debbie Gray of the Riverside County Coroner's Office was notified via
telephone on February 25, 2003, and she visited the CRM TECH offices on February 28,
2003, in order to examine the bone. At that time, one of the bone fragments was positively
identified as human and Rob Wood of the Native American Heritage Commission was
immediately contacted. He then designated the Torres Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla as
the "most likely descendant," and notified the group so that the remains is properly treated.
On March 7, 2003, Ernest Moreo, elder and designated "Most Likely Descendant" for the
Torres Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla, spoke with Michael Hogan, CRM TECH Principal
Investigator, about these finds. While Moreo stressed that the proper handling of human
remains would be for them to be blessed before they are removed from the site, he
understood that they were not discovered until after they were studied in the laboratory.
Moreo then emphasized the need for the remains, and any associated items, to be given to
him as soon as the study is completed.
DISCUSSION
Based on the research results discussed above, the following sections present CRM TECH's
conclusion on whether Site CA-RIV-7013 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 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 of historical significance, CEQA guidelines mandate that "a
resource shall be considered by the lead agency to be 'historically significant' if i:he 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.
51
19
(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)
Pursuant to these State and City guidelines, CA-RIV-7013 is evaluated for its historical,
scientific, and ethno-cultural significance against the criteria listed above, especially
Criterion 4 for the California Register and Criterion D for the City's historic resources
inventory, which apply specifically to archaeological sites. The results of the evaluation are
discussed below.
SITE EVALUATION
CA-RIV-7013 appears to be a surface site consisting of 900+ ceramic sherds,150+ rocks, 70+
fire -affected clay pieces, 25+ shell fragments, 22 bone fragments, 4 chipped stone pieces,
and 3 groundstone fragments. A minimal number of ceramic sherds were encountered
during subsurface excavation. Although there was a high percentage of ceramic sherds,
the low number of other artifact types recovered would suggest that CA-RIV-7013 was a
temporary campsite.
Analysis of the ceramic sherds may reveal some important information regarding
prehistoric uses and manufacturing techniques of ceramic vessels in Cahuilla society.
20 0 52
Identification of rock materials could also shed light on the origin of the fire -affected rocks
and possibly their contributive role in the function of this site. Also of significance is the
burned human bone fragment recovered from the surface. This indicates that a possible
human cremation may be present as a subsurface deposit. Based on the large quantity of
ceramic sherds and the presence of human remains, Site CA-RIV-7013 has the potential to
qualify as a "historical resource," under CEQA guidelines. The full extent of the site's
significance, however, remains to be ascertained with the results of the artifact analysis.
PROJECT EFFECT ANALYSIS
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 55020.1(q),
"means demolition, destruction, relocation, or alteration such that the significance of an
historical resource would be impaired."
As stated above, Site CA-RIV-7013 is potentially significant due to the human remains and
large quantity of ceramic sherds recovered during the field procedures. However, the site's
final evaluation and its qualification as a "historical resource" cannot be fully determined
without the results of the laboratory analysis of the artifacts recovered. If, at the conclusion
of artifact analysis, the site is deemed a "historical resource," the proposed project's
potential impacts on the site, if not properly mitigated, would be considered "a significant
effect on the environment." If that is the case, however, the mitigation of such effects has
been partially accomplished by the data recovery procedures discussed above. As a result
of the extensive amount of data collected during the fieldwork phase of this study, no
further archaeological excavations or other data collection procedures will be necessary at
Site CA-RIV-7013. The analysis of recovered artifacts, aimed at an overall interpretation of
the assemblage and the site in general, is currently underway at CRM TECH's laboratory,
and would constitute the final mitigation measure required for the site, along with the
proper treatment of the human remains and curation of all artifacts once the analysis is
completed.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In light of the findings from field procedures completed to date and the preliminary
conclusions discussed above, CRM TECH presents the following recommendations to the
City of La Quinta, Lead Agency for the proposed project:
• The significance of Site CA-RIV-7013 as well as its qualification as a "historical
resource," as defined under CEQA, cannot be fully determined until laboratory analysis
of all artifacts recovered during the field procedures is completed.
• If the site is deemed significant, mitigation of project effects on CA-RIV-7013 will be
concluded with the completion of laboratory analysis and proper treatment of the
human remains and curation of all artifacts as well as the submittal of a final report to
document the results of the artifact analysis and overall interpretation of the site.
21 i�
• Due to the project area's possible sensitivity for subsurface cultural deposits,
archaeological monitoring is recommended during all grading and other earth -moving
activities within the project boundaries.
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. The field procedures conducted at Site CA-RIV-7013 yielded numerous ceramic
sherds as well as fire -affected clay pieces, rocks, shell, groundstone, chipped stone, and
bone fragments. One of the bone fragments was determined to be burned human remains
most likely associated with a cremation. These findings indicate that Site CA-RIV-7013 has
a high potential for being significant; however, the site's final evaluation and its
qualification as a "historical resource" cannot be fully determined without the results of the
laboratory analysis of the artifacts recovered. If, at the conclusion of artifact analysis, the
site is deemed a "historical resource," the proposed project's potential impacts on the site
will have been partially accomplished by the data recovery procedures discussed above.
As a result of the extensive amount of data collected during the fieldwork phase of this
study, no further archaeological excavations or other data collection procedures will be
necessary at Site CA-RIV-7013. The analysis of recovered artifacts, aimed at an overall
interpretation of the assemblage and the site in general, is currently underway at CRM
TECH's laboratory, and would constitute the final mitigation measure required for the site,
along with the proper treatment of the human remains and curation of all artifacts once the
analysis is completed. In the meantime, due to the project area's possible sensitivity for
subsurface cultural deposits, archaeological monitoring is recommended during; all grading
and other earth -moving activities within the project boundaries.
C54
22
REFERENCES
Dibblee, T. W., Jr.
1954 Geology of the Imperial Valley Region, California. In Geology of Southern
California; edited by R. H. Jahns, pp. 21-28. California Division of Mines Bulletin 170,
Part 2. Sacramento.
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.
Hill, Howard R., and Pauline D. Tompkins
1962 Common Sea Shells of the Los Angeles County Coast. The Los Angeles County
Museum Science Series No. 16.
Keen, A. Myra
1963 Marine Molluscan Genera of Western North America: An Illustrated Key. Stanford
University Press, Stanford, California.
Keep, Josiah
1935 West Coast Shells: A Description in Familar Terms of the Principal Marine,
Fresh -Water, and Land Mollusks of the United States, British Columbia, and Alaska,
Found West of the Sierra. Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, California.
Keller, Jean Salpas
1985 An Archaeological Assessment of Tract 21176, Riverside County, California.
Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside.
Jenkins, Olaf P.
1980 Geomorphic Provinces Map of California. In California Geology 32 (2): 40-41.
California Division of Mines and Geology Publication, Sacramento.
Knecht, Arnold A.
1980 Soil Survey of Riverside County, California: Coachella Area. U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Map Sheet No. 11; pp. 15-18, 20-24.
Laylander, Don
1997 The Last Days of Lake Cahuilla: The Elmore Site. Pacific Coast Archaeological
Society Quarterly 33(1/2):1-138.
Love, Bruce
1996 Archaeology on the North Shoreline of Ancient Lake Cahuilla: Final Results from
Survey, Testing, and Mitigation -Monitoring. Manuscript report on file (MF# 4159),
Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside.
Love, Bruce, Harry M. Quinn, Thomas A. Wake, and Michael Hogan
2000 Final Report on Archaeological Testing at Site CA-RIV-2936, Hotel 111. Project,
Highway 111 and Adams Street, City of La Quinta, Riverside County, California.
Report on file, Eastern Information Center, University of California, Riverside.
Morris, Percy A.
1966 A Field Guide to Shells of the Pacific Coast and Hawaii, including Shells of the, Gulf of
California. The Peterson Field Guide Series, Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
05
PAJ
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.
Rockwell, Thomas K
1995 Unpublished lecture given at the Coachella Valley Archaeological Society.
1997 Personal communication with the authors.
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-
Sutton, Mark Q.
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. (75,1:24,000);1956 edition photorevised in 1972.
1979 Map: Santa Ana, Calif. (1:250,000);1959 edition revised.
1980 Map: La Quinta, Calif. (75,1:24,000);1959 edition photorevised in 1978.
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, Riverside.
1978 Late Prehistoric Human Ecology at Lake Cahuilla, Coachella Valley, California.
Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility No. 38.
University of California, Berkeley.
050
24
APPENDIX 1:
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS
057
25
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/HISTORIAN/ARCHITECTURAL 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, Van, 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
2002- Principal Investigator, CRM TECH, Riverside, California.
1993-2002 Project Historian/Architectural 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, 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.
o5B
26
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/ARCHAEOLOGIST
Michael Hogan, Ph.D., RPA*
Education
1991 Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California, Riverside.
1981 B.S., Anthropology, University of California, Riverside; with honors.
1980-1981 Education Abroad Program, Lima, Peru.
2002 Section 106 — National Historic Preservation Act: Federal Law at the Local
Level. UCLA Extension Course # 888.
2002 'Recognizing Historic Artifacts," workshop presented by Richard Norwood,
Historical Archaeologist.
2002 "Wending Your Way through the Regulatory Maze," symposium presented
by the Association of Environmental Professionals.
1992 "Southern California Ceramics Workshop," presented by Jerry Schaefer.
1992 "Historic Artifact Workshop," presented by Anne Duffield -Stoll.
Professional Experience
2002- Principal Investigator, CRM TECH, Riverside, California.
1999-2002 Project Archaeologist/Field Director, CRM TECH, Riverside.
1996-1998 Project Director and Ethnographer, Statistical Research, Inc., Redlands.
1992-1998 Assistant Research Anthropologist, University of California, Riverside
1992-1995 Project Director, Archaeological Research Unit, U. C. Riverside.
1993-1994 Adjunct Professor, Riverside Community College, Mt. San Jacinto College,
University of California, Riverside, Chapman University, and San Bernardino
Valley College.
1991-1992 Crew Chief, Archaeological Research Unit, U. C. Riverside.
1984-1998 Archaeological Technician, Field Director, and Project Director for various
southern California cultural resources management firms.
Research Interests
Cultural Resource Management, Southern Californian Archaeology, Settlement and
Exchange Patterns, Specialization and Stratification, Culture Change, Native American
Culture, Cultural Diversity.
Cultural Resources Management Reports
Author and co-author of, contributor to, and principal investigator for numerous cultural
resources management study reports since 1986.
Memberships
* Register of Professional Archaeologists.
Society for American Archaeology.
Society for California Archaeology.
Pacific Coast Archaeological Society.
27
f!59
FIELD DIRECTOR, PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST/PALEONTOLOGIST
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.
• Graduate work oriented toward invertebrate paleontology; M.S. thesis completed as a
stratigraphic paleontology project on the Precambrian and Lower Cambrian rocks of
Eastern California.
Professional Experience
1998-Present Project Archaeologist/Paleontologist, CRM TECH, Riverside, California.
1992-1998 Independent Geological/Archaeological/Environmental Consultant, Pinyon
Pines.
1994-1996 Environmental Geologist, E.0 E.S., Inc, Redlands, California.
1988-1992 Project Geologist/Director of Environmental Services, STE, San Bernardino,
California.
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 of Vertebrate Paleontology; American Association of Petroleum Geologists;
Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists; Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists,
Pacific Section; Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists; San Bernardino
County Museum; 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
Five publications in Geology concerning an oil field study, a ground water and earthquake
study, a report on the geology of the Santa Rosa Mountain area, and papers on vertebrate
and invertebrate Holocene Lake Cahuilla faunas. Ca. 55 articles in archaeology and history
in various journals. Co-author of more than 100 cultural resources reports.
28 060
PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST/REPORT WRITER
Mariam Dandul, M.A.
Education
2002 M.A., Anthropology, California State University, Fullerton
Thesis title: Beads and Ornaments from the Coachella Valley
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Phyllisa Eisentraut
1993 B.A., Geography, California State University, Fullerton
2003 "Ceramics Analysis," seminar presented by Dr. Delaney -Rivera, California
State University, Fullerton
2002 "Section 106-National Historic Preservation Act: Federal Law at the Local
Level," UCLA Extension Course
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard H. Norwood, Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base
Professional Experience
2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside
• Prepare cultural resources management reports, maps, and site records
• Analyze beads, ornaments, and shell
• Conduct archaeological surveys
• Participate in various testing, evaluation, and mitigation programs
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
e Excavated units at Soda Lake in the Mojave Desert and produced lake
bottom stratigraphic profiles.
1999-2000 Archaeology Laboratory, CSU, Fullerton
• Assisted in the cataloguing of artifacts
1999 Field survey course under the direction of Dr. Phyllisa Eisentraut
• Surveyed and mapped prehistoric site in the Mojave Desert
Papers Presented
2002 "Shell Beads from the Coachella Valley," Coachella Valley Archaeological
Society's 6th Annual Symposium
2002 "Shell Beads from the Coachella Valley," Kelso Conference on the
Archaeology of the California and Mojave Deserts
Cultural Resources Management Reports
Co-author of and contributor to numerous cultural resources management study reports
since 2000.
29 r161
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.
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard Norwood, Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base; presented at CRM TECH, Riverside
1999 "Unexploded Ordinance Training," presented by EOD officers; Fort Irwin
Army Training Facility, Barstow.
Professional Experience
1999- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside.
1999 Archaeological survey and excavation at Vandenburg Airforce Base; Applied
Earthworks, Lompoc.
1999 Archaeological survey at Fort Irwin Army Training Facility, Barstow; A.S.M.
Affiliates, Encinitas.
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.
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 and carbon sample collections.
30
PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST
Uyen K. Doan
Education
M.S. Candidate, Anthropology, University of California, Riverside,, California
1993 B.S., Anthropology, University of California, Riverside
2002 ARPA: Archaeological Law Enforcement, sponsored by Bureau of Land
Management.
2001 Cultural Resources Management Laws and Regulations Seminar, presented
by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
1999 Seminar of Revised 36 CFR Part 800 Regulations.
Professional Experience
2003- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside, CA.
2000-2003 Staff Archaeologist, MAGTFTC MCAGCC, Twentynine Palms, CA.
1999-2000 Senior Archaeologist, ISS of California, Sacramento, CA.
1998-1999 Assistant Social Scientist, Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation,
Sacramento, CA.
1994-1999 Crew person, Crew Chief, Project Director, Lithic Analyst, Archaeological
Research Unit, Riverside, CA.
1994-1998 Staff Archaeologist, Assistant Coordinator, Eastern Information Center, UC
Riverside, CA.
1994-1997 Field crew, various cultural resources management companies in southern
California and Nevada.
Laboratory and Field Experience
1997-2003 Archaeological field surveys, excavations, cataloguing, artifact analysis, site
record documentation, and report preparation for various projects in
southern California, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions.
1994-1997 Archaeological field surveys and excavations throughout California and
Great Basin regions.
1994 Archaeological field school, Mineral County, Nevada.
Research Interests
Archaeology, lithic studies, and Native American land use in the Southern California and
Great Basin desert regions.
Cultural Resources Management Reports
Co-author of and contributor to cultural resources management study reports since 1996.
31 963
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.
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard Norwood, Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base; presented at CRM TECH, Riverside.
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, Marine Corp Air
Station, 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, Otay 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
Adrian Sanchez Moreno, B.A.
Education
1999 B.A., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), University of San Diego.
2002 "Historic Archaeology Workshop," presented by Richard Norwood, Base
Archaeologist, Edwards Air Force Base; presented at CRM TECH, Riverside.
Professional Experience
2000- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside.
1999 Field Crew, excavation on Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton. 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 r
PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST
Victoria Avalos, B.S.
Education
2002 B.S., Anthropology, University of California, Riverside.
1999 "Unexploded Ordinance Training," presented by EOD officers, MAGTFTC
MCAGCC Field Base, Twentynine Palms, California.
Professional Experience
2001- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside.
2002-2002 Project Archaeologist/Paleontologist, SWCA, Inc., Mission Viejo.
2000-2001 Teaching Assistant, Summer Institute Archaeology Program, University of
California, Riverside.
2000 Independent Contract Archaeologist for the Joshua Tree National Park.
1998-2001 Archaeological Field Crew Member, Archaeological Research Unit„
University of California, Riverside.
1998-2001 Information Officer, Eastern Information Center, University of California,
Riverside.
Laboratory and Field Experience
2001 Yalahau Field School, Quintana Roo, Mexico; directed by Dr. Scott Fedick,
University of California, Riverside.
2000 Archaeological field class (excavations) at Soda Lake, Mojave Desert; directed
by Dr. Claude Warren, University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
1999-2000 Lab Technician, Archaeological Research Unit, University of California,
Riverside.
Honors and Awards
2001 Dean's List, University of California, Riverside.
Memberships
Society for American Archaeology.
Society for California Archaeology.
American Anthropological Association.
9193
PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST
Kathryn J. W. Bouscaren, B.S.
Education
1999 B.S., Anthropology (with emphasis in Archaeology), University of California,
Riverside.
1998 Archaeological Field School, Plymouth State College, New Hampshire.
1996 A.A., Liberal Arts (including two intensive classes in field and laboratory
archaeology), San Diego City College.
Professional Experience
1999- Project Archaeologist, CRM TECH, Riverside.
Duties include supervision and organization of laboratory activities including
cataloguing, artifact storage and shipping, radiocarbon date record -keeping,
and organization of all laboratory paperwork. Other duties include report
writing, surveying, sketch mapping, and excavation.
1998-1999 Project Archaeologist, Archaeological Research Unit, University of California,
Riverside.
Jobs included surveys and mapping of Death Valley and Anza Borrego State
Parks, several excavation projects in MCAGGC Marine Base at Twentynine
Palms, California, and two months of cataloguing artifacts from MCAGGC
projects.
Laboratory and Field Experience
1998 Field Survey and Documentation course under direction of Phil Wilke.
Surveyed and mapped numerous prehistoric and historic sites in the Mojave
Desert and Riverside County.
1998 Archaeological Field School, Plymouth State College, New Hampslre.
Excavated significant Paleoindian site, catalogued artifacts and analyzed a
sample of debitage and formed tools, and assisted with reorganization of lab.
1994-1995 San Diego City College courses under direction of Stephen Bouscaren.
Excavated Penasquitos Canyon site with prehistoric and historic components,
catalogued artifacts, and co-authored analysis and report of debita;ge
assemblage.
kfU0
34
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: MARCH 20, 2003
ITEM: HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION 2003 WORK PROGRAM
The following is a draft work program prepared by Chairman Mouriquand and Staff for the
Commission to pursue during this year. Please review it and be prepared to discuss it at
the meeting.
2003 HPC WORK PROGRAM
1. Update the City's historic structure inventory, including the development of a short
and long-term plan for completing surveys. The survey process should make an
attempt to include oral histories.
2. Designate Historic Districts and Landmark Properties.
3. Review existing City regulations and modify as needed to establish a
comprehensive and transparent project review process as well as definitive
measures for preserving areas of historic interest.
4. Establish community "buy -in" process.
5. Apply for grants (e.g. CDBG & CLG funds) to pay for inventory update or other
project.
6. Prepare and distribute a brochure that serves as a self -guided driving tour of the
city's historic features and discusses the prehistory.
7. Host a CI-G-sanctioned training workshop.
8. Prepare a composite map of all cultural resources recorded within the city.
9. Completion of Historic Context Statement.
10. Follow-up on mitigation monitoring for projects like the Tradition that were
conditioned for annual inspections, etc.
11. Survey for sites that are in eminent danger of erosion or other destructive threats,
especially on City -owned properties. Prioritize and stabilize or mitigate; sites as
needed.
12. Plaques and related material for self -guided tour.
13. Historical resources map.
Prepared by:
Stan B. Sawa, Principal Planner 067
p[\stan\hpc rpt ph 1 fire station.wpd
COACHELLA VALLEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 6:00 p.m.
Cathedral City Senior Center
68-727 E. Palm Canyon Dr. (321-1548)
GINGER RIDGWAY
CURATOR, AGUA CALIENTE CULTURAL MUSEUM
"WHAT'S NEW AT THE AGUA CALIENTE CULTURAL MUSEUM"
An Illustrated Slide Lecture on Archaeological Finds,,
Baskets, Exhibits, New Museum Plans
Ginger Ridgway has been the Curator at the Agua Caliente Cultural
Museum since 1996. She was at the San Diego Museum of Man for seven
years as lab assistant in the physical anthropology department.and owned a
business that produced artifact replicas for educational resource kits and
archaeology firms before joining the ACCM. All of these were part of a
dramatic career change that grew from a hobby in arch aeologi cal fieldwork.
Prior to this she worked as an interior designer for 20 years, operating her
own design firm and teaching interior design at private design schools and
community colleges.
At the Museum she manages the collections of artifacts, artworks, and
} archives; designs and installs exhibits, edits The Spirit newsletter, and is
10* very involved in the planningand design of the new museum buildingand
exhibits in progress. She is the representative for the Agua Caliente Band
of Cahuilla Indians for repatriation of human remains and sacred and
ceremonial items from museums to the tribe and is the coordinator for a collaborative committee of eight
Cahuilla tribes for repatriation. She has also coordinated cultural resource preservation, activities for the
tribe. Working at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum creates opportunities to bring All of her previous
experience together to help preserve and interpret the culture and history of the Cahuilla people.
Ms Ridgway says, "Though many have heard about the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum's plans for a large
new facility in the Indian Canyons in the near future, there are many other new happenings at the museum
too. Collections are growing through donations and purchases, staff is growing as we expand our activities,
and renovations have given the museum a new look inside and out."
COACHELLA VALLEY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Meetings are open to all and
admission is free. Please loin us for an unusual opportunity to learn about tie
exciting new developments at the Aqua Caliente Cultural Museum, an important
cultural resource for the entire Coachella Valley.
0 For Information Call: 349-8703 or 346-3344 41)