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Places, Earth |
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Throughout the country, state parks, historic sites, homes, buildings, museums, and similar institutions are struggling to continue operating. Because of general financial problems, many of these institutions are operating on a reduced schedule or in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Many will not weather these hard times without your help. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep state parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement | Test space for future ad if donations don't increase. |
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| Back | San Bernardino County Main Page |
Calico Early Man Archaeological Site
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2004 - 2012.|
Just a few miles east of the touristy preservation/recreation of Calico Ghost Town, is a very serious Archeological dig at Calico Early Man Archaeological Site. It is the oldest known American Archaeological site. When this dry desert was inhabited by early Native Americans twenty to thirty thousand years ago, the climate was much cooler and moister than it is today. About 20 inches of rain made this location more humid. The Ice Age polar ice cap was only about 500 miles away. Forests of pine and oak covered what is now sage brush and Joshua trees. A 200 square mile lake covered the valley floor. It was a productive environment for the local people to find and process their food. Seismic actions caused the lake to drain into what is now Death Valley and the glaciers retreated. As you stand in the 25 foot deep Master Pit #1, it is difficult to imagine the change. Excavations at Calico Early Man Site began on November 1, 1964. Master Pit #1 began about 8 years ago. Because of a high concentration of artifacts found in the northwest corner, a second pit was begun a short distance northwest. When a high concentration of artifacts was found in the southeast corner of pit 2, this indicated that they were probably digging at the edges of a work site, so a third pit was begun between them. This pit is not yet at full depth. In addition to the three Master Pits, there are a number of smaller pits, some for control purposes and several trenches. The control pits were dug to verify that the shipped stones found were actually tools found only in work areas and not natural flaking which would have also been found everywhere. No stone tools were fond in the control pits. The material is a course material with many unconformities where one layer of deposits is sometimes millions of years older than the layer above, indicating mush erosion in the past. The pits were dug slowly with dental picks. An update to this text is in the works, more later. |
Below October 2010.
 Sign at the turn-off that this author missed. |
 Trail to the dig site. |
| There is a small museum at the site. Some artifacts are displayed at the site, the more important objects are at the San Bernardino County Museum. |
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| The Master Pit where most of the work has neen done. | |
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| The Master Pit where most of the artifacts were found. | |
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| The Master Pit was quiet this day in October 2010. Volunteers are needed. | |
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| The Master Pit is not a perfect rectangle, but rather leaving areas for future exploration. | |
 Master Pit #1 stockpile. |
 Master Pit #2. |
 Master Pit #3. |
 Another pit. |
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| Stockpile of material for ruther study. | |
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| Another small pit. | |
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| Another small pit. | |
 When these tools were made, the landscape was moister. Today, dry desert plants cover the landscape. |
 This 500 foot trench was dug to quickly explore a large area. |
 A Bentonite mine is what brought modern people to this site. |
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| San Bernardino County Main Page |
This page last updated: Tuesday, 04-Jan-2011 09:39:41 EST
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
 You can buy candles from my wife. |
 Or donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page. |
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2012, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
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