I took y'alls advice and have been doing my homework. Got me a library card for the first time in 35 years! My wife just about fell over. Long story short, it looks like we are dealing with what was originally a Martis complex winter camp and later a Maidu ( Nisenan) settlement. I'll spare for now the long list of evidence I think we have and just say based on the number of mortars, it was a pretty large/ old camp. I'd like to share some pieces from a few test holes we took from the midden mound around the main bedrock mortar outcrop. First picture will have the points we believe to be from the Maidu: A green gunther, half a crystal gunther, broken black obsidian point, and a bottom half of a little side notch something or other. A real pretty clear terminated quartz crystal. Hard to see in pic. A little red/rainbow knife, and then a couple of preforms or just conveniently shaped chips?.?. Next two pictures are just showing the light through some of the transparent pieces. Last picture is the Martis complex stuff: 3 basalt points/ knives , a couple of drills/ perforators?, and lastly what I call the Martis multi-tool; a scraper, knife, spokeshave and drill/ perforator. I know the last one will bring some doubt, but from what I've read and seen, it's right in line with Martis style tools.
I'd love to hear any thoughts or comments.
I'd love to hear any thoughts or comments.
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