On the Trail to Avikwaame: Results of a Noncollection Class II Cultural Resources Survey of Quien Sabe/Big Maria Terrace, Riverside County, California

Joseph A. Ezzo

On the Trail to Avikwaame: Results of a Noncollection Class II Cultural Resources Survey of Quien Sabe/Big Maria Terrace, Riverside County, California

Year: 1994

Summary

As cultural resource consultants to the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado Regional Office, Statistical Research Inc. conducted a Class II noncollection archaeological and ethnographic survey of 3,100 acres in the Quien Sabe/Big Maria Terrace region of Riverside County, California. The survey covered 20 percent of lands managed by Reclamation in this region. Six parcels of land, blocks, or survey were selected for survey on the basis of previous investigations and the potential these areas had for containing significant cultural resources. The survey blocks ranged in size from 50 (Survey acres Block 4) to 1,200 acres (Survey Block 5). The area in which the Blythe Intaglios are located was selected as one of the survey blocks (Survey Block 3).

A total of 56 sites was recorded during the course of the survey; 21 of these sites had been previously recorded. Sites ranged from small lithic scatters consisting of a single type of raw material to the Blythe Intaglio site (CA-RIV-14), which covers 800,000 m2 and consists of 12 spatially discrete components. Geomorphological analysis was undertaken in those survey blocks that are Quaternary in nature (all but Survey Block 4). Modern human impacts were observed and recorded at all sites where such disturbances occurred. Ethnographic and ethnohistoric research was conducted after the archaeological field work was completed to obtain additional information on significant cultural resources from Native American informants.

Cultural resources were interpreted in light of the ethnographic/ethnohistoric survey and archaeological work in the general region. The lithic technology in the survey area appears to reflect more of a core technology than the more common biface technology; this might be a function of availability of raw material. Intaglios were found to be either the result of intentional construction the unintentional or result of ceremonial activity such as dancing. Intaglios that relate to various aspects of creation myths and other tales, such as the presence of the twins, giant humans, rattlesnakes, and abstract motifs, are present in the survey area. The Black Point Ceremonial Pathway site (CA-IMP-870), a ceremonial complex, was interpreted in light of its evidence of ritual reenactment of spiritual journeys.

All of the sites were evaluated for their eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Forty sites were considered eligible, 15 were considered not eligible, and one was considered not applicable. Management recommendations for significant cultural resources include regular monitoring, and construction of protective barriers in a few cases. Future research directions include continued documentation of cultural resources in the region and more intensive, cross-cultural analysis of existing cultural resources.

Cite this Record

On the Trail to Avikwaame: Results of a Noncollection Class II Cultural Resources Survey of Quien Sabe/Big Maria Terrace, Riverside County, California. Joseph A. Ezzo. Technical Series ,49. Tucson, AZ: SRI Press. 1994 ( tDAR id: 425926) ; doi:10.48512/XCV8425926