Three Farewells to Manzanar: The Archeology of Manzanar National Historic Site, California Part 1

Author(s): Jeffery F. Burton

Year: 1996

Summary

This report presents the results of archeological investigations at Manzanar National Historic Site in the Owens Valley of eastern California. The Manzanar Relocation Center was one of ten such facilities at which Japanese American citizens and Japanese immigrants were interned during W orId War II. The archeological work was designed to inventory and evaluate all historical and prehistoric archeological resources within the National Historic Site, as well as other archeological resources near the National Historic Site related to the relocation center. Three major categories of remains were encountered: (1) those associated with the Manzanar Relocation Center; (2) those associated with the early twentieth century abandoned Manzanar townsite; and (3) those associated with

late prehistoric and early historical Native American Indian use of the area. In all, 15 Native American Indian sites, dozens of sites and features associated with the townsite and earlier ranches, and all of the known features of the relocation center have been fully recorded. This project also included test excavation at four of the Native American Indian sites, four sites associated with the town of Manzanar, and three relocation center features. In spite of historical and recent disturbance, the preservation of features and artifacts is far better than initially evident. Each of the identified components was found

to have excellent archeological and interpretive potential.

Cite this Record

Three Farewells to Manzanar: The Archeology of Manzanar National Historic Site, California Part 1. Jeffery F. Burton. Publications in Anthropology ,67. Tucson, Arizona: Western Archeological and Conservation Center. 1996 ( tDAR id: 4309) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8DR2TCP

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Culture
Historic • Japanese American

Material
Building Materials • Ceramic • Fauna • Glass • Human Remains • Macrobotanical • Metal • Mineral • Wood

Site Name
Manaznar

Site Type
Archaeological Feature • Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex • Funerary and Burial Structures or Features • Non-Domestic Structures

Investigation Types
Data Recovery / Excavation • Site Evaluation / Testing • Systematic Survey

Geographic Keywords
California • Inyo County • Owens Valley

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1864 to 1960

Spatial Coverage

min long: -118.243; min lat: 36.666 ; max long: -118.062; max lat: 36.776 ;

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contributor(s): Irene J. Cohen; Lynne M. D'Ascenzo; Mary M. Farrell; Elaine A. Guthrie; Richard E. Hughes; Takeshi Inomata; Terresita Majewski; Roy Nash; Patti J. Novak; Thomas M. Origer; C. Lynn Rogers; Wilbur Sato; Jennifer Waters; Jane C. Wehrey

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