A SusanvilleStuff Photofeature
by Jeremy Couso
Here at the western edge of the Great Basin we are surrounded by evidence of the people and cultures that have also called our home theirs. Strewn across Lassen county, sometimes just inches below the surface, are remnants of the villages, camps, hunting and gathering sites from both historic and prehistoric times.
Within an hour of Susanville you can explore caves that were inhabited for a millennia, gaze at petroglyphs that are older than the Egyptian pyramids and walk along stone drift fences built by prehistoric man to trap large prey.
We live in a fascinating area and, happily, the Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle Lake Field Office is fostering a lot of awareness about our local cultural resources, while they also create new ways to monitor, explore and preserve the history around us.
On October 1st the BLM held a special Archaeology Day event at Hobo Camp as part of California Archaeology Month, an annual observance of the California Society for Archaeology designed to call attention to the study of ancient societies through examination of what remains behind.
With nearly a dozen learning stations set up by the BLM staffers, participants had a variety of activities to choose from, including a chance to try using an atlatl to throw a spear at a target, learn about orienteering and how to use a compass and try out excavation methods used by archaeologists. More than 100 folks showed up at the day-long workshop to learn more.
“This event is perfect for families,” Martin said. “We’ll give everyone a chance to try archaeology excavation techniques and talk about the artifacts and the important information they provide to us.”
The third annual event was offered through a partnership involving the BLM, Susanville Indian Rancheria and Lassen National Forest.
Earlier this year BLM archaeologists invited local folks to work with them conducting an archaeological survey and recording work in the high desert northeast of Susanville. They also learned about the history and pre-history of the region.
In July Lassen National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle Lake Field Office jointly hosted volunteers from the California Archaeological Site Stewardship Program. CASSP is a statewide program directed by the Society for California Archaeology.
The training workshop taught volunteers how to work with Forest Service and BLM staff to protect archaeological and historical resources. CASSP volunteers regularly visit assigned sites on public lands and report on their conditions.
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