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Shorelines in the Desert: Mapping Fish Trap Features along the Southwest Coast of Ancient Lake Cahuilla, California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2019

Anjali Phukan ,
Todd J. Braje Open the ORCID record for Todd J. Braje [Opens in a new window] ,
Thomas K. Rockwell Open the ORCID record for Thomas K. Rockwell [Opens in a new window]  and
Isaac Ullah Open the ORCID record for Isaac Ullah [Opens in a new window]
Anjali Phukan
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Todd J. Braje*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Thomas K. Rockwell
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
Isaac Ullah
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
*
(tbraje@sdsu.edu, corresponding author)
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Abstract

In the desert of southeastern California, the geological and archaeological remnants of a once massive lake, Lake Cahuilla, are still visible. One of the most distinctive features marking Lake Cahuilla's relic shorelines is a series of rock fish trap features that, in some cases, stretch across thousands of square meters. These fish traps are severely understudied, and systematic archaeological survey can help scientists reconstruct the dynamic human-environmental history of the region. The large number of fish traps along with the rocky desert terrain, however, make traditional pedestrian archaeological surveys both difficult and inefficient. We used unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology along with traditional archaeological methods to conduct surveys and identify patterning in the shapes, orientations, and frequencies of fish traps. Our study demonstrates the potential of emerging archaeological field technology to better understand the nature of human-environmental ecodynamics through time and space.

En el desierto del sureste de California, los restos geológicos y arqueológicos de un lago una vez masivo que se llama Cahuilla aún son visibles. Una de las características más distintivas de las paleo-orillas del lago Cahuilla es una serie de trampas para peces que, en algunos casos, se extienden a lo largo de miles de metros cuadrados. Estas trampas para peces apenas han sido estudiadas. Su estudio arqueológico sistemático puede ayudar a los científicos a reconstruir la dinámica historia humana y ambiental de la región. Sin embargo, la gran cantidad de trampas y el complicado terreno rocoso del desierto hace que los estudios arqueológicos tradicionales a pie sean difíciles e ineficientes. Este estudio utiliza tecnología de vehículo aéreo no tripulado (UAV) junto con métodos arqueológicos tradicionales para identificar y analizar patrones en las formas, orientaciones y frecuencias de las trampas para peces. Nuestro estudio demuestra el potencial de esta tecnología emergente para mejorar la comprensión de la naturaleza de la ecodinámica humano-ambiental a través del tiempo y espacio.

Keywords

unmanned aerial vehicle technologyarchaeological surveyhuman-environmental ecodynamicsvehículo aéreo no tripuladoestudios arqueológicosdinámica historia humana y ambiental
Type
Articles
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , November 2019 , pp. 325 - 336
Copyright
Copyright 2019 © Society for American Archaeology 

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