2006 Southern California Data-Sharing Meeting
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| SCA members visit the Ignacio Zaragoza archaeological site. |
Andy York, Southern Vice President
The emerging international partnership among archaeologists in the United States and northern Baja California took a big step forward on November 11 and 12 as about 75 archaeologists attended the 2006 Southern Data Sharing Meeting in Ensenada, Mexico. Hosted by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) at Ensenada’s colonial-style Hotel Mision Santa Isabel, the SCA’s first-ever international meeting featured fifteen excellent presentations by archaeologists from both SCA and INAH, as well as a fascinating bus tour the next day of local archaeological and historical sites. The amazing hospitality of our hosts from INAH, together with Ensenada’s typically festive night life, made it a memorable weekend for all who attended.
The idea of a data-sharing meeting in Mexico grew from the SCA’s increasing role in promoting international cooperation in both research and effective site management in the U.S.-Mexico border region. For example, the SCA has actively supported cooperation among the BLM, Forest Service, and INAH to address damage to pristine sites in Mexico that results from activities originating in the U.S., such as recreational ORV activity and the Baja 1000. Even more compelling for the SCA membership, though, is the importance of the border region’s archaeology to researchers in both Alta and Baja California. As the meeting made clear, there is a lot of very key research being done on both sides; and open dialog and data-sharing is critical for a full understanding of the region’s archaeology.
The session on the 11th was held in the hotel’s spacious meeting room, just off the courtyard. Each presentation was simultaneously translated into English or Spanish through headphones provided at the meeting. After introductory remarks by Southern VP Andy York, SCA President Frank Bayham, and Julia Bendimez-Patterson, Director of INAH in Baja California, the morning session continued with presentations by Margaret Hangan and Majorie Burton on worked ceramic sherds; Matt Des Lauriers on terminal Pleistocene occupation of Cedros Island; Fred Lange of LSA Associates on recent work near Hemet and Glamis; Oswaldo Cuadra (INAH) on initial fieldwork at the Mesa de los Indios north of Ensenada; and Don Laylander and Dave Iverson (ASM Affiliates) on the focused exploitation of Pseudochama exogyra (Pacific jewelbox) in northern San Diego County and its implications for the human-environment equation in coastal southern California.
By the morning break anthropologist Mike Wilken had arranged for the appearance of several tables of traditionally-made pots, baskets, jewelry, and clothing offered by Paipai, Kilwa, and Kumiai artisans, who continued a brisk business throughout the day. After the break, Christy Dolan of EDAW continued the morning session with a discussion of the historic archaeology revealed during construction of San Diego’s new baseball park. Next was a presentation by Antonio Porcayo of INAH, describing efforts to address ORV and other impacts to important sites near the border at Mexicali. Russell Collett and Richard Shultz of RECON then discussed their reevaluation of late period settlement systems in northern San Diego County, suggesting that the patterns may be more complex than originally suggested by True and Waugh. The final presentation before lunch was by Andrea Guia and Fernando Oviedo of INAH, who discussed the methodological approach at Jatay, a prehistoric deposit north of Ensenada that will be impacted by a proposed gas pipeline.
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| Danilo Drakic (left foreground) discusses findings at the site of the Mission de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte. |
The afternoon session featured six presentations, the first by Spencer Beitz and Margaret Hangan on the archaeology and history of California Conservation Corps campgrounds on the Cleveland National Forest. Jorge Serrano and John Joseph Temple of INAH then discussed transmission-related work at La Jovita in traditional Kumeyaay territory. Jackson Underwood then presented evidence that a late prehistoric acorn economy was not strongly expressed in San Diego County, and may have been primarily an early historic period phenomenon. Danilo Drakic of INAH discussed finds from several sites in the Las Palmas Valley between Ensenada and Tecate. Julia Bendimez-Patterson, INAH Regional Director in Baja California, then discussed radiocarbon dates (obtained from UC Riverside) on materials from northern Baja sites and their implications for regional prehistory. The final presentation of the day was by Gerardo Chavez Velazco of INAH, who discussed the current status of INAH’s archaeology GIS program.
The next morning, about 30 of the participants set off on a delightful all-day bus tour to several important archaeological and historical sites north and east of Ensenada. First stop was Jatay, where Fernando Oviedo discussed recently completed fieldwork at an important habitation area situated on a hilltop several km from the coast. The trip continued with a visit to the San Miguel Arcangel mission site, where our hosts provided snacks and pointed out efforts to preserve the remnants of the mission’s adobe walls. Heading inland over the hills, we descended into the beautiful Guadalupe Valley, heart of Mexico’s wine country. Here among the vineyards we visited the site of the Mission de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe del Norte (1834-1840), then relaxed under the trees at the Guadalupe Community Museum for a tasty lunch and a sampling of some quite excellent local wines.
The final stop on the tour was the Ignacio Zaragoza archaeological site, an apparent early Holocene deposit located on an agricultural collective just east of Ensenada. Recent excavations at the site have yielded many artifacts that appear to belong to the San Dieguito complex, and even a quick glace at the surface showed that a rich assemblage remains buried there. The potential importance of this site to ongoing research in southern California was immediately apparent to everyone present, and the ensuing discussion among SCA and INAH archaeologists only confirmed the value of open communication among researchers throughout the region.
Many thanks are due to Julia Bendimez, Elinora “Pinky” Topete, and our other friends and colleagues at INAH for their graciousness, hospitality, and hard work in organizing a truly memorable event. Elinora, in particular, was tireless, and everything – the hotel, meeting room, the meals, and the bus tour – was outstanding. Alberto Fontes provided excellent translations, and Antonio, Fernando, Andrea, and Danilo were all extremely interesting and informative on the field trip. Thanks also to Ken Wilson at the BLM for organizational assistance and funding. Finally, thanks to the presenters and all who attended. Muchas gracias, everyone.
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