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Overall, prehistoric sites CA-KER-2572, CA-KER-4424, and CA-KER-4425 yielded no evidence of exchange or trade, since rhyolite and Gem Hill chert are found local to the area. The absence of any faunal remains or formal tools does not allow any insight into subsistence strategies, intra-site functions, or material preferences. The majority of the artifacts were found on the surface of the sites, with cultural material dropping off at approximately 10-15 centimeters in depth. Because of this lack of depth to the sites, questions regarding change through time cannot be addressed. Taken as whole, these sites appear to be small lithic work areas for the middle stages of lithic reduction. Most of the flakes are non-cortical, and only one early stage biface thinning flake was recovered; no cores were discovered at any of the sites. Site CA-KER-4426H is comprised of numerous light to dense secondary trash deposits which represent nearly continuous dumping episodes from the 1940s to the present. By definition, secondary deposits are a redepositing of material from one location to another. Based on the types of items found at site CA-KER-4426H, which are mainly metal cans and other inorganic items, it can be theorized that the originators of the debris probably disposed of their household waste near their residence. When the deposits grew too large, or the opportunity arose to clean out the deposit, they loaded the debris in a vehicle, drove out to the site which is now KER-4426H, and dumped their load of debris. Since the site is composed of strictly secondary trash deposits, the research questions pertaining to settlement, subsistence, architecture, and transportation cannot be answered. No evidence of historic homesteads were physically present at the site, nor did historic maps indicate the presence of homesteads in the area. Ethnicity may be determined though secondary trash deposits through the presence of ethnically distinct personal or imported items, but KER-4426H did not demonstrate any evidence of a particular, non-anglo-european culture. Overall, sites CA-KER-2572, CA-KER-4424, and CA-KER-4425 did not yield enough information to make a significant contribution to regional research issues. The lack of depth that characterized these prehistoric sites left questions concerning site and regional changes through time unanswerable. Site CA-KER-4426H did not contain data that would add to our current knowledge regarding early settlement in the Antelope Valley. Therefore, none of the cultural resource sites on the subject property can be considered "important archaeological resource" as defined by Appendix K, of CEQA as amended, and no further archaeological work is recommended at this time prior to the sale and development of the land. In the unlikely event that some type of buried cultural resources deposit is uncovered during grading on the property, work in the area of the find(s) should be immediately halted and a qualified archaeologist contacted. The consulting archaeologist can then evaluate the find and undertake the appropriate measures. These measures can include data recovery or site avoidance depending upon the nature of the resource. |
