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In June 2003, PAST, INC. conducted a cultural resources survey of a 5-acre parcel in the community of Kernville, Kern County, California. The subject property is located in-between the Old Kernville Cemetery and the remains of the historic town of Whiskey Flat/Kernville (since inundated by the waters of man-made Isabella Lake). This area had previously been recorded as site P-15-000408 (CA-KER-408H) and is located within the boundaries of California State Historical Landmark No. 132 (P-15-007673). While this survey included the entire 5-acre property, it was the primary purpose of this investigation to assess potential impacts to the P-15-000408 site area, which may be caused by the currently proposed improvements to the property.
Overall, this cultural resources survey included (1) obtaining a complete 1/2-mile radius records search from the Southern San Joaquin Valley Information Center at California State University, Bakersfield (SSJVIC); (2) a review of the historic maps on file with the Geography Map Library at California State University Northridge (CSUN); (3) consultation with the Kern River Museum in Kernville; (4) a review of other relevant documents; (5) conducting a reconnaissance-level examination of the surface of the project area; (6) documenting the results of the investigation in this report; and (7) the preparation of a site record form update for site P-15-000408 (adding primary and district forms and other updates to the archival records as well as changing the trinomial designation from CA-KER-408H to CA-KER-408/H to include both the historic town and a newly discovered prehistoric component [a single bedrock milling station]). Although the subject property is located within the boundaries of site P-15-000408 and California Historical Landmark No. 132, no identifiable cultural resources were noted within the area proposed for development in the southern portion of the property. Overall, the entire southern portion of the property where the proposed development will take place has been extensively graded and the hillside has been cut to create a series of small terraces. As such, this proposed development will not have a direct physical impact to any known or suspected cultural resources. Indirect impacts to site P-15-000408 are more difficult to evaluate. While the waters of Isabella Lake have inundated most of the remains of Old Kernville, there are a few features that remain above water to the south. It should be noted, however, that access to the old town site of Whiskey Flat/Kernville is open with dirt roads leading to the area. While there is a wire fence separating the subject property from the main body of the old town, it can be anticipated that occupants of the development will want to explore some of these features. If the proper warning is given to the cabin occupants not to deface the features and the property owners watch over the features, these indirect impacts to the resource are considered negligible. Likewise, efforts should be made to protect the newly discovered BRM feature from damage. Indirect impacts to the Old Kernville Cemetery to the north are not anticipated. Since no cultural resources were observed in the area of development, no further archaeological investigations are recommended at this time. However, should buried or otherwise hidden cultural resources be encountered during the development in the southern portion of the property or anywhere else on the property, work in the area of the discovery should be immediately halted and qualified archaeologist contacted to evaluate the find. All efforts should be made to preserve the find in-situ, if possible. If in-situ preservation is not possible, a data recovery program should be undertaken in consultation with the appropriate permitting agency. The results of any additional investigation should be documented in a final report and submitted to the appropriate agencies including the SSJVIC for archival purposes. Deliverables for this study included printed copies of the final report and an update to site record as well as a CD-R containing all of the project reports and forms in electronic format, digital photographs, and some video footage of the area. A copy of this CD-R was sent to the SSJVIC for archival purposes. |
