Archaeological dig at Presidio of Monterey solves mystery

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. (May 19, 2022) – A staff of archaeologists has solved the mystery of what lies below a layer of abalone shells on a proposed building website at the Presidio of Monterey.

Laura Prishmont-Quimby, the archaeologist and cultural useful resource supervisor for U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey, mentioned that when storm water uncovered the shells a couple of months in the past, she knew instantly that archaeologists must examine.

Abalone are massive sea snails, and since people eat them, discoveries of their shells means people put them there. The query was whether or not Native Americans deposited the shells—a frequent indication of a burial website—or others reminiscent of Army personnel.

A staff of 4 contract archaeologists spent May 17-19 fastidiously digging and inspecting the location, and after discovering a horseshoe-shaped object and a hand-blown wine bottle greater than a foot under the shells, the staff decided Army personnel most probably deposited the shells.

“Given what I know about the history of the Presidio, which goes back a long way, this all appears to be early to mid-19th century stuff,” mentioned John Schlagheck, mission archaeologist for Dudek, a building companies firm contracted for the mission.

Prishmont-Quimby concurred. “When you see a big, thick layer of abalone like this, but then underneath it you’re finding bottles and horseshoes, you know from the stratographic sequence that the abalone pavement came well after the historic period,” she mentioned.

The Army formally established the set up because the Presidio of Monterey in 1904, and Native Americans lived on the land the place the Presidio stands at the moment lengthy earlier than then. They additionally lived on the land earlier than Spanish explorers first arrived in Monterey Bay in 1602, or started colonizing in 1769.

Prishmont-Quimby mentioned the archaeologists’ willpower is important as a result of authorities officers must know what lies below building websites earlier than crews begin digging.

If personnel uncover a website throughout building, all work involves a halt, and the federal government remains to be on the hook for paying the development crew, Prishmont-Quimby mentioned.

The website is situated at Bldg. 279, a dilapidated former wagon shed, and garrison officers plan to handle the set up’s crucial parking deficit by constructing a car parking zone at the location, Prishmont-Quimby mentioned. The set up presently makes use of the realm for parking, however it’s haphazard and unsafe. A well-constructed car parking zone would permit for more room.

In addition to highlighting the significance of investigating potential archaeological websites earlier than building, the mission additionally brings to gentle how the Presidio’s Intergovernmental Support Agreement with the City of Monterey makes acquiring companies extra environment friendly, Prishmont-Quimby mentioned.

The firm that carried out the work is the town’s on-call archaeology firm, so the Presidio had direct entry to the corporate by the IGSA, Prishmont-Quimby mentioned.

“This is an example of good partnering with the City of Monterey,” Prishmont-Quimby mentioned.

To study extra about archaeology and the historical past of the realm, the Lower Presidio Historic Park has strolling trails with interpretive indicators. In addition, the town’s Presidio of Monterey Museum has so much of info, and other people can study extra at https://monterey.org/city_facilities/museums/discover_museums/presidio_of_monterey_museum.php. To study extra in regards to the historical past of PoM, go to https://home.army.mil/monterey/index.php/about/history.

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