Excavations at a 250 year-old semi-subterranean house floor in southern Owens Valley, near Owens Lake. Photo shows a 6 meter trench excavated across center of house pit.

Two 250 year-old rock rings from Shewin Summit, Owens Valley. Such rock rings were probably used to cache green (unripened) pinyon cones. Nuts were retrieved at a later date by Paiute.

Two 250 year-old rock rings from Shewin Summit, Owens Valley.

1200 year-old rock-lined formal hearth from Mojave Desert. Probably used for roasting roots or bulbs.

Whole pot collected in Owens Valley, California. Pottery was adopted about 600 years ago in this region, largely for cooking seed resources which were becoming increasingly important in local diets. This pot is curated at the Eastern California Museum in Independence, California.

Exposure of 1400 year old house floor in Owens Valley, California. Photo shows cross section after excavation.

Exposure of 1400 year old house floor in Owens Valley, California. Photo shows plan view.

Excavations at a site in Owens Valley in progress. Kevin Vaughn and company.

Owens Valley sunset, looking east.

Spot in central Nevada.

Monitor Pass, as you cross the Sierra's and drop into Long Valley.

Tree at the top of the Sierra Nevada's next to meandering stream.