Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 5

THURSDAY, JULY 26,1990 COMMUNITY THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL Archaeologists, BLM search Indian village site Volunteer Ted Asch, a geologist and geo-physlclst, holds up a bead he found sifting through the dirt. Among Items discovered were many glass beads and cylinders, flaked tools made of obsidian or chert, animal bone fragments and milling slabs. Some Items are so tiny, they can only be found through the sifting process. 1 By MAUREEN CONNOR-RICE Journal staff writer he Bureau of Land Management and Far Western Anthropological Group are working together on BLM lands along Cache Creek in Lake County to determine if Native American village sites contain enough significance to be put on the national registry of historic sites. The spot they are currently checking is the Baton Flat area where the Chenposel, a subgroup of the Hill Patwin Indians, lived up until the mid-1800s.

This is just one of of 37 archaeological sites in a 3500-acre area along Cache Creek which contain Native American artifacts dating back as much as 6,000 years. Test units were dug at several spots along the creek at the Baton Flat site in depressions caused by homes, outside the home, oven sites. Some test units are square, others rectangular; each unit is numbered. Items taken from each unit are put into separate, labeled bags. A small trough is used to dig and scrape dirt which is put into a sifter made with a wooden frame and -inch screen.

As the dirt is sifted, items such as tiny beads, obsidian and bone fragments are found. "Vertical digging represents different periods of time," explained Dr. Robert Bettinger, an archaeologist from University of California in Davis. "Horizontal is usually the same time period." Dr. Eric Ritter is a BLM archaeologist based hi Redding.

He described some of the relics found in a rock oven located behind one of the Indian dwellings. "There are a lot of charred pieces of animals such as turtles, deer, birds and fish as well as acorns and pine huts," he said. Other diggings yielded cylinders and beads made of magnesite, also called Indian gold, shell discs with a hole so they could be used as beads, tools made of obsidian and chert and milling slabs. The chert was made into a drill bit and spun between the hands to drill holes into the beads. Marlene Greenway is the BLM archaeologist in the Mendocino-Lake county area.

She has spent a lot of her time during the past year alone, camping along the creek trying to experience what the natives experienced during the four seasons. "They probably lived here year-round," she surmised. "There was plenty of food here for them." On a hill overlooking the flat area being worked is where the Indians held their dances in a dance house, Greenway explained, pointing out the depressions made by the people in the dance house and at the entrance to the structure. "They used willow for a frame," she explained, "then packed mud and grasses on it to make the house. They came into the house over here," she said walking to the narrower depression at the in the tribe stood outside around the dance house." There are problems gathering accurate data, however.

Because of visitors to the site, digging up and moving artifacts, some vital information has been destroyed, Greenway emphasized. "People must look at things, but not move them or gather several items into a pile," she said, upset over the public's ignorance. "We must protect these cultural resources," added Catherine Robinson, BLM area manager. "Anyone who sees someone vandalizing archeological sites should report it. Vandalism of a cultural resource site is against both federal and state laws." Photos by Maureen Daily Journal Archaeologist Marlene Greenway has her hand on one of several milling slabs the group found.

She surmises the stone was used to grind seeds. Volunteer Tanya Cohen and archaeologist Dr. Eric Ritter sort through findings for beads, rock, obsidian, bone fragments and other artifacts, at left. Later Cohen used her trowel to extract dirt and "treasures" from a rock oven. Community news notes Swimming lessons start Monday The City of Ukiah Community Services Department will take registration for their swimming lessons Friday, 5-7 p.m.

at the municipal pool. This will be the fourth series of lessons this summer. Classes are July 30 through Aug. 10,9 to 11:45 a.m., Monday through Friday. There also are limited classes offered from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.

The infant and preschool program for 6-month- to 5-year-olds will be noon to 12:30 p.m. daily. Adults who want to learn to swim and those who would like to improve their strokes can take class from 6:15 to 7 p.m. The cost of classes is $20 for 10 half-hour lessons. For more information, call 462-5604.

Saturn featured at Lake observatory The, planet Saturn will be the star attraction at the Taylor Observatory and Planetarium, Oak Hill Lane in Kelseyville Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. There will be a slide program and viewing, watching Saturn with its rings and some of its natural satellites. Viewers will learn of new discoveries about the planet found by the Voyager satellite. The planetarium program will cover the summer night sky. Previous astronomy experience or knowledge is not necessary to enjoy these programs.

Wear warm clothing for telescope viewing. Cost is $1 for students and $2 for adults. The program is not suitable for very young children. For more information or to arrange to visit at another time, call 279-8372. The observatory and planetarium is owned and operated by the Lake County Office of Education.

ALMA meets Sunday The regular meeting of ALMA, Adoptees Liberty Movement Association, will be Sunday, July 29 at the Realty World-Nix Realty building, 245 E. Perkins pjn. Search work will be done after the open meeting. Car pooling is available from Lake County and the coast area. For more information, call 463-2724.

Still room in art workshop "There is still room in the special weekend art workshop Aug. 3, 4 and 5," says Marjorie Belt, president of the Mendocino County Art Association. Persons interested in taking the workshop in the Denson's Cookie Factory Plaza, 9621A N. Highway 101, Redwood Valley, should phone Belt at 743-1881. Participants do not need to have had any experience with art previ- pusly, or they may be artists desiring to learn new skills.

Judy and Dick Lehman, certified instructors in the Alexander method of wet-on-wet oil painting, will be giving instruction. Participants may sign up for Friday night, Saturday or Sunday, or all three. Summer classic set Consolidated Tribal Health Project will host its Inaugural Native- American Youth Baseball Summer Classic tomorrow through July 29. Opening ceremonies for the event will be at 5 p.m. Friday at the Coyote Valley Reservation.

The double-elimination tournament will feature youth teams from Mendocino County. The teams include Coyote Valley Reservation, Redwood Valley Rancheria, Laytonville Rancheria, Point Arena, Robinson Rancheria, Hintal Athletic Club and the Consolidated Tribal Health Project host team. Games will alternate between baseball field and the South Ukiah Little League field off Gobbi Street. CALENDAR TONIGHT AQUAROBICS, 530 p.m.. Municipal Pool, Todd Grove Park, Walnut Street and Park Boulevard.

Sponsored by Parks and Recreation Department. Fee, $2. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS, smokeless meeting, 6-7 p.m., 307 N. Main St, Ukiah. Phone 468-7450.

WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY, 6:30 p.m., no longer at Health Department. Call 468-8256. PARENTS UNITED, 7 p.m., a self-help group offering counseling for sexually abusive persons and adults abused as children. Phone 463-4919. Sponsored by Mendocino County Child Sexual Abuse Treatment Program.

WOMEN IN TRANSITION, 7 to 8:30 p.m., 330 N. Main St. Call Marilyn Brooks, licensed marriage, family and child therapist at 743-2128 to register. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP, sponsored by Homemakers Hospice, 7 p.m., 756 S. Dora Ukiah.

WEST COMPANY, 7 to 7:45 p.m., 413 N. State St, Ukiah. POST 1900, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, 7 p.m.. Veterans Memorial Hall, corner of Seminary Avenue and Oak Street, Ukiah. SQUARE DANCE WORKSHOP, by Ukiah Promenaders, 7:30 to 10 p.m., Frank Zeek School, 1060 N.

Bush St. Cosl $2.50 per person. Call or 463-7996. BIBLE STUDY GROUP, 7:30 p.m., 1348 S. State Apt.

5. Call 468-1647. SMOKELESS AA MEETING, 8 p.m., Senior Citizens Center, 497 Leslie St. FELLOWSHIP GROUP AA MEETING, 8 p.m., 2205 Stalest Call463-1199. FRIDAY FELLOWSHIP GROUP AA MEETINGS, 8:30 a.m., 2205 S.

StateSt. Call 463-1199. UKIAH BLOOD BANK. 8:30 to 5 p.m., Room 114, Ukiah Hospital, 1120 S. Dora St.

STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) CLINIC, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mendocino County Health Department offices, 890 Bush Ukiah. OWNERS, RENTERS ASSISTANCE, for blind, disabled and those over 60 years of age, 9 to 1130 Ukiah Senior Center. 495 Leslie St REDWOOD VALLEY TOPS (Take Oft Pounds Sensibly), 9:30 a.m., First Baptist Church, Ellen Lynn (off West Road), Redwood Valley. Call 485-8260 or 743-1133.

FAMILY PLANNING CUNIC, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Mendocino County Health Department, 890 N. Bush Ukiah. MOTHER TO MOTHER, support group.

10 to 1130 a.m., 102 Wiyat Ukiah. Call 462-2566 for information. SENIOR DAY CARE SERVICE for frail elderly, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 640 Orchard Ukiah. For arrangements call 462-7207.

SENIOR WATER EXERCISE, 10 a.m., Municipal Pool, Todd Grove Park, Walnut and Park Boulevard, Ukiah. GRACE HUDSON MUSEUM, open 10 a.m. to 4:30. 431 S. Main Ukiah.

FELLOWSHIP GROUP AA MEETINGS, 12 noon, 2205 S. StateSt Call463-1199. MENDOCINO COLLEGE COMMUNITY CHOIR, 12 noon, Room 1200, Classroom Building, campus, 1000 Henstey Creek Rd. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, meeting available. Please call 463-1206 or 468-6933.

LIQUID EMBROIDERY CLASS, 1-3 p.m., Ukiah Senior Jonter recreation building, 495 Leslie Ukiah. AQUAROBICS, 5:30 p.m., Municipal Pool, Todd Grove Park, Walnut Street and Park Boulevard. Parks and Recreation event $2..