Seeking Evidence of Tribal Fires

[Adsos Letter]

Source: ScienceMatters@Berkeley
by Kathleen M. Wong

The first Europeans to visit California marveled at a place seemingly untouched by human hands. In fact, the coastal prairies and open meadows so characteristic of the state may have been the result of fires set by native peoples. Tribal traditions, historical accounts, and other evidence suggest that native peoples used burning extensively to shape their environment.

"A number of studies have shown that fire would have benefited native peoples, but questions remain about the scale and frequency of fire management going back in time," says Berkeley professor of anthropology Kent Lightfoot. An expert on California Indians and early European colonization, Lightfoot is now directing an in-depth scientific study of prescribed burning by Native Americans, funded by the National Science Foundation.

Burning could have helped indigenous Californians in many ways. For example, fires set on a regular, rotating basis would have kept plants at a variety of maturity stages. "If you're a hunter-gatherer living off the land, burning allows you a lot more choice, especially if there's a period of drought or a particularly wet year," Lightfoot says.

Fire would have increased the selection of foods as well. "The kinds of plants that get used by native peoples are the ones that do really well with fire," Lightfoot says. Studies have shown that fire increases both plant growth and diversity, and that the appearance of better browse afterward can double or triple deer, rabbit and other game occurrences. Flames also clear overgrown trails, and encourage the growth of the straight shoots preferred in basket making.

http://sciencematters.berkeley.edu/archives/volume6/issue49/story2.php

[The Straight Story]

1. Interesting reading (off to link to finish reading, a kick for you though) (nt)

[The Straight Story]

2. I found this in the article are really cool:

"The researchers select sites to sample using methods such magnetometry, which can detect rocks heated by fire, and ground-penetrating radar. When they find evidence of human occupation, the soil is "floated" to separate charred seeds and charcoal from larger bone, shell, and tool fragments. Floating has already yielded surprising quantities of hazelnut shells. The Spanish described hazelnut trees in the valley surrounded by burned grass. Yet no wild hazelnuts occur there now, suggesting they disappeared when burning stopped. "

Never really had heard of magnetometry before. It all sounds like an episode of 'Bones' :)

[Adsos Letter]

3. They are making greater use of ground penetrating radar in archaeological surveys

often simply identifying structures, etc., and leaving them unexcavated until funds, etc. can be procured.

Merry Christmas The Straight Story!

Edit: forgot to add the smiley :toast:

[The Straight Story]

4. If I had a bucket list I would add an Archaeological dig to it

A friend of mine in Ridgecrest, CA went on one once, as a volunteer, said it was awesome. Hard work, lots of sifting and was slow and methodical, but he said you could feel the excitement in the air. He said "It was hot, we started early, and it was not like the movies, you just go slow through it all but it felt like a treasure hunt, the adrenaline kept me going more than anything else."

He was 71 when he went.

[denbot]

5. Shoshone and Mono peoples used to set fires to keep meadows open.

In the high elevation forests, open meadow area was rare and highly valued. In southern California we have a fire biome, so I doubt if the locals had to torch the local flora too often.

[XemaSab]

6. Very cool article

:D