Excavations at The Oasis of Mara: Archeological Investigations at Joshua Tree National Monument

The Oasis of Mara is one of five palm oases in the Joshua Tree National Monument and represents the northernmost palm oasis in the western hemisphere. The National Park Service has proposed the installation of subsurface waterlines from the Visitor Center to the palm stands in order to supplement the available water supply, thus protecting the trees and preserving the natural integrity of the oasis. This Park Service proposal led to the initiation of archeological test excavations in the oasis by the Western Archeological and Conservation Center archeologists between April 7 and May 4, 1983. The goal of this project is the definition and assessment of surface and subsurface archeological remains at the Oasis of Mara in order to determine the potential of the area for future work.