The Prehistory of Southwestern Humboldt County: A Study of Coastal Archaeological Sites in the King Range National Conservation Area, Humboldt County, California (BLM)

A doctoral dissertation investigating coastal shell middens within the King Range National Conservation Area of southwestern Humboldt County, California. This archaeological investigation was designed to identify native settlement-subsistence practices, season of site use, and temporal placement. Sources of data include discussion of environmental, ethnographic, linguistic and archaeological context. Ana lyses of archaeo1ogical site structure, artifacts, marine and terrestrial mammalian fauna, coastal avifauna, fishes and invertebrate remains are presented. The study identified temporary food processing stations and residential encampments, occupied primarily during the spring-summer 'months. The settlement history of southwestern Humboldt County reveals a very gradual intensification of coastal resource use and archaeological site occupation, ranging in age from 2,500 B.P. to the historic period. Twelve coastal archaeological sites are discussed.