Principal Investigator: Dr. Mark W. Allen, Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona is currently working under a Bureau of Land Management permit to conduct archaeological research at Red Mountain Spring Archaeological District near Ridgecrest, California. This area has long been identified as an important set of archaeological resources. It includes petroglyphs, extensive middens, and likely hunting blinds (Kaldenberg 1981, Steward 1929). Moreover, the district has considerable importance as a noteworthy case of cultural resource management, as it was the first formerly open area within the California Desert District to be closed to vehicular traffic in order to preserve cultural resources (Kaldenberg 1978, 1981). This project will involve students from Cal Poly Pomona who are updating information on previously recorded archaeological sites in the district, as well as recording newly discovered sites. The crew is using global positioning satellite receivers and a geographic information system to record data and to conduct analyses. Limited test excavations are being conducted at sites likely to have substantial sub-surface deposits in order to understand site structure and integrity, as well as to address the project's research questions. After fieldwork and analyses are completed, the collection (complete with catalog, records, and photographs) will be curated at the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest, California. In addition, numerous student research projects, papers, and conference presentations will be completed during the course of the project.

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