Navy Finds Boat Effigy

[surf]

But, alas, they show no picture as of yet: Rare Artifact Found on San Clemente Island

 

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[surf]

The photo was published today:

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"SAN DIEGO (July 12, 2013) Dr. Andy Yatsko, Senior Archaeologist and Region Southwest Archaeologist for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest in San Diego, holds a small boat carving, or effigy, discovered 90 miles west of San Diego on San Clemente Island on the surface of a newly discovered archaeological site. The carving represents a canoe that was used by the California Indians who occupied the California Channels and adjacent southern California mainland at the time of the Spanish "discovery" in the 1500s. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shawnte Bryan/Released)"

"...SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- More than 1,000 years ago a Native American began carving his way into history. He started with a single stone made from submarine volcanic material. A rare form of lava that differs from the molten rock that flows on the mainland because it's harder and the vesicles, or tiny holes, are smaller making it more brittle.

However, the determined native spent hours and hours picking and grinding to manipulate the material, being careful not to break it. His final product was of a small boat carving, or effigy, used by the California Indians who occupied the California Channels and adjacent southern California mainland at the time of the Spanish "discovery" in the 1500s.

The Navy discovered this significant prehistoric artifact 90 miles west of San Diego on San Clemente Island (SCI) located mid-island on the surface of a newly discovered archaeological site.

Dr. Andy Yatsko, Senior Archaeologist and Region Southwest Archaeologist for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest in San Diego, has more than 40 years of experience in prehistoric and historic archaeology and finds the boat effigy to be unusual, yet exhilarating.

"Boat effigies like the one found are exceedingly rare in the archaeological record, with this being my first one recovered during my 30 year tenure with SCI," said Yatsko. "Finding artefact's on the surface of archaeological sites at the island is not unusual, but a rare one like this is always exciting to come across."

The effigy represents a traditional sewn plank canoe, or "ti'at" in the Gabrielino language. These canoes were typically built of redwood obtained from driftwood (whole trees) that came south from the rivers in northwestern California. The redwood was split into long, narrow planks that were joined along their edges with fiber rope and caulked with natural asphalt. They ranged in size from 8 to 30 feet, and were propelled by paddling, not sails, making the trip between the islands physically demanding..." Navy Archeologists Find Rare Artifact on San Clemente Island

 

[lookindown]

Could be a bowl.

 

[pannerman]

They're getting overexcited about a metate. Everyone wants the glory.

 

[rock]

I was going to say a dish. Like a gravy boat we have today but whatever it is its nice. Id like to find one of those.. Thanks for the post surf.

 

[Tnmountains]

Thats cool serf thanks for the read.

 

[pickaway]

Thanks for the heads up . neat artifact,