Hi there X Press2 , I live in Northern San Diego County , an “approximate” location of your planed trip .
Now , Cali is a beautiful place for sure ,beaches , Mountains , Deserts and everything in between . The Native American must have once found it a true paradise, .. And they have left a few pieces of there past lives here for us to find . There places of occupation are typically found on a small terrace with a southern exposure , within 40 yd’s of flowing water . These area’s of occupation are pock-marked with Mortar / “grinding” - holes on boulders and the bedrock . Such area’s are easy too find when walking up or down any water corse that has a good growth of Live Oak .
Mortar / "grinding" holes found in "area's" of occupation ,..hell I don't even like to use the word "site" ,.. O.K. , maybe a bit paranoid ,.. but I'm the one being watched...
Now , here’s the problem , this is the State of California , we have a WAY over reaching state government here ,... they show no or little regard toward private property and the owners of this land . There is no right minded land owner that would like to get the attention of any of are state agencies ,. With this said , no land owner needs to have any type of cultural material found on there land . Time and time again I’ve seen where good people have “given” the State pieces [even in the middle] of there land ,... was the “cheapest” way out for ‘em !! This is not all land , deemed for housing devolvement , but land used for agriculture ,.. Can’t even put a plow to it !And we have Judges that will go along with the State on it !! Yeah F..... Crazy ,.. I know !
Anyway ,...... I believe it is still legal to surface collect on private property with owners permission . I would not attempt to dig for artifacts on private property for several reasons , One is I don’t believe there’s a need to disturb any intact archaeological site for a few points . Two , it’s also well known ,out here in Cali that Valley fever [fugual] is present in the cultural medians , bad stuff ! And last , but not lest , this is California , the State would not like it , and would have there Judges bring there hammer down on me ,.. And the land owner .
State & Federal and local government lands are of corse off limit for collecting .
If I may suggest ,.. Maybe try a different “game” out here on your visit to Cali . Maybe the Tourmaline Mines of San Diego , google it and you’ll find a host of sites like ; Oceanview Mine [
www.digforgems.com] and there was a tour related to the Himalaya Mine , this also looked good [
www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com] both of these didn’t look like the “salted-bucket” type mines ,IMO . You also may like to try one of the many Gold Prospecting Clubs , maybe one would sponsor/let you go on one of there outings ?? S.P.M.A. of lemon Grove is a good one , good bunch of people there !
Yeah ,,... O’ Cali isn’t like the fine State of Iowa ,. Where you can ,for the most part ask any farmer to hunt for arrow-heads in his field and receive permission ,. . not say’n Cali farmers are a bunch of A$$-H%’s ,... just the people a run’n are State .
Hope this helps ,....Blindpig ..
