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THE FIRST LAS VEGAN

By: Mary M. Baldasano

Great earthquakes, numerous volcanic episodes, glacial advances and retreats, and continuing weather shifts, all contributed to the inevitable demise of great mammoths, camels, and other animals inhabiting the Las Vegas Valley before the arrival of humans. The theory of how humans arrived in North America is that a land bridge existed near the Bering Strait, allowing them to walk into (current) Alaska. Archeological sites in various parts of the country document humans arriving around 13,000 years ago. It took a while longer for them to reach our Valley. Did they come with slot machine and blackjack table in tow? Well no, more like atlatl, scraping stones and family in tow. Yes, they did have family groups, just not exactly what we have today.

The first recorded finding of human presence was near the Virgin River in 1827 by mountain man Jedediah Smith. Other discoveries followed in 1867 and 1885, but lacking proper scientific tools the sites were never seriously explored. The first authentic archeological efforts to prove human residence occurred at Tule Springs (now Floyd Lamb State Park) in 1933. This site places humans in the area around 11,000 years ago, the same time environmental and climatic fluctuations began to slow. The plants and animals seen today became a permanent part of the Valley's structure. Excavations reveal evidence of humans at the time the extinction of bison, horses and camels occurred. There are also gaps in habitation which remain unexplained. As prehistoric Lake Lahontan receded (north of our Valley), humans began residing in the large caves all around Nevada.

From 12,000 BC to approximately 5,000 BC, our state and Valley residents were rather like our tourist trade of today. During fine weather, they came, hunted, mined salt, gathered other food items, rested, explored, and when the weather changed or they couldn't hit their preferred jackpot, they moved on. Their weapons and tools, samples of which were found in many caves, were very basic and of crude design. Whether they belonged to groups called Clovis, Fremont, Fulsom or others is of great debate in the scientific world. What kind of humans were they? Cro-magnum? Homo sapiens? Homo erectus? A whole other article would be needed to explain, so let's just say they were of human design.

The more studied of Nevada's caves are Fishbone, Crypt, Chimney, Guano, Cowbone, and Gypsum (20 miles east of Frenchman's Peak [Sunrise Mountain]), and Lovelock (9 miles north of Moapa) found nearby. These caves, highly studied in the 1950s, presented treasures such as atlatl points and shafts, metates, flint points, blades, knives, scrapers and much more. Of course the latter items were from a time closer to 500 BC and later.

Then as now, the major attraction was mining, except of course in the current Las Vegas. However, instead of silver and gold, salt found in many of the state's caves was the prize of this developing economic structure. While our early Nevadans were living in caves and mining salt, European cultures were already developing tent structures and agricultural tendencies. North American/Nevada

 residents had no art, while again, Europeans were creating animal drawings.

It was not until 5,000 to 3,000 BC that petroglyphs were drawn throughout Nevada. In all, 17 counties contain 99 documented sites. How they were made and survived through time is contributed more to their location than method of creation. Protection from the elements and discovery was afforded by natural rock formations. Petroglyphs ended around 1,300 AD, which coincides with the arrival of Shoshone speaking groups. Cochise group members who were also food gatherers were also among them. Use of basketry, mud structures, and pottery did not begin until around 3,000 to 2,000 BC. The Lost City site located in Overton is one of the better examples of these structures. The site, found as part of the Lake Mead excavation in preparation for Hoover Dam, was relocated to prevent its loss from the formation of Lake Mead. Again, at a time when Egypt displayed great pyramids, Asia created fine art, and Jerusalem prepared for a Messiah, childlike clay figures and basic pottery were the best to be found here.

Significant habitation did not occur until 2,000 BC as revealed by items tested with carbon dating techniques. A determination was made that four distinct periods of human habitation occurred. First, the Pinto culture around 2,094 BC; second, Basketweavers 300 BC to 700 AD; third, Pueblos 700-1100 AD; and, lastly, Paiute-Pueblo 1100-1150 AD. Civilization in the southwest remained constant until around 500 BC, when ceremonial and population centers began to develop, corn was cultivated, and initial use of copper began in other parts of North America. From 1,000 BC to 500 AD, great South American cultures built their pyramids, created elaborate ceremonial practices, gold adornments, and practiced the art of war.

In Nevada, tribes such as the Washoe, Northern and Southern Paiute, Shoshone, Panaca, and others continued to travel through the state on established seasonal routes. It wasn't until 1520 AD that great cultural changes took place in North America and more specifically the southwest. The arrival of the Spanish and their missionaries altered the pace of development in such a way that it would never be the same again. Another more devastating impact was the arrival of the white man a few hundred years later.

While scientists endorse the land bridge theory, a question screams to be answered. If humans arrived by that bridge, why would the first population centers and architectural developments occur first in South America? Why would it take another 1,000 years or more and the arrival of Europeans and the Spanish to effect great advances? A point to ponder until next time when the affects of these intruders are realized. Were these affects good or bad?