Material Culture of an Upper Coulee Rockshelter

Extract

Though the number of recovered cultural remains are few, the authors believe that the brief description and analysis of these artifacts are important, as site 45GR2 is the first dry shelter to be excavated in the Columbia Plateau.

The area itself falls into the Upper Sonoran life zone. The plateau above the coulee is generally treeless and is more or less well covered with bunch grass. Lupines and sunflowers are important parts of the flora. In the coulee, ground water is more available, and better stands and more species of grasses are present. Successful wheat farms and a few orchards indicate that the area must, at least during certain seasons, have had an extensive floral cover. Aspen, willow, alder, and cottonwoods are found near the springs. The draws support heavy stands of brushy growth, with sage being outstanding. Juniper (cedar) trees are found both on the plateau and in the coulee. The bottom of the coulee, at least during and after the spring and early summer rains, is swampy, and standing water was probably present in earliest times in some places throughout most of the year. Rodents, small carnivore, and bird populations are large. The mule deer was no doubt the largest game animal of importance.