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Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:21 am
by John Dittli
I would like to see what you have run across in the backcountry that may have historical/pre historical significance; rock art, points, shelters, rock alignments, cans etc. All of these items are of course protected under the antiquities act and must stay where you find them. Please don't include images of artifacts removed from the backcountry.
Also, please don't include specific locations to sensitive sites.

- post european contact point, northern Yosemite

- Native American bedrock mortars, Ansel Adams Wilderness

- still wondering what this is, any ideas? ~20" long. Very remote location, northern Yosemite

- Native American pictographs

- Late 19th century hand soldered "pinhole" can, Sierra crest

- High elevation Hunting blind. Southern Yosemite
Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:47 am
by Jimr
I don't have a picture, but I found an old circa 1800's Winchester rifle in Tehipite Valley. The stock is gone and the steel is severely rusted, but it lay where I found it. There is also an old stone stove held together with mortar and some old steel pipes as well. Has to be a turn of the century hardened campsite. Perhaps sheep herders or gold prospectors.
Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:33 am
by John Dittli
that sounds pretty cool for certain. I know of a flintlock in SEKI as well. I have to wonder what happened to the guys that left those guns, it's not something you would leave behind back then?
Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:39 am
by Jimr
Hard to say. Maybe it was easier, cheaper, or more expedient to just buy another if the stock broke. I imagine it would be one of those things you couldn't do without for longer than needed.
Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:57 am
by Vaca Russ
Ancient hand hewn basins used for collecting salt:

- "Sport" putting the size into perspective
See the report here:
viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8701" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
-Russ
Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:20 pm
by John Dittli
Wow Russ, just looked thru your link-that's an amazing site.
Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:29 pm
by J ney
Wall of rock art in Yosemite...
Mortar in Yosemite...

Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:55 pm
by sparky
The third pic down is a "hickey bar" used to bend steel rebar, or pipe that one of course looks very old, but the design is virtually unchanged in modern hickeys today
Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:35 pm
by Rockchucker
A pile of chopped wood 150 years old
Old wagon wheel
Pieces of an old winnowing basket
An old miners camp
Roundhouse
Wiki up

Re: Sierra antiquities in the backcountry
Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:37 pm
by John Dittli
Thanks for that Sparky, but here are a couple of closer pics. The flat end looked to have been riveted to something, and the looped end isn't forged closed very tightly. It was also of rather 'delicate" forgery.