Bear Paw Petroglyphs and the Prehistoric Martis Complex

1994 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Willis A. Gortner
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
Frequent Use

People of the Martis Complex occupied lands adjoining the north-central Sierra Nevada from approximately 2000 B.C. to 500 A.D. They left their rock art on 100 or more rock outcroppings. The appearance of glyphs clearly resembling a bear paw or bear track at several dozen petroglyph sites suggested that this symbol in the north-central Sierra Nevada might be unique to the Martis people. A review of the occurrence of bear paw glyphs at ninety nine recorded sites in Nevada and 265 petroglyph sites in California showed that none of these glyphs appeared at the 293 sites more than 90 km from Martis territory. By contrast, 133 bear paw glyphs were recorded at twenty-nine sites in or near Martis territory. The frequent use of the bear paw symbol in the Martis rock art suggests that it may be a ritualistic symbol related to a bear cult, bear clan, or a family or clan totem in the culture of these prehistoric people.

Mycorrhizae of Abies concolor in California

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1345-1350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel F. Alvarez ◽  
Fields W. Cobb Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Abies Concolor ◽  
North Central ◽  
Chemical Reagents ◽  
The North ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
White Fir ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Cenococcum Graniforme

Nine different types of mycorrhizae were observed on naturally occurring white fir seedlings in the north central Sierra Nevada, including one formed by the ubiquitous Cenococcum graniforme. The macro- and micro-scopic characteristics and reactions to different chemical reagents are described for five types. Possible mycorrhizal fungi of white fir are listed. Nursery-grown seedlings examined were ectomycorrhizal; intracellular penetration was not observed. None of the naturally occurring mycorrhizal types were found on nursery seedlings.

Mycorrhizae and growth of white fir seedlings in mineral soil with and without organic layers in a California forest

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel F. Alvarez ◽  
David L. Rowney ◽  
Fields W. Cobb Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Lateral Roots ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
North Central ◽  
Organic Layers ◽  
Total Length ◽  
The North ◽  
White Fir

White fir (Abiesconcolor (Gord. et Glend.) Lindl.) seedlings appear to survive and grow better in mineral soil alone than in mineral soil with organic layers. To determine whether the better growth observed in seedlings in mineral soil (M), compared with those in mineral soil with organic layers (MO), could be related to the incidence of mycorrhizae in their root systems, natural M and MO seedlings were examined from five sites in the north central Sierra Nevada. Statistical analysis of the data showed that seedling dry weight was significantly related to total length of roots, number of main lateral roots, and presence of mycorrhizae on the roots. Dry weight, total length of roots, total number of mycorrhizal tips, and number of mycorrhizal tips per centimetre of roots were significantly higher for M compared with MO seedlings. Age, number of main lateral roots, and number of mycorrhizal tips per centimetre of roots are highly significant in distinguishing M from MO seedlings. The data indicate that mycorrhizae play an important role in the growth of white fir seedlings, and that both growth and presence of mycorrhizae are favored by the absence of organic layers.

Evidence for a Prehistoric Petroglyph Trail Map in the Sierra Nevada

1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willis A. Gortner
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Topographic Map ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
Map Interpretation ◽  
American River ◽  
North Fork

A single petroglyph site in the North-Central Sierra Nevada in the upper watershed of the North Fork of the American River has a unique glyph with meandering and connecting wavy lines that are now proposed as trail maps. A tracing of this glyph was made from a photograph, and this was then placed with the same compass alignment on a topographic map showing all petrographic sites along the North Fork watershed. The ability to superimpose and accurately orient the glyph tracing over a map of these petroglyph sites, and the presence of petroglyphs on seventy-seven individual rock outcroppings mostly within 50 m of the presumed trails, support the trail map interpretation of this rock carving. It is suggested that a hunt shaman may have incised this glyph for ritualistic use.

The Martis Complex Revisited

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert B. Elsasser ◽  
Willis A. Gortner
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Great Basin ◽  
Original Description ◽  
North Central ◽  
Carbon 14 ◽  
The North ◽  
New Information ◽  
Prehistoric Culture ◽  
Diagnostic Traits

In 1953 a prehistoric culture was first identified in the western Great Basin and the north-central Sierra Nevada and termed the “Martis Complex.” Since questions have been raised about the characterization of this Complex, this article is a review of research and adds new field data since its original description. Of nine traits originally proposed to identify the Martis Complex, two had been questioned at that time; they remain as questionable traits. The other seven have been reinforced by more recent data, and three new diagnostic traits are proposed on the basis of new information on the Complex. Recent dating by carbon-14 and obsidian hydration measurements affirm the existence of the Martis Complex between 2000 B.C. and 500 A.D.

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