Sierra Nevada House circa 1890
The California State University - Sacramento (CSUS)
archaeological field crew have begun excavations at Marshall Gold Discovery
State Historic Park. CSUS archeologists have spent the last year and one
half exploring the site of the Weller Hardware Store, the Coloma Hook and
Ladder Company and Apothecary store properties. Our investigations have
revealed just how extensive the Gold Rush really was. The entire block had
been mined down to bedrock and refilled with the washed cobbles that
remained.
This year (1999) our research will focus on the Sierra
Nevada House Site, another early Gold Rush era business. The hotel was owned
and operated by Mr. Robert Chalmers during its heyday in the 1850's. At that
time the Sierra Nevada House was well known for its fancy parties. Men and
women from nearby mining camps traveled to Coloma to attend the festivities
at the house. The hotel remained in operation until it was destroyed by fire
in 1902 but was quickly rebuilt. During the early part of the 20th
century the hotel served as a silent movie theatre and community hall. Some
of the local residents still fondly remember the good times they had there.
The Sierra Nevada House was completely lost to fire in 1925.
Over the next several months, we will be conducting
excavations at the site of the Sierra Nevada House to see if anything
remains of the original structure. We will also be looking for clues about
the town's original inhabitants - people like Robert Chalmers.
|
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| Robert Chalmers |
Louisa Chalmers |
Please keep checking this page for updates
on our activities or stop by at visit us on Saturdays at Coloma. Teachers
interested in bringing archaeology into the classroom should contact Wendy
Rouse at CSUS, Anthropology Department, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA,
95819-6106. (916) 278-6452. Email: sac8627@saclink.csus.edu.
Meet the Archaeology Team
On this page you will meet the archaeology students and volunteers who
are excavating the Sierra Nevada House. We are a diverse crew, ranging
in ages and experience but we all share a fascination with digging for
the past! Our field crew consists of undergraduate and graduate
students, volunteers, and folks who are not afraid to get dirty.
Left to Right Standing: Linda Vittitow, Susan Powers, Maggie Craw,
Phil Smith, Kimberly Burden, Betty Falltrick, John Velasquez, Dan
Patrick, Wendy Rouse and Jim Falltrick. Left to Right Kneeling: Tina
Pitsenberger, Chelsea Carlock, Bonnie Murphy, Scott Bailey, Dylan
Stapleton, Aaron Copelan and Joe Brehm.
Here are two more of our crew! They are working together in a
trench unit.
Dan Patrick, on the left, is veteran volunteer in archaeology who has
participated in CSUS field classes for many years. He has excavated
sites in Cypress and Israel and brings to the Coloma dig much
experience. Chelsea Carlock is on the right. She is an anthropology
major, working on a minor in art education. She will be graduating May
28th this year. After she graduates, Chelsea plans to go on a
Boulder Outdoor Survival School field class to either Brazil or Mexico
where she will live as the native population has for centuries. Sounds
exciting Chelsea!
Meet Dylan and Scott.
On the left is Dylan Stapleton who is taking his third field class in
archaeology. He is interested in classical archaeology and will be
graduating with a degree in anthropology and a minor in geology in
Spring 2000. Scott Bailey enjoys Greek and Sumerian mythology. He is
also an anthropology major graduating at the same time as Dylan, and is
a Golden Key National Honor Society member. He plans to earn a Master's
degree in psychological anthropology after his graduation.
Susan Powers is climbing out of a quadrant that is over 5' deep!
After working full time for years, Susan decided to quit work in 1996
and become a full time student. She became interested in anthropology
after taking a lower division course in the subject at American River
College. As an animal lover, Susan has enjoyed rescuing the many little
animals that have appeared during the dig such as frogs, beetles,
scorpions and the more unusual horse-hair worm.
Sample of artifacts taken from the
unit shown above.
The ornamental metal piece at the top is probably a decorative segment
from an old stove. Below that an old Indian head penny, a hook, a washer
and small rodent bone. Other units have produced items such as bottles,
metal construction spikes, buttons, earthen-ware plate and an intact
liquor bottle. The large stone in the back gowned was excavated from the
site, also. Lots of melted glass, pottery fragments and nails also show
up regularly. All of these artifacts help piece together the historic
past of Coloma.
Susan and Bonnie excavated this unit until no more cultural artifacts
were being uncovered. At this point photographs were taken and
stratigraphy mapping was done before the unit was filled back up with
the discarded rocks and soil. Filling the unit took half a day -- a
fraction of the time it took to excavate it! Very shortly grass will
grow over the 5 X 5 unit and it will match the surrounding area. It is
important to leave the site as we found it.
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