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Wagon Jack Shelter

Wagon Jack Shelter

Wagon Jack Shelter Overview

This rock shelter was used by Native Americans at least 3,150 years ago.

It has been excavated by archaeologists and all that remains is the shelter. 

Category

Native American

Marker Type

Blue marker

Nevada Historical Marker Number

Wagon Jack Shelter is Nevada Historical Marker #110.

Click here to view the full list of Nevada State Historical Markers.

County

Churchill County, Nevada

GPS Coordinates

39.302441, -117.883495

Nevada Historical Marker Transcription

The base of this cliff is the site of Wagon Jack Shelter, excavated in 1958 by Robert F. Heizer and Martin A. Baumhoff through the University of California, Berkeley.  The archaeologists named the shelter in honor of Wagon Jack, a Western Shoshone Indian who may have camped here while working at the Eastgate Ranch around 1900.  Wagon Jack was purportedly a rabbit boss, leader of communal jackrabbit drives, in neighboring Smith Creek Valley.

A curved wall formerly extended from the cliff face and probably represented the perimeter of a prehistoric brush-covered shelter.  A variety of chipped stone projectile point styles were recovered from this site reflecting a succession of prehistoric cultures.  Eastgate Series arrow points were first described from these Eastgate archaeological sites.  Bones of bighorn sheep dominated the animal remains accompanied by a few deer and pronghorn bones.  Four stone tools or fragments of tools were associated with grinding seeds, pinenuts, and other dried foods.  A radiocarbon date from the bottom of this site indicates occupation beginning around 3,150 years ago.

STATE HISTORICAL MARKER NO.  110

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE

AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

References Used

Wagon Jack Shelter