Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

This paper examines the use of V-style sh traps on the western recessional shorelines of ancient Lake Cahuilla. We use multiple lines of evidence to examine the function of these traps, including ethnographic data, sh biology, excavations of sh traps, and experimental replication of sh trap designs. Our study indicates that biological characteristics of the sh were central to the effectiveness of the traps and dictated trap placement and design.