Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

The HQ site is the most extensively investigated of several currently known focal points of aboriginal life around Malheur Lake. A wide-ranging archaeological reconnaissance of the Refuge in 1973 and 1974 resulted in the identification of 166 sites of ancient human activity around Malheur and Harney lakes and south along the Blitzen River (Newman et al. 1974). Widely scattered and often abundant surface traces suggest that most such spots were visited many times over the years for brief periods, probably for some specific purpose. Deep, rich accumulations of artifacts, bones, and other cultural remains that bespeak long-term occupation of a specific place are much less common. The HQ site is one such accumulation; others so far known include the Squaw PU site (35HA1038) on the north shore of Malheur Lake, and the Blitzen Marsh (35HA9) and Diamond Marsh (35HA1263) sites in the riparian area south of the lake (Fagan 1973, 1974; Goddard 1974; Aikens 1983a; Toepel et al. 1985). The geographical placement of these four sites (and other evidence) suggests that each was a center for local exploitation of plant and animal resources (Fig. 1).This paper compares data obtained during 1985 research at the HQ site to the results of earlier work there and at the other three sites to define a prehistoric Malheur lakeshore culture and place it in the broader context of the prehistory of the Desert West.