SIERRA NEVADA HOUSE UPDATE

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 20^th 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.

Sierra Nevada House circa 1890

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.

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 28^th 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.