CSUS ARCHAEOLOGY AT COLOMA

CSUS student Patricia Petersen excavating a unit on the apothecary site.

The CSU Sacramento (CSUS) archaeological field crew is busily getting ready to begin excavations at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park this February. CSUS archaeologists have spent the last year and a half exploring the site of the Weller Hardware Store, Hook and Ladder Company and Apothecary store properties. Our investigations 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.

 

The 1997/1998 excavations also uncovered a mining tunnel which led from the site of the hardware store underneath the road to the Weller house basement across the street. Research into historic documents suggested that the practice of mining beneath the road was common throughout the gold rush. However, local townsfolk complained when these activities caused the road to cave in.

Chinese and Euroamerican miners during the gold rush.

This year (1999) our research will focus on the Sierra Nevada House site, another early gold rush era business. Mr. Robert Chalmers owned and operated the hotel and restaurant during its heyday in the 1850s. 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. The house, however, was quickly rebuilt. During the early 20th century the hotel served as a silent movie theater and community hall. Some local residents still remember the great times they had there. The Sierra Nevada was completely lost to fire in 1926.             Over the next several months CSUS archaeologists will be conducting excavations at the site of the Sierra Nevada House to see if anything remains of the original structure. Archaeologists will also be looking for clues about the town's original inhabitants - people like Robert Chalmers. Please keep checking this page for updates on our activities or stop by and see us on Saturdays at Coloma. Teachers interested in bringing archaeology into the classroom should contact Wendy Rouse at CSUS Sacramento, Anthropology Department, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6106. (916) 278-6452. Email: sac86276@saclink.csus.edu