National Historic Landmark

Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site

Clearlake, Lake County, California
Listed
October 2, 1991
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
91001424

About this property

The Borax Lake Site, also known as the Borax Lake-Hodges Archaeological Site and designated by the Smithsonian trinomial CA-LAK-36, is a prehistoric archaeological site near Clearlake, California. The site, a deeply stratified former lakeshore, contains evidence of the earliest known period of human habitation in what is now California, dating back 12,000 years. A portion of the site, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, is owned and preserved by the Archaeological Conservancy. The Borax Lake site is located near the community of Clearlake, in the North Coast Ranges of northern California near Mount Konocti. The site is deflated surface site and quarry, with cultural deposits reaching a depth of more than 10 feet (3.0 m). The stratigraphy of the site suggests repeated occupation of the area across a long time period, from about 12,000 to present day. Important finds include Clovis-style projectile points fashioned out of obsidian, which was probably obtained from Borax Lake. The site was discovered in the 1930s by Chester Post, an amateur collector. He brought the site to the attention of Mark Harrington of the Southwest Museum, who performed the first formal archaeological investigation. Questions were raised then about the early dates he estimated for the site, which were previously unknown in the region. In the 1960s a technical analysis of his finds yielded confirmation of dates to 12,000 years ago. Subsequent investigations have uncovered more details of the site stratigraphy, which is described as that of a lakeshore that is gradually receding. It was one of the first human habitation sites in northern California to be found with this type of setting. A portion of Borax Lake, including the site, was acquired by the Archaeological Conservancy in 1989; it was that organization's first California site. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006. National Register of Historic Places in Lake County, California

Location

Clearlake, Lake County, California

Categories

PREHISTORIC
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site listed on the National Register?

Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1991.

What type of historic resource is Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site?

Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site?

The period of significance for Borax Lake-Hodges Archeological Site is recorded as the listed era.

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