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A Glimpse Into the Life of the Paiute of Lone Pine 12,000 Years Ago
So often, we don't take advantage of turning off the main highway and driving the back roads where there is a treasure of Native American culture and history to be discovered and explored. In this case it's a jog off California Highway 395 to Lone Pine where you will discover a rugged landscape created by volcanoes over 440,000 years ago and evidence of the thriving culture of the Southern Paiute Indians dating back 12,000 years. Now this is a side trip worth taking.
It was here that the Native Americans discovered a beautiful place to live, with fresh water provided by what became known as the Owens River and the dark lava rock which became the foundation of their homes and from which they sourced obsidian chips to create their tools and life implements.
Today, evidence remains from these resourceful people by the holes in the rocks where women ground seeds and nuts and by the sparkle of the obsidian flakes that glisten in the sun giving light into the resourceful hands that created tools from this volcanic glass.
Hike down and around and look closely as this treasure off the main highway. Glimpse back thousands of years to those who thrived here for thousands and thousands of years. It’s powerful in the gentlest of ways and spectacular in its stark beauty.
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Mission Statement
Smoke Signals blows your way from High Noon Western Americana of Los Angeles, California, producers of the High Noon Antique Show & Auction for 25 years (1991-2014). Smoke Signals eMagazine was founded in 2010 from a desire to share thoughts and facts with the High Noon community and look at what is going on in the Western world while feeding our readers with great recipes and giving advertisers a chance to blow their own smoke.
And hopefully we educate along the way.
Linda Kohn Sherwood, Editor