Bone discovery found on state, not federal land

A U.S. Forest Service survey this week determined that bones found on C Hill were on state, not federal land as first suspected. The issue has now been turned over to the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office.

Alice Baldrica with the Cultural Affairs department of the Preservation Office, said the opinions of the three archaeologists who looked at the bones Monday and believed them to be of American Indian descent were sufficient enough to meet state requirements for identification.

Archaeologists study artifacts, whereas physical anthropologists study bones, said Dr. Kevin Rafferty, president of the Archaeo-Nevada Society and chair of the Department of Human Behavior at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.

Rafferty said while an archaeologist may be familiar with the physical characteristics of different cultures and ethnicities, someone versed specifically in that principle would be better suited to make a final determination.

"You obviously have to be a real expert to really be able to determine ethnicity," he said.

The bones will eventually be turned over to the Washoe Tribe, who have laid claim to them.

Baldrica said there will be no other examination of the leg, arm, skull fragments, vertebrae, or the late-19th century blue ceramic button buried 4-feet-deep and a quarter-mile up the hill from Curry Street.

On Monday, a Sierra Pacific Power company backhoe was digging in the area on the southeast side of the hill when the operator realized he'd unearthed human remains.

The crew immediately ceased operations and called police, said Faye Anderson, power company spokesman.

Investigators from the Carson City Sheriff's Department responded. Because of the close proximity of the find to the Carson Colony, the officers from the Sheriff's Department called the Washoe Tribe. The U.S. Forest Service was also called as they are the manager of what was initially thought to be federal land.

Archaeologists from the Nevada State Museum, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service all agreed that the remains appeared to be of a woman in her late 30s to early 40s. The teeth, said museum archaeologist Gene Hattori, had wear like that found on Native American remains. But, Hattori noted, that type of wear may also be found on Asian remains.

During the 1870s, Carson City had a overall population of 3,042, with 692 of them being Chinese, according to Census documents. The 1880 U.S. decennial census identified 802 Chinese in Carson City with a overall population of 4,229 and 988 Chinese in Ormsby County.

State Archivist Guy Rocha said the area in which the remains were found is close to where the Gardner Ranch was located from 1861 to 1908, when Matthew C. Gardner died and was buried in the Lone Mountain Cemetery.

"A burial next to the ranch. It may have been associated with the ranch, it may have been a family member," said Rocha.

A news article from the Morning Appeal, dated Nov. 10, 1903, details a fight amongst American Indians who lived in a hut on the outskirts of the Ranch.

Poker Jim, the hut owner, had some friends over for drinks one evening when he was forced to evict one of them, according to Rocha.

When Poker Jim went to bed, the banished man and another individual returned and stabbed Poker Jim in his sleep.

"Jim had life left to get onto his feet and turn a shotgun loose on the retreating enemy," the story reads.

The blast struck one of the men, who stumbled off into the brush and died. The other man fled to Gardnerville, the report states.

"The question is, 'Where did he die and where did they bury him?'" Rocha asked. "Poker Jim lived near the Gardner Ranch."

Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.