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Abstract
Southern Nevada is rich in irreplaceable cultural resources that include archeological remains, historic sites, cultural landscapes, and other areas of significance to Native Americans and other cultural groups. This chapter provides information related to Goal 2 in the SNAP Science Research Strategy, which is to “Provide for responsible use of Southern Nevada’s lands in a manner that preserves heritage resources and promotes an understanding of human interaction with the landscape.” Specifically, it addresses Sub-goal 2.1, which is to “Develop an understanding of human interactions with the environment through time” (see table 1.1). The summary presents a review of human occupation in the region as derived from studies of southern Nevada’s cultural resources. The depth with which these questions can be discussed is dependent upon the nature and extent of archeological survey coverage of the region and the nature of the resources themselves (fig. 8.1). The area shows wide ranging use of resources and environmental zones over time. The focus of this overview is on the time periods primarily informed by archeological sources, which is roughly from 11,950 BP (10,000 BC) to 100 BP (AD 1850). This period encompasses the end of the Pleistocene/beginning of the Holocene until occupation by Euro-Americans.
Parent Publication
Keywords
Mojave,
Great Basin,
anthropogenic disturbance,
climate change,
invasive species,
altered fire regimes,
water resources,
species of conservation concern,
restoration,
heritage resources,
recreation,
ecosystem resilience,
science-based management
Citation
Raish, Carol B. 2013. Human interactions with the environment through time in southern Nevada [Chapter 8] (Executive Summary). In: Chambers, Jeanne C.; Brooks, Matthew L.; Pendleton, Burton K.; Raish, Carol B., eds. The Southern Nevada Agency Partnership Science and Research Synthesis: Science to support land management in Southern Nevada - Executive Summary. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-304. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 51-59.
