Wally
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Mexican archaeologists find the bow of a 210-year-old canoe
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=640...
MEXICO CITY.- In the southern limits of the state of Baja California, in the dunes of one of the coasts of the lagoon complex of Ojo de Liebre and
Guerrero Negro, archaeologists rescued the bow of a 210-year-old canoe. It is speculated that either this canoe was fabricated by Bajacalifornian
Indians or it was dragged by north currents and reused by the groups that inhabited the peninsula. This vestige, found in the Manuela Lagoon, is part
of a series of canoe discoveries registered by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), throughout the Bajacalifornian coast of the
Pacific ocean, all along the Rosarito Beach all the way towards El Vizcaino; here they have also found wood trunks that derive of great and now
extinct trees in the peninsula. The investigator, Laura Romero Padilla, exposed the before mentioned after highlighting that these discoveries derive
from explorations made by the INAH Center in Baja California, directed by archaeologist Antonio Porcayo, in some cases in collaboration with the
Subaquatic Archeology Subdivision of the Institute, as is the case of the canoe rescue in Laguna Manuela. “There are early evidences that suggest that
plank canoes of the Chumash natives –American Indians south of California–, which date back to 950 and 1150 after Christ. Also, the ethnographic work
between the Tolowa natives (tribe in the north of California) narrate their voyages as they would advance deep into the sea to make ritualistic
activities, such as the annual hunt of the sea lion. Another example that should be highlighted is the case of the Tule rafts and the canoes of the
coast of California as well as the Seri vessels”. “We don’t know if the canoe was made by Bajacalifornian natives or if it arrived north by the
currents, because the coast where we discovered the canoe is prone to the arrival of many different objects. Also, in the islands we have also found
very big trunks of different kinds of wood which originate from the north of the continent, they are not native to Mexico”. Judging by the
characteristics of the canoe, the specialist thinks that it wasn’t used to navigate the sea, “it’s pretty small and light; the canoes meant for deep
sea regularly had a higher bow that would help them break waves and were much heavier in order to resist the strength of the currents”. Some
investigators have proposed that the first canoes for the sea were the Tomol, however it’s also argued that they were not the only ones capable to
make sea voyages, since there are also Tule rafts and canoes in the coast of California, whose capacity was demonstrated by the Seri of Sonora, when
they made deep sea voyages transporting people and merchandise through rough waters.
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mtgoat666
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http://www.inah.gob.mx/boletines/14-hallazgos/6684-extraen-d...
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BajaGeoff
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Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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Cooooooool!
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BajaLuna
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WOW that IS awesome! Thanks for letting us know!
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Bwana_John
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I thought everybody in Baja has one of these in their front yard being used as a trash dumpster?
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monoloco
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According to the article that goat posted, they should be able to determine the origin of the proa once they verify which species of cypress it's made
from.
"The future ain't what it used to be"
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DianaT
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What a good find and good they found it before it became someone's yard art! 
[Edited on 7-30-2013 by DianaT]
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David K
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGeoff
Cooooooool! |
ditto
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BajaBlanca
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Way cool!
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Kgryfon
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Awesome!
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John M
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Article cited by mtgoat666
EXTRACT OF SAND CANOE REMAINS OVER 200 YEARS
*** INAH experts rescued the bow of the old boat, which was found in the dunes of the coasts of Scammon lagoon complex and Black Warrior, Baja
California *** The discovery of this and other canoes along the Baja California coast, are of great importance to reconstruct the history of
navigation in that state in the southern limits of the state of Baja California, in the dunes of the shores of the lagoon complex Scammon and Black
Warrior, was rescued the bow of a canoe than 210 years old, possibly made by indigenous bajacalifornianos or dragged by the currents of
the North, and reused by the groups that inhabited the peninsula. This remnant, found in the Laguna Manuela, is part of a series of discoveries of
remains of canoes recorded by researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), along the coast of the Pacific Ocean Baja
California, from Rosarito Beach to El Vizcaino, there have also found logs derived from large trees exist on the peninsula, such as gender and red
giant coastal redwoods, used by the ancient Indians to make boats. Likewise, in the islands Arena and San Jose del Faro and Gulf of California, INAH
has also discovered, recorded and recovered ancient canoes, some created and used by groups of the west coast of the United States. researcher Laura
Padilla Romero released the above, noting that the findings derived from scans performed by the Baja California INAH Center, led by archaeologist
Antonio Porcayo, in some cases in collaboration with the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the Institute, as in the case of rescue canoe Laguna
Manuela. Underwater Archaeologist said these discoveries have been of great importance to reconstruct the history of navigation in Baja California,
which was important for activity groups throughout the Pacific coast of North America, not only at sea but practiced in rivers, canals and estuaries.
From very early times was implemented different building canoes, whose use was a function of the aquatic environment that is intended to navigate.
"There is early evidence of the plank canoe of the indigenous Amerindians Chumash-Southern California-, dating from 950 to 1150 AD. Furthermore,
ethnographic between Tolowa Indians (tribe of Northern California) narrated cruises when penetrated at sea for ritual activities such as the annual
hunt sea lion. Another case in point are the tule rafts and canoes off the coast of California, as the Seri craft capable of intrainsulares trips from
Isla Tiburon to San Esteban Island. " Padilla Romero explained that the bow of the canoe Laguna Manuela was found fragmented into three-on a
sandy-soil consistency, some leaning to the surface and a less than 20 inches below sand dune. Once excavated, fragments moved to Mexicali where
samples were taken laboratory studies. So far the results have yielded an age of 210 years (Analytuc Beta labs in Florida). Also in the Division of
Laboratories of the INAH, in Mexico City, after a careful analysis under the microscope, it was confirmed that the wood is cypress ( Cupressus ). "We
do not know if the canoe was made by the Indians of Baja California or if it arrived north by currents, because the coast where we found
above any kind of objects in the islands also found very large trunks of other woods from the north of the continent, which do not exist in Mexico. "
Laura Romero has not specified that know if the vessel is associated with a specific culture, "we can not say whether California Indians worked or
came by currents from the north and beached in Laguna Manuela, we need manufacturing studies for more information." Underwater Archaeologist
explained that not all cultures of northern canoe worked the same way. Wood, on the type of tree is not the same throughout the coast. The cypress is
the corresponding this canoe-gender has been identified as northern Mexico and southwestern United States, but it is necessary to determine the
particular species to know where the wood comes from, because it is limited to certain parts. By the characteristics of the canoe, the specialist
thinks that should not be used to navigate in the sea, "is quite small and light; regularly for deep sea canoes had a higher bow that helped break the
waves and were heavier to resist current strength. " Some researchers have proposed that the first sea canoes were tomol , but it is also argued that
they were the only ones capable of making sea voyages, as they are tule rafts and canoes off the coast of California, whose capacity was demonstrated
by the Seri of Sonora intrainsulares trips and transport people and goods across treacherous waters covered. Laura Romero also detailed in Cedros
Island was no evidence of canoes whose trunks measured from 3.16 to 4.03 meters long, and in some cases were associated with hotplates, shells and
lithic surface. "With this research we want to check how important was sailing in Baja California." Laguna Manuela's canoe INAH in custody in
Mexicali, where is studied. Is planned for future manufacturing testing to propose a possible processing technique. Also, the search continues for the
stern is still buried in the dunes of the Pacific coast, to meet more elements will be taken to ensure if only sailed with her via
coastal and rivers or used it to sail the sea.
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