The Topanga Culture: Final Report on Excavations, 1948 — John Shaqi
The Topanga Culture: Final Report on Excavations, 1948Treganza, Adan E. (Adan Eduardo)
History
The Topanga Culture: Final Report on Excavations, 1948
Treganza, Adan E. (Adan Eduardo)
California -- Antiquities; Topanga Canyon (Calif.)
The following excerpts are from the same letter and contain more detailed
information regarding archaeological occurrences: "A decomposed burial was
uncovered four feet east of a cog stone and at the same depth.... Three
fine specimens were found close together under four oblong slabs of
fossilized limestone, a pectin shell and a blue piece of granite.... A cog
stone was uncovered twenty-five inches below the surface, 19 inches
northeast by north from a large metate, in plot #10-b. Upon further
investigation, the metate proved to be resting on the stones of a
fireplace from which a few broken human bones protruded. Twelve inches
north of the fireplace ... a mano was found with the cog stone."
The above excerpts were from the Banning Site. The following are from the
Norris Site: "Three cog stones, #39, #40, #41, were found at a depth of
39 inches. These cog stones rested in the clay on edge. Flat surfaces
parallel to each other. These cog stones were found close to a fireplace
about two feet square and also close to a burial ... two cog stones were
uncovered. These cog stones were one on top of the other and rested on the
clay which underlies the kitchen midden. A cog stone was found in test
hole #14 at a depth of 3-1/2 feet, 8 inches below the bottom of the
excavations in a pit. Abalone shell covered the top of the cog stone ...
three cog stones one on top of the other.... This is the first fragment of
a cog stone ever encountered in our excavation. We found a few with cogs
or pieces broken from them but the Indians generally made an attempt to
mend them. This would seem to indicate a ceremonial rather than a
practical use."
These instances serve to indicate such objects were held in high esteem at
least for the two sites mentioned. None of the Tank Site specimens was
patched nor did any two occur in the same immediate area; however,
parallels exist in the forms, materials, the near association of metates,
and at least two burial forms. Also, we recognize no utilitarian role in
which these curious objects could have functioned.
Last season's cog stones were all fragmentary. This year three complete
specimens were found.
1. Beveled disk, biconically drilled. The specimen is indented at even
intervals, resembling somewhat a perforated metal tapered gear or a
fish vertebra. Height, 3.8 cm.; diameter at base, 8.8 cm. Material a
fine-grained basalt (pl. 23, _a_).
2. Slightly beveled disk. The periphery is grooved at even intervals
producing a cog effect. Both the flat surfaces are slightly pitted at
the center of the disk. Height, 4.7 cm.; average diameter, 8.5 cm.
Material a rough escoriated basalt (pl. 23, _c_).
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