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Dave Dulitz, 1996
Dave Dulitz, CAL FIRE Forester, was recognized in 1996 for his successful efforts to identify and manage prehistoric and historic archaeological sites located within Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest, a 4500-acre tract of state-owned timberland in eastern Tulare County. Dave's career at Mountain Home began in 1974 with his appointment as Assistant Forest Manager. He was later promoted to Forest Manager in 1979, a position he still currently fills. Only two confirmed archaeological sites were known to exist at Mountain Home when he first became forest manager. One of these sites, located at Sunset Point Campground, was being frequented by forest visitors as a place to view a grouping of the so-called "Indian Bathtubs" which are curious pothole depressions found in granite outcroppings in this area, and a small cluster of bedrock mortars located nearby. Dave recognized that the midden deposit at Sunset Point was being damaged through uncontrolled visitation by forest visitors and the unauthorized collection and removal of artifacts visible on the surface of the site. These included numerous small obsidian projectile points and flakes, and ceramic sherds made from a local pottery type known as Owens Valley Brownware. Dave temporarily discontinued public visitation at Sunset Point and initiated a multi-year archaeological survey program designed to locate all archaeological sites on the forest and provide a baseline of information from which to develop a management plan for their protection and interpretation. Dave's efforts to complete a cultural resource inventory of the forest began in 1982 when he hired a professional archaeologist as part of his seasonal work force for the summers of 1982-1983. During this two-ear period, Dave supervised and assisted in the intensive archaeological survey of the entire forest. This project led to the identification of 36 archaeological sites - 22 prehistoric, 13 historic, and one isolated find. All of these sites have been formally recorded and protected during subsequent timber sale activities conducted at Mountain Home, however, Dave wanted to further explore the function, antiquity, and complexity of the archaeological record so as to more accurately interpret the regional prehistory to forest visitors. Of particular interest was to shed light on the century-old question pertaining to the creation of the enigmatic "Indian Bathtubs" and how these curious features may have been used by the prehistoric inhabitants of the southern Sierra Nevada. Over the course of the next several years, Dave was successful in his continued requests to obtain funding for archaeological research on the forest. His persuasive arguments and postponement of other research priorities enabled limited funding to be secured for archaeological excavations at three prehistoric sites on the forest: Methuselah, Vincent Springs, and Sunset Point. These sites were investigated by Dr. William Wallace and Dr. Brian Dillon - two notable scholars in California Archaeology. They were attracted to the research by Dave's offer to provide full-time assistance from seasonal forestry aids and the opportunity to stay several weeks at the historic cabin known as "The House that Jack Built." Dr. Wallace's research explored the variation between the sites and led to the development of a regional chronology and site typology. Dr. Dillon's research focused on the Sunset Point site and led to the remarkable discovery of an archaic-period component beneath the midden; a period of occupation at Sunset Point beginning approximately 8000 years ago. Through these studies conducted at Mountain Home the archaeological record of the southern Sierra Nevada region has become more clear, and the state can now more accurately interpret the "Indian Bathtubs." In 1992 Dave began the development of an interpretive trail at Sunset Point. This project, completed in 1994, features a lined pathway through the site with five signboards providing information concerning the archaeological research conducted at the site, how the bedrock mortars and rock basins were used, and evidence concerning the time periods of occupation. This project is now recognized as one of the most successful educational/interpretive archaeological sites in California and the Sunset Point Open Air Museum has become one of most frequently visited localities on the forest. This attraction has provided an opportunity to educate the public regarding archaeological studies in forestry and to demonstrate effective multiple-use management within a working forest. Dave is also developing a plan to expand the interpretive trail to add another dimension to the story of the prehistoric past. Dave plans to recruit representatives from the local Native American community to assist in the creation of an additional educational signboard - one that speaks to current Native American activities in California. This trail expansion is planned for 1997-1998. The archaeology of Mountain Home State Forest is also exhibited in an artifact display located at the forest headquarters, and reports and interpretive brochures on the region's prehistory are available for the enthusiastic forest visitor. These efforts to disseminate archaeological information to the public has added considerably to the overall experience of visiting this beautiful state forest and has provided forest visitors with a more complete view of forest management in California.
Dave's interest and knowledge is not limited to the prehistoric period of occupation of this region. He is also interested in the Euro-american history of Mountain Home. Dave recently conducted extensive research on three historic buildings and wrote an excellent report summarizing the historical periods of the forest that established the context within which the significance of these three buildings can be appreciated. Dave's custom of using forestry aids and giving them on-the-ground training in forest archaeological management has led to a growing crop of young foresters who see archaeology not as an obstacle but as part of the forest landscape. Everyone who has ever worked with him has found Dave to be a boundless source of enthusiasm and wide ranging knowledge about this forest and the surrounding region.
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