Saline Valley ~ mesquite dunes
In the center of Saline Valley is a screwbean mesquite dune complex that borders an ancient lake — now a dry salt flat. Sands accumulate, and on some of the dunes grow the screwbean mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) — defining a beautiful ecosystem. They can survive on salty soil, and are hence the dominant mesquite species in Saline Valley. For the Shoshone Indians, the seeds were a staple — being high in protein, fiber, and various minerals. The Timbisha people would grind the pods into a coarse flour that could be easily baked into a "cake."
The screwbean mesquite complex of Saline Valley, with the Inyo Mountains in the background.
I took a bike ride to the complex with the hopes of finding an ancient Timbisha Shoshone site. After several hours of searching, wandering through the dunes and mesquite, I was lucky to find an old camp that had recently been uncovered as the dynamic sands shifted. Amongst the scatter of obsidian, I found an old rabbit jaw that had at one time spent time cooking in a fire. Next to the jaw was a small collection of broken desert side-notched arrowheads, more than likely what was used to kill rabbit and other small game. This arrowhead design was typical of the Mojave People over only the previous 600 or so years.
The desert side-notched arrow points and a rabbit jaw found in the mesquite complex.
The screwbean mesquite seed pods.
Death and slow decomposition in the arid dunes.
More pictures of Saline Valley
The screwbean mesquite complex of Saline Valley, with the Inyo Mountains in the background.
I took a bike ride to the complex with the hopes of finding an ancient Timbisha Shoshone site. After several hours of searching, wandering through the dunes and mesquite, I was lucky to find an old camp that had recently been uncovered as the dynamic sands shifted. Amongst the scatter of obsidian, I found an old rabbit jaw that had at one time spent time cooking in a fire. Next to the jaw was a small collection of broken desert side-notched arrowheads, more than likely what was used to kill rabbit and other small game. This arrowhead design was typical of the Mojave People over only the previous 600 or so years.
The desert side-notched arrow points and a rabbit jaw found in the mesquite complex.
The screwbean mesquite seed pods.
Death and slow decomposition in the arid dunes.
More pictures of Saline Valley
This is most interesting. I went through this area in 1979 collecting mesquite pods for a field evaluation trial of mesquites when I was a post doc at UC Riverside. The results were later published in Economic Botany. I would love to hear from you. I am now a partner importing USDA organic mesquite flour from Argentina.
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My wife and I are on our way home from the trip -- which was fantastic by the way. I am always intrigued by mesquite dune complexes because of the unique habitat they offer, including ancient Native American sites. Because of that, I always find a few to wander through when in the desert. I am interested to know more about the imported mesquite flour -- and where to buy it.
MK
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Blog looks good, looking forward to seeing recent updates. Hope that drive back was OK. See ya in Arcata. R
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