163
IV.
Fish Remains from Human Coprolites and Midden Deposits Obtained
During 1968 and 1969 at Lovelock Cave, Churchill County, Nevada
W. I. Follett
Page
Introduction .164
Fish Remains .165
Fishes Represented .166
Minnows--Cyprinidae .167
Tui Chub, Gila (Siphateles) bicolor (Girard)
Suckers--Catostomidae .167
Tahoe Sucker, Catostomus tahoensis Gill and Jordan
Cui-ui, Chasmistes cuius Cope
Discussion .168
Tables ..... 170
End Notes .171
Explanation of Plates . . . . . . .                                       172
Plates                .......... '                                        173
Bibliography. ....... .                                                   174
164
INTRODUCTION
This is a report on fish remains obtained from human coprolites and midden
deposits collected during 1968 and 1969 at Lovelock Cave, Churchill County,
Nevada. These were collected since the publication of an analysis of fish
remains from the human coprolites and midden deposits collected during June
1965 in other parts of the cave (see Follett 1967:93-116).
Lovelock Cave (site NV-Ch-18), situated in a limestone outcrop of the West
Humboldt Range (see Heizer and Napton 1969, figs. 3, 4) at about 4,240 feet
(1,292 m.) above sea level, is some two miles east of the bed of Humboldt Lake
(the terminus of the Humboldt River) and 15 miles south-southwest of the town
of Lovelock.
The present collections of coprolites comprise two series of 15 each:
the "AN" series, collected during September 1968 and May 1969 in Lovelock Cave,
at grid locations S10/W50 and SIO/W55 (see Heizer and Napton, fig. 9, this
volume), and the "LX" coprolite series collected during 1968-1969 by members
of a University of California archaeological field party (see Heizer and Napton,
fig. 9, this volume), at grid location NSO/W30. Identification numbers are
those assigned by the Lovelock Coprolite Analysis Project, Department of Anthro-
pology, University of California, Berkeley. (The collections are deposited in
the Lowie Museum of Anthropology on the Berkeley campus.)
Each coprolite of these two series was divided approximately into halves:
one half was retained intact for possible future pollen analyses, radiocarbon
determinations, or for other studies; the other half was rehydrated (see Heizer
and Napton 1969:566), and the fish remains and other constituents were segre-
gated for study and analysis.
Radiocarbon dates obtained by the University of California at Los Angeles
and by Isotopes, Inc., Westwood, New Jersey, are approximately A.D. 1800 to
2740 B.C. for the "AN" series of coprolites and approximately A.D. 700 to A.D.
50 for the "LX" series.
The "AN" coprolites were found in three separate stratigraphic horizons,
the characteristics of which are described in the article by Heizer and Napton
(this volume). Coprolites AN 1-5 came from the surficial debris in the AN test
unit. According to Napton (personal communication, March 1970), all of these
specimens are approximately equivalent in age and composition to the "Entrance"
coprolite series analyzed by Ambro (1967:37-47) and Cowan (1967:21-35). Fish
bones found in these coprolites were studied by Follett (1967:93-116). A sample
entrance coprolite gave a radiocarbon age of A.D. 1805+80 (UCLA-1071-E; Tubbs
and Berger 1967:89-98). Coprolite AN-6, found in a level 48 to 56 inches below
the surface, is of unknown age. Coprolites AN 7-10, from a depth of 72 inches,
probably were deposited in the midden circa 1000 B.C. (Napton personal communica-
tion, March 1970; see Heizer and Napton, this volume).    Radiocarbon analysis of
165
a sample of vegetal material (AN-16), consisting of fragments of Scirpus sp.
and Typha sp., from the same depth, produced a date of 2740 B.C. +110 (I-3962;
Buckley, personal communication to Napton, January 1969). Coprolites AN 11-15
came from a layer of guano and midden trash, at a depth of 84 inches. Napton
(personal communication 1970) suggests that these coprolites might have been
deposited prior to 1500-2000 B.C.
The "LX" coprolites range in age from about A.D. 700 to A.D. 50. Copro-
lites LX 1-3, which were found in the disturbed surface debris, may be approxi-
mately equivalent to the "Interior" coprolites analyzed in 1967 (see Cowan,
Ambro, Follett, and Tubbs and Berger, cited supra).   Coprolites found at a
depth of 24 to 36 inches in the LX test unit may date from about A.D. 600,
while coprelites LX 7-9, from 36 to 48 inches deep, may have been deposited
in the midden circa A.D. 500. Coprolites LX 10-12, found 48 to 60 inches
below the surface, are bracketed by two radiocarbon determinations: coprolite
LX-10 has a date of A.D. 480+90 (I-3963; Buckley, personal communication to
Napton, March 1969); and coprolite LX-16 has a date of A.D. 350+50 (UCLA-1418;
Berger, personal communication to Napton, 1968). Coprolites numbered LX 13-15,
found at a depth of 58 to 72 inches below the surface of the test unit, may
date from about the first century A.D. Vegetal material (LX-56), consisting
of saltgrass (Distichlis cf. spicata) and cattail (Typha cf. angustifolia)
found in association with the coprolites, yielded a date of A.D. 50+60 (UCLA-
1417; Berger, personal communication to Napton, 1968). This sample of vegetal
material was found at a depth of 56 inches below the surface. According to
Napton, who provided the information discussed in the preceding paragraphs,
an empty cache pit was found at this depth in the north profile of the LX test
unit, and its presence suggests that some mixing of the deposits probably
occurred in prehistoric times, even though there had been no disturbance of
this small segment of the original cave deposit during the modern era (see
Heizer and Napton, this volume).
Baumhoff and Heizer (1965:702) noted that "the earliest radiocarbon date
for human occupation of Lovelock Cave is 1218 B.C." Vegetal material from the
"AN" unit taken at a depth of 78 inches has yielded a date of 2740 B.C. +110
years (I-3962; discussed supra). This represents the oldest date yet obtained
at Lovelock Cave from probably cultural material. Cultural dates older than
1218 B.C. are provided by radiocarbon dates of human remains, which date 1420
B.C. +100 (I-4758) and 1450 B.C. + (UCLA-1459-C; Berger, personal communication
to Napton, 1969).
FISH REMAINS
More than 5,800 remains, representing at least 98 fish, were recovered
from 14 coprolites (eight coprolites of the AN series; six of the LX series).
Forty-seven remains, representing at least seven fish, were obtained
directly from midden refuse in an auxiliary part of the Lovelock rockshelter.
166
These remains were from two stations, one of which is the "WA" (West Alcove),
grid location S15/WlOO, depth 10 to 11 feet, sample 46:1029. *The approximate
age of this stratigraphic level is indicated by radiocarbon dates of sample
coprolites. Coprolite WA-20-A produced a date of A.D. 300+60 (UCLA-1459-B;
Berger, personal communication to Napton, 1968), and coprolite WA-21 gave a
date of A.D. 120+60 (UCLA-1459-A; Berger, personal communication, 1970).
The other locus from which fish-bone samples were obtained is WA grid
location Sl0/W95, surface to 12 inches deep, sample 46:1044. The approximate
age of the deposit containing these bones is probably not much later than
A.D. 1805, and not earlier than A.D. 1430, according to Napton (person commu-
nication, 1970). These dates are based on the radiocarbon date of the entrance
coprolites and on a radiocarbon determination of a layer of seeds (Scirpus cf.
robustus) found at a depth of seven inches in the West Alcove test unit, grid
location Sl0/W95. The radiocarbon age of this seed sample (82:1577) is A.D.
1430+95 (I-4672; Buckley, personal communication to Napton, 1970).
I wish to express my appreciation to Mrs. Lillian J. Dempster, of the
California Academy of Sciences, for assistance with the manuscript; to Mr.
Maurice C. Giles, of the California Academy of Sciences, for enlargements of
the photographs; to Dr. Robert F. Heizer, of the University of California, for
permission to report on these fish remains; to Dr. Robert R. Miller, of the
University of Michigan, for literature references; and to Mr. Lewis K. Napton,
of the University of California, for archaeological data.
FISHES REPRESENTED
Fishes of two families, three genera, and three species are represented
in the present collections of coprolite and midden materials:  tui chub, Tahoe
sucker, and cui-ui. The size attained by these species, and archaeological
sites at which their remains have been collected, were noted by Fo]llett (1967:
95).
The fish remains from the coprolites are those of the tui chub (see p.
with the exception of a quadrate of the Tahoe sucker (p1. 3; see p.    ). A
few remains of the cui-ui (see p.   ) were found in the midden material, but
none in the coprolite material.
Many of the numerous skeletal elements recovered from the coprolites are
identifiable to species with reasonable certainty, but since the lower pharyn-
geals are the most distinctive, they have been selected as the basis for iden-
tification and measurement of the coprolite material. However, since no
pharyngeal of a Tahoe sucker was found, a quadrate of that species was used
(p1. 3); for comparison, a quadrate of a tui chub is illustrated (p1. 4).
In this paper, "length" of fish indicates total length (straight-line
measurement from tip to snout to end of longest caudal ray). Weight of fish
167
is computed from length of fish, as determined from length of pharyngeal
(or quadrate). The weights are necessarily estimates, since fish (of the
same species) of identical length may differ considerably in weight.
Minnows -- Cyprinidae
Tui chub, Gila (Siphateles) bicolor (Girard)
This chub (see Follett, 1967, p1. 5), known to the Northern Paiute as
"tui-pagwI" (Loud and Harrington 1929:156), is a palatable food fish although
it is bony (Kimsey 1954:406).
Coprolite Material:   144 pharyngeals (32 complete, 112 incomplete; pls.
1, 2), ranging from 3.1 to 9.1 mm. in length (measured as by Uyeno 1961:332,
fig. 1A), representing at least 97 fish about 45 to 130 mm. in length and
perhaps 0.7 to 20.8 g. in weight (total weight of fish, perhaps 471 g.). One
hundred twenty-five pharyngeals were taken from seven coprolites of the AN
series and 19 from six coprolites of the LX series (table 1).
Characteristic remains of this species (basioccipital, cleithrum, pharyn-
geals, preopercle, ribs, vertebrae) from Lovelock Cave coprolites were illus-
trated by Heizer and Napton (1969, fig. 6, middle row, middle group).
Midden Material:  Three pharyngeals (two complete, one incomplete), 16,
18, and 24 mm. in length, representing three fish about 22, 25, and 32 cm. in
length and perhaps 140, 190, and 350 g. in weight; WA Sample 46:1029. Four
vertebrae (incomplete, two of the Weberian series articulated); WA Sample 46:
1044.
Suckers -- Catostomidae
Tahoe sucker, Catostomus tahoensis Gill and Jordan
This sucker (see Snyder 1917, fig. 1, as Catostomus arenarius) was known
to the Northern Paiute as "awago" (Loud and Harrington 1929:156).l
Coprolite Material: One quadrate (incomplete, p1. 3), 8.4 mm. in length,
representing a fish about 21 cm. in length and perhaps 120 g. in weight, from
coprolite AN-Il.
Midden Material: None.
Cui-ui, Chasmistes cujus Cope
This sucker (see Snyder 1917, fig. 2) was known to the Northern Paiute
as "kuyui."2 It formerly constituted the principal food-supply of the Northern
Paiute of the Pyramid Lake region (Powers 1877:449), the most widely known band
168
among all the Northern Paiute (Stewart 1939:138); they were known as the
Kuyui-dika (Kroeber 1925:584).3
Coprolite Material: None.
Midden Material: Two cleithra4 (one incomplete, representing a fish
about 55 cm. in length and perhaps 1.8 kg. in weight; one fragment, articulated
with scapula, coracoid, and mesocoracoid); one pelvic fin (incomplete, identi-
fication to species doubtful); WA Sample 46:1029. Thirty vertebrae (seven pre-
caudal, incomplete; 23 caudal, one complete, 22 incomplete), representing fish
to about 61 cm. in length and perhaps 2.5 kg. in weight; three hypural fans
(incomplete); one pelvic fin (incomplete; identification to species doubtful);
WA Sample 46:1044.
DISCUSSION
All three species recognized in the present collections, tui chub, Tahoe
sucker, and cui-ui, were represented in the fish remains obtained from coprolites
and midden deposits collected at Lovelock Cave during 1965. The Lahontan speck-
led dace,   Rhinichthys osculus robustus Rutter, of which five pharyngeals were
found in the 1965 collections (Follett 1967:96), was not recognized in the pre-
sent material.
Remains of the Lahontan cutthroat trout, Salmo clarkii henshawi Gill and
Jordan, were not found in the present collections, nor in those of 1965, nor
in the yet earlier collections recorded by Loud and Harrington (1929) from
Lovelock Cave. The absence of this trout from the two earlier collections was
discussed by Follett (1967:101), who concluded that possible explanations of
this absence would be conjectural. The same conclusion applies as well to the
absence of this fine trout from the present collections.
Fewer fish remains were recovered from the present collections (both of
coprolites and of midden materials) than from the 1965 collections. In the
present collections, about 97 tui chubs and one Tahoe sucker are represented
in 14 half-coprolites, and about three tui chubs and three cui-ui in midden
materials; in the 1965 collections, about 298 tui chubs, five Lahontan speckled
dace, and three Tahoe suckers are represented in 29 whole coprolites, and about
22 tui chubs, seven Tahoe suckers, and eight cui-ui in midden materials. The
fishes represented in the present collections are intermediate in size between
the largest and the smallest represented in the 1965 collections.
More than six times as many pharyngeals were recovered from the AN series
of the present collections as from the LX series (125 from the AN series, 19
from the LX series). Similarly, in the 1965 collections 458 pharyngeals were
recovered from the entrance lot (situated near the AN unit and of comparable age
to AN coprolites 1-5) and only 24 from the interior lot, which was located in
the vicinity of the LX unit. (The interior coprolites are of about the same age
as the latest of the LX coprolites.)
169
Possibly this difference in number of pharyngeals reflects a seasonal
difference in the occupation of the sites (see Napton 1969:28-97). The AN
location, and the entrance location, may have been occupied at a season,
perhaps late summer or early fall, when small tui chubs were readily obtain-
able in the receding pools of the Humboldt Sink.    In contrast, the LX location,
and the interior location, may have been occupied during a season, perhaps
winter, when tui chubs were difficult to obtain, or when the Lovelock Cave
people resorted to scanty supplies of fish that they had dried and stored in
the interior of the cave.
Remarkable numbers of pharyngeals of the tui chub were recovered from
two coprolites of the 1965 collections:    123 from one, 101 from another
(Follett 1967:95, table 2, pl. 1). The 45 pharyngeals recovered from half-
coprolite AN-2 of the present collections (table 1) may represent an abund-
ance approaching that of the 101 pharyngeals from a whole coprolite of the
1965 collections.
The presence of a considerable number of pharyngeals (32 of 144) bearing
a complete series of teeth (which are readily dislodged from the archt is
convincing evidence that at least the heads of these fish had been swallowed
whole. The 1965 coprolite material supported the same conclusion (Follett
1967:100).
The fishes represented in the present collections, like those of the
1965 collections (see Follett 1967:99-101), were probably taken in Humboldt
Lake or in the lower Humboldt River (tui chubs, especially the smaller ones,
and Tahoe sucker) and in Pyramid Lake, Winnemucca Lake, or the lower Truckee
River (tui chubs, especially the larger ones, and cui-ui).
The conclusion expressed by Follett (1967:100), rejecting the possibility
that the cui-ui represented at Lovelock Cave could have been taken at a time
when a high stage of Lake Lahontan had extended the range of the species to
the vicinity of Lovelock Cave, is further supported by Morrison (1965, table 1
and fig. 4-D), who indicated that the last stage of Lake Lahontan occurred
more than 10,000 years before the present.    As noted on page    , supra, this
was long before the earliest known human occupation of Lovelock Cave.
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Table 2
Fish Remains in Midden Materials (WA = West Alcove)
No. of fish       Skeletal         No. of
Species                         represented       element         elements
WA Sample 46:1029 (depth 10-11 feet, approximate age A.D. 300)
Tui chub (Gila bicolor)               3           Pharyngeal          3
Cui-ui (Chasmistes cujus)             I           Cleithrum           2
Pelvic fin          1
WA Sample 46:1044 (depth 0-12 inches, approximate age
A.D. 1805 to A.D. 1430)
Tui chub (CiJa bicolor)               1           Vertebra            4
Cui-ui (Chasmistes cujus)             3           Pelvic fin          1
Hypural fan         3
Vertebra           30
End Notes
1. This name was spelled "awagu" by Stewart (1941:425).
2. Anthropologists usually spell this name "kuyui" (see Kroeber 1925:
584)? ichthyologists now follow Snyder (1917:50) in spelling the name "cui-
ui" (see American Fisheries Society 1960:17). Cope (1883:149), who published
the original description of this species, spelled the name "couia".
3. The name of the "cui-ui eaters" was spelled "kuyui-tekade" by Loud
and Harrington (1929:153) and "kuyui-d6kid6" by Stewart (1941:363).
4.  A cleithrum of the cui-ui was illustrated by Follett (1967,pl. 2).
172
Explanation of Plates
Plate 1   Right lower pharyngeal, dorsal (occlusal) aspect, length 5.5 mm.,
of tui chub (Gila bicolor); representing a fish about 80 mm. in
length and perhaps-4.8 g. in weight; from coprolite AN-2.
Plate 2   Ventromesial aspect of right lower pharyngeal shown in Plate 1.
Plate 3   Right quadrate, lateral aspect, length 8.4 mm., of Tahoe sucker
(Catostomus tahoensis); representing a fish about 21 cm. in length
and perhaps 120 g. in weight; from coprolite AN-li.
Plate 4   Right quadrate, lateral aspect, length 4.0 mm., of tui chub (Gila
bicolor); representing a fish about 85 mm. in length and perhaps
6 g. in weight; from coprolite AN-10.
173
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174
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