Historical Markers of Churchill County


Nevada Landmarks Home Page

*HM 147*


-- A Home of Early Man --

Location: Western Churchill County, 40 Mile District
Directions: Junction of I-80 and US 95 at the Trinity Rest Area

Location: 6
Visibility: 1
Accessibility: 1
Marker type: St (L)
   

Date Conquered: 8/14/07
Quick Description: A marker noting Lovelock Cave and the ancient people who lived here.
Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was never signed.

GPS: LAT, N39° 56' 26.5"     LON, W118° 44' 58.1"

Full Description:
Exact description as reads...

Stretching before you are two vast sinks, terminal areas of the Humboldt and Carson River drainage systems. The marshy remnant of Lake Lahontan, between you and the distant Humboldt range, served as a life sustaining resource of wildlife for prehistoric man who lived by its shores. Generations occupied caves located on the lower slopes of the distant range.

Scientific archeological excavation reveals that Lovelock and Ocala Caves served as homes to man from 2,000 B.C. to about 1840 A.D. What he left behind tells of a successful adaptation of his culture to a lakeside environment.

Nearby Leonard Rock Shelter, with human occupancy dating from 5,000 B.C., is a National Historic Landmark.

#147 with a view of the hills that housed some of Nevada's earliest human inhabitants. Today, the sites of these habitations can be still be accessed via long dirt roads from the Interstate, but they are federally protected.

A much better location for this marker would be along US 95 a few miles south of here, or along I-80 east of here to catch better glimpse of the cave.

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