geo000654 23

REPORT ON THE EIGHTH IAKE LAHONTAN EXPEDITION June - July 1957 Western Speleological Institute-Nevada State Museum National Geographic Society INTRODUCTION In 1952 a permit from the Secretary of the Interior was issued under the National Antiquities Act, for excavation in a series of caves on the shores of now dry Lake Winnemucca, Nevada. The work was carried out by the Western Speleological Institute-Nevada State Museum, under the co-leader­ship of Phil C. Orr and J. W. Calhoun, and was financed by the Max C. Pleischmann Foundation of Nevada. Results were so impressive that each year since, expeditions have gone into the field, and we have been joined by a number of scientists represen­ting various fields, particularly Drs. J. L. ICulp and W. S. Eroecker, Lamom Geological Observatory, Columbia University; Dr. George F, Carter, Johns Hopkins University, and by a number of other persons and institutions. Our work has been about 25% archeology and the remainder speleology, paleon­tology, geochronology and geomorphology. Seven caves have been excavated, many hundreds of specimens collected, including archeological, geochemical, paleontological and biota. More than fifty radiocarbon measurements have been made by three labo­ratories. Six publications dealing with the work of the Lahontan Expedi­tions, have appeared, and manuscripts on other phases are in preparation, or are in press. The eighth Lake Lahontan Expedition was sponsored in part by the Nation­al Geographic Society. Members of the party were: Directors: Phil C. Orr, Western Speleological Institute J. W. Calhoun, Nevada State Museum Photographer: W. Robert Moore, National Geographic Society Archeologists: Wilbur A. Davis, Chief, Western Speleological Institute Paul Ramos, Western Speleological Institute Delvin Henry, Western Speleological Institute Ruth D. Simpson, Southwest Museum Surveyors: Charles Taylor, Western Speleological Institute David Christensen, Western Speleological Institute 3otanist: Peter Kerlan - 1 -