STILLWATER: A RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Human beings have lived in Nevada for 12,000 years or more. Most of the region's history must be pieced together like a puzzle. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most important archaeological areas in Nevada providing many important pieces to the puzzle. Relatively recent flooding has washed away topsoil exposing ancient village sites, burial grounds and artifacts dating from 300 to 3,000 years ago.

Archaeologists and the local Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribes have worked together to ensure areas, artifacts, and bones receive the proper scientific and cultural treatment as they attempt to learn more about the people who once inhabited these wetlands. Undoubtedly, the animal and plant life changed over the years as well as the culture and economy of the peoples.

The Stillwater Paiute known the Toedokado or "cattail eaters" lived in and around the Stillwater marshlands. Cattails and bulrush dominated the landscape and the Toedokado livelihood. Cattails provided food almost year round. The bulrush or "tule" supplied the raw material for houses, boats, ropes, footwear, baskets, and more. Perhaps the most famous product was the exquisite duck decoy. These decoys date back over 2,000 years.

You can revisit the lifeways of the Native American inhabitants of the Stillwater wetlands at the Churchill County Museum, 1050 S. Maine St., Fallon or visit their website at www.ccmuseum.org.