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• to prehistoric occupation. Here, water is available year-round, there <br />are vegetal resources, adequate shelter is present, and wildlife was <br />probably much more plentiful within the drainage than it is today. It <br />is doubtful that the upper elevations were used for more than occa- <br />sional hunting because of the lack of water, the rugged topography, <br />and the more inclement weather. <br />Along East Salt Creek are several plant species known to have <br />been used by aboriginal peoples. Juniper trees produce edible berries <br />and a shreddy bark used for bedding (Elmore 1976). Juniper branches <br />were frequently used to construct wickiups--one such shelter was <br />recorded by Hibbets et al. (1979) within 3.5 miles of the study area. <br />Both juniper and big sagebrush provided fuel; the latter was exploited <br />for medicinal purposes as well. <br />The leaves and young shoots of the saltbush have been reportedly <br />• used as greens; its parched seeds may have been added to water to make <br />a beverage (Elmore 1976). The slender, flexible branches of the <br />rabbitbrush could have been used for basket construction. Cattails <br />growing near the drainages produce edible roots containing a core of <br />almost pure starch which could have been boiled, or roasted or dried, <br />then ground into meal or flour. Young shoots may have been eaten <br />raw or cooked (Kirk 1975). Berries growing in the higher elevations <br />(.currant, serviceberry, gooseberry) may have been collected during <br />the summer and fall. <br />In addition to being directly exploitable by prehistoric peoples, <br />many of the shrubs served to attract animals as well, thus providing <br />aboriginal peoples an additional food source. Oakbrush, sagebrush, <br />and saltbush are important browse plants for several animals, parti- <br />cularly deer, and the riparian ha 6i tat along the drainage probably <br />attracted waterfowl. <br /> <br />10 <br />