A cache by BigDaddyGRC Message this owner

Hidden : 7/18/2020

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Lane's Crossing, Native American burial site

It is believed that the first settler in Oro Grande was Aaron G. Lane, who set up a homestead next to the Mojave River in 1858. Lane’s Crossing catered to those traveling the trail to the California's coast. The Native Americans were inhabitants of the land. The area saw centuries of Indian occupation stretching back into antiquity. During this time the Mojave River was the life support of the Natives. You'll will read on the monument the history of trails used by many over the centuries and given many names from the Mohave Trail, Old Spanish Trail and The Mormon Trail.

Native Americans burial site was accidentally unearthed within 1000 feet near the Lower Narrows. The site on which Lane made his new home was witness to some fascinating history prior to his arrival. Artifacts have been discovered on the site, which is located on present-day Turner Ranch. The incident over the uncovered graves began early Wednesday morning, November 27, 1940, when Frank Turner sent a farm hand to plow some virgin land on his ranch. The area he had selected was near some sandhills, a distance away from the lowland previously cultivated in the overflow of the Mojave River.

Frank's daughter, Frances, was tagging along behind the plow, playing in the furrows, when what looked like a gray rock was thrown into her path. Stooping down to inspect it more closely, she found that it was not a rock at all, but a human skull. As it turned out, it was one of many human bones exposed by the plow. Newspaper publisher J. E. Barry was present as well, and he wrote an article which appeared in the San Bernardino Daily Sun the following day. "Five skeletons were dug from a desert grave," said Barry, "on the...Turner Ranch north of Victorville. Each of the skeletons was in a sitting position facing the Mojave River." They pointed out that the teeth of the two children, two men and a woman, were free of any indication of dental care, and in a perfect state of preservation. Their chief concern was an explanation for the odd positions in which the family was found to have been buried.

According to Frank, the bodies were in a crouching or kneeling position, all facing the river, and all had beads around their necks. There were 26 or 27 bodies altogether, but five or six were in better condition than the others. The remains had been cremated, and buried in the graves with them were large rocks. It was thought these may have been heated and used for the cremation process. Burial sites are scattered throughout the area and buried under silt built over time.

Parking will not be a problem. The cache is small with a log. Don't feel unwelcomed or uncomfortable. The location is home of two historical monuments. You will find two monuments, the most recent monument was constructed in 2014 by the Order of E Clampus Vitus. Clampus is a very interesting and valuable group who construct many historical monuments throughout the Western States.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

xrlcnq ybj

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)