In 2017, Neil Arbegast approached the Conservancy about donating his Arbegast-Tunawee Ranch ranch which was established in the early 1930s. It is located in the Tunawee Canyon on the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. Approximately two miles away lies the Conservancy’s Portuguese Bench Preserve, which contains a significant prehistoric village. Historically, this region was occupied by the Owens Valley Paiute and Panamint Shoshone tribes.
In November 2019, archaeologist Derek Reaux and the Conservancy’s Western Regional Director Cory Wilkins visited the property to assess its archaeological potential. Prior to the Conservancy’s involvement in the project, no official archaeological work had been conducted at the ranch. Reaux noted obsidian flaking debris in low density around the front of the ranch house. Arbegast drove Reaux to the western boundary of the property where they noticed obsidian flakes lining both sides of the road. He conducted an informal survey from the western boundary back to the ranch house. He recorded GPS coordinates and took photographs and brief notes of significant findings. This area had the densest concentrations of cultural material.
Reaux also surveyed the area east of the ranch house. He discovered prehistoric archaeological material consisting mostly of scatters of obsidian as well as a few biface fragments. He also found an arrow preform, a dart blade fragment, and and several bedrock mortars on two nearby granite rocks.
Given the evidence of significant archaeological resources, the Conservancy determined that accepting the donation of the ranch would be the best option for preserving the site. In late October of 2021, the Conservancy signed a donation agreement for the ranch and took possession of the property in November.
