Julian History Group Tours Borrego Desert
By Ruth Lepper

Beavertail cactus Photos by Ruth Lepper

Hank Barber can spot a desert wildflower and immediately know what it is called and how many uses there are for it.

He also is good at finding clues left behind by Native Americans to determine where they camped as well as what they ate and the types of chores the men, women and children performed in the desert.

"How ingenious the desert Indians had to be to survive in this climate," Barber said.

Barber is a volunteer archaeologist, paleontologist and certified naturalist with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. A retired advertising executive from Washington state, Barber has spent his first full-time year in the desert.

Barber led a tour on March 26 for 14 members and guests of Julian Historical Society. One of the first stops on the tour was a mesquite grove in Yaqui Wells. Here, Barber explained how the desert Indians used plants for food, clothing, shelter and medicines.

Native Americans milled grain on stone surfaces, making indentations.

"Mesquite was the most important food for the desert Indians," Barber told the group. "They're the most reliable food source. They're part of the pea family."

He pointed out that the mesquite has the longest roots of any plant in the world. "They can go down 100 feet in search of water," he said.

"The Indians were able to determine the healthiest part of the thicket and know that this is where the water will be."

Thickets have been known to reach a width of one-quarter mile. After creating tunnels into the depth of the thickets, the Indians would build stairwells down to reach the water source.

The tour continued to an ancient Kumeyaay village site at Mine Wash. Here Barber discussed the rock shelters and ceremonial features, along with hundreds of bedrock mortars, slicks, basins and rubs, all of which were used by the Indians for milling food.

As Barber led the moderate hike through the Mine Wash area, he brought everyone's attention to a variety of desert wildflowers. The bright yellow of the brittle bush, the shades of pinks and purples of the beavertail cactus, the bright red flowers atop the tall ocotillo, the white flowers circling the top of the mamalaria.

Brittle bush

Adding to the desert's showcase of colors were the native cholla, agave, creosote and hedgehog plants.

Barber will be leading a similar hike to the same locations on April 20 for Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute. The cost is $15 for members of the foundation and $25 for others. For more information, call 760-767-4063.

Mamalaria Cholla