ARROYO 0 LEFT starts at about 250 meters up the main arroyo from road at 26.69115, 111.91102 . Altitude here is 65 meters.
Photo: Start of arroyo 0 Left
Santa Barbara Arroyo:
There are relatively flat bench areas between the highway and this tributary of the main arroyo that could have been a good search area for seeds and plants. A casual search of the area showed random shells indicating to me that this could have once been a Cochimi seed gathering area.
There is a trail visible with Google Map up the arroyo on the right (west) side for about a kilometer starting right at the mouth of the arroyo and passing below the first talus area. No trails visible at or close to the arroyo when on site however.
The arroyo heads roughly southwest and does not have any significant rock bluffs until the head of the arroyo at about 2.5kms. Following the general lie of the arroyo in a southwest direction, the height of land is the prominent twin summits of Cerro Las Calabazas that is also accessed from Arroyo 1 Left described elsewhere.
Brown mineral showing to south and north of arroyo at about midway are large weathered brown boulders similar to a talus slide. Traversing these slide areas is difficult with rocks that tend to move underfoot.
This arroyo splits in three significant places with what seems to be the main branch curving to the west and northwest. I searched both sides of the main arroyo and up onto some of the bench areas.
Pass to the San Juan arroyo at the head of southernmost tributary of this arroyo is the lowest at about 310 meters at about 26.67954, 111.91713. Another Pass from the center tributary also leads to the San Juan arroyo but is higher at about 360 meters and at about 26.68030, 111.92303
2 KM from start of arroyo Cave SB 0L C1 found at 26.68638, 111.91888 about 129 meter altitude and about 10 meters above level of arroyo on right (north) side. Cave is a standard cave with high front overhang of volcanic tuft with a soft sand floor about 10 meters wide, 5 meters high and 4 meters deep. Cave faces south.
Found one Metate. No art of any kind. No shell midden or occasional shells visible. Falda in front of cave had 3 well proportioned Ocotillo, the largest about 3 meters high and with abundant leaves from recent rains.
Photo shows Caves SB 0L C1 and SB 0L C2 from a distance.
at about 2.3km Cave SB 0L C2 found at 26.68713, 111.91955 and about 155 meters elevation and about 20 meters above the level of the arroyo. Large compound cave with high front overhang showing two visually distinct layers of volcanic tuft. Cave faces southwest and is about 15 meters wide, 8 meters high and 5 meters deep with sand floor, View from the front gives the appearance of a large entryway and with two smaller chambers or rooms, one on each side.
Room on the left is about 3 meters deep and about 1 meter wide narrowing as you go in. Room on right is about 15 meters deep and about 3 meters wide also narrowing as you go deeper. Bat guano on walls and floor. No art, no metates, no midden. . . but a nice cave to see.
In other locations in arroyo there were 4 shallow shelters visited, some with northerly prospect but with no art or shells visible.
Stopped in this arroyo at 26.68737, 111.92066, about 170 meters altitude and about 2.8 Km from start. The arroyo here is starting to constrict and get steeper and no further rock outcroppings were evident. In one location the arroyo floor showed blackened rocks indicating a sump or Tinaja during seasonal rains. Recent deer droppings and possibly fox scat was noticed. The arroyo was rough to walk on with many large and loose boulders.
Lower down, the arroyo has nice terraces on each side with Pallo Verde, Blanco, Fiero, etc. and various cacti. On one of the terraces at 26.68370, 111.91715, I found a fairly heavy concentration of shells (2-3 per sq meter) indicating possible rest area for Cochima when in this area for seed gathering. No metates found in this area in a casual circular search of about 40 meters diameter.
In a couple of places in the arroyo, Toloache, (Jimson weed, Datura) was found. White trumpet flower, spiked seed pods the size of large walnut. The seeds of this plant are said to produce hallucinations but can be fatal in large doses. Liquid from crushed herb contains the drug Atropine.
Also evident were large patches of Golondrina, (Spurge) Very small four petal white flowers, low growing in flat mats over rocks and sand. A tea is said to be used for rattlesnake bites and other ailments. Milky juice is toxic.
Visited this arroyo 24th January 2017