Archaeology of Italian Bread Ovens
During archaeological studies that preceeded th e filling of New Melones Reservoir, remains of a series of stone ovens were found in Gold Rush placer-mining camps on Angels Creek. Research into determining their use and assocaiations lead through census reports, immigration records, and interviews with informants -- leading to their association with Italian gold miners. A summary of this research was published in Archaeology magazine in 1981.
Gold Rush Archaeology article.pdf