I. Formation of the Crater Lake Environment

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C. Historic Indian Occupation of the Crater Lake Vicinity

South-central Oregon was occupied primarily by divisions of at least two linguistic families. The Klamath and Modoc tribes constituted the Lutuamian division of the Shapwailutan linguistic group. The Klamaths were found on Upper Klamath Lake, around Klamath Marsh, and also frequented the Williamson and Sprague river shores, while the Modocs were based at Little Klamath Lake, Modoc Lake, Tule Lake, in the Lost River Valley, and at Clear Lake, although they often extended as far east as Goose Lake. [3] The peoples of the Northern Plateau were wanderers, leading a somewhat impoverished lifestyle. Hunting and fishing were continual pursuits, but secondary to gathering. The quasi-nomadic tendencies of these groups resulted in a lack of cultural complexity, so that they have been studied mainly in terms of their relationship to their natural surroundings. [4]