Talk:Avawatz Mountains

NAME
The article states "The name 'Avawatz' is derived from the Mohave Indian term 'Avi-Ahwat', or 'red rock.'" The Yuman (Mohave / Mojave) word 'ahwat (with the apostrophe) means "to be red." However, this is not where the name Avawatz comes from: the Mohave did not name the mountain range Avi-Ahwat. The Southern Paiute gave the mountain range the name. The Numic name is from the word "aviwats" or "avawats," which means "gypsum" (white clay). The Yuman and Numic words are coincidentally similar.

The name issue is complicated by two problems: early maps, dating to year 1891, show the Avawatz range being named "Ivawatch;" and, the Southern Paiutes were probably describing the Kingston Mountain Range, not the Avawatz Mountain Range, when telling early Americans what they called various geographic places. That is, the 1891 map named the wrong mountain range: the Kingston mountains are the aviwats, not the Avawatz mountains. --Desertphile (talk) 03:12, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

Elevation
The article's body says that the highest elevation is some 6,000+ feet. But the graphic states that the highest elevation is somewhat lower. This needs to be resolved. Doug (talk) 13:22, 2 August 2015 (UTC)


 * I have updated the elevation. 1,872.7 meters, based on my hand-held GPS receiver and the average of 1,100 3D positioning records. --Desertphile (talk) 03:29, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

Name section is once again wrong
Some people have stated authoritatively, "The name 'Avawatz' is derived from the Mohave Indian term 'Avi-Ahwat', or 'red rock.'" The Yuman (Mohave / Mojave) word 'ahwat (with the apostrophe) means "to be red." However, this is not where the name Avawatz comes from: the Mohave did not name the mountain range Avi-Ahwat. The Southern Paiutes gave the mountain range the name. The Numic name is from the word "aviwats" or "avawats," which means "gypsum" (white clay). The Yuman and Numic words are coincidentally similar.

The name issue is complicated by two problems: early maps, dating to year 1891, show the Avawatz range being named "Ivawatch." The Southern Paiutes were probably describing the Kingston Mountain Range, not the Avawatz Mountain Range, when telling early Americans what they called various geographic places. That is, the 1891 map named the wrong mountain range: the Kingston mountains are the aviwats, not the Avawatz mountains.

The three citations given are known to be wrong. "California Place Names" was cited, yet it does not state "white sheep" is a fact. --Desertphile (talk) 23:22, 25 January 2018 (UTC)