Humans may have been present in the Idaho area as long as 14,500 years ago. Excavations at Wilson Butte Cave near Twin Falls in 1959 revealed evidence of human activity, including arrowheads,  that rank among the oldest dated artifacts in North America. Native American tribes predominant in the area included the Nez Perce in the north and the Shoshone in the south. Idaho is rugged with some of the largest unspoiled natural areas in the United States. Its’ nickname is the Gem State because nearly every known gem has been found there. Idaho is one of only two places in the world where star garnets can be found (the other is the Himalaya Mountains in India), and is the only place six pointed star garnets have been found. IBEW 1269 has members in offices in the cities of Boise and Idaho Falls.