Data Recovery of Large Prehistoric Site in Northern California

FCS is currently assisting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the data recovery of a large site in Northern California. FCS’s Dana DePietro, PhD, as Principal Investigator, is implementing the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Historic Property Treatment Plan (HPTP) for the project, which was determined to have an adverse effect on the prehistoric site. The project proponent is a private developer whose application for the hotel site (which included a wetland) prompted Section 106 review by the USACE, San Francisco District. The project would result in the complete displacement of the site, which was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D for its data potential. To address this adverse effect, the USACE and the California Office of Historic Preservation executed an MOA calling for the implementation of the HPTP.

Treatment includes data recovery of the large, complex, multi-period site, involving the analysis of macrobotanical remains, lithics, fire affected rock, obsidian hydration analysis, C-14 dating, and the treatment and recovery of faunal and human osteological remains. FCS is also working closely with the tribal chairperson who has been designated Most Likely Descendant (MLD) by the Native American Heritage Commission. One Native American Monitor is required to be present at the site during all ground-disturbing activities.