Issues involved in the recording and protection of a previously unknown rock art site in Northern California

Summary

This paper will discuss the interaction between an archaeologist, a Native American who is a most likely descendent from the archaeological site, and a municipal government agency in the rediscovery, documentation and eventual repatriation of indigenous knowledge of a previously unrecorded rock art site. The rock is located in Northern California, on the lake bottom of a municipal water district water property. How should the rock be recorded? Does anyone really "own" that information? Who determines whether it could be sacred or the meaning of the symbols in the context of a cultural tradition? Only through the accumulated data base of site reports and studies can more possible cultural patterns be uncovered and help in the continued search for the more of these little known or understood early rock art sites. By working with the all three interested parties, protocols could be developed for future rock art site discoveries that would establish a consistent documentation and protection plan for these cultural resources.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Intersection of Sacredness and Archaeology   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage