Native American remains found at UC Berkeley construction site. What happens next?

"The Confederated Villages of Lisjan will work with UC Berkeley to care for Native American remains found at a construction site on the south side of campus last week."

"Under California law, county coroners must report discoveries of historic Native American human remains to the state's Native American Heritage Commission, which then identifies and notifies the most likely descendants."

"Options in such cases could include returning the remains to the descendants, leaving them where they are to minimize disturbance, or moving them to another area on the site."

"There are hundreds of Native American ceremonial and burial sites in the Bay Area alone, many disrupted by construction over time as the area became densely developed."

Last week, skeletal remains of at least one Native American were found at a UC Berkeley construction site. The Confederated Villages of Lisjan will collaborate with the university to manage the remains. The Alameda County coroner identified the remains as likely historic. California law mandates reporting such discoveries to the Native American Heritage Commission, which notifies potential descendants. Options for handling the remains include returning them, leaving them undisturbed, or relocating them. The area has a history of Native American sites disrupted by development.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org