California's NAGPRA - No longer requires return of Funerary/Cultural Artifacts

[PacificNorthWest-Relics]

A law requiring California institutions to return Native American funerary and cultural artifacts has been effectively quashed by lack of funding and new legislation under Cal NAGPRA, 10.11. The new Cal. NAGPRA law focuses on Human reamins only.

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[Indianasmith]

HOOORAY! Some common sense at last, and from the Left Coast, too!

[erb]

Thanks for passing that on

[Flyjunkie]

well... I still think it's Very Wrong to dig up graves and take the findings...

I'm certain Everyone on this board would get steaming Mad if someone dug up their Ancestors Graves and took anything buried with them away...

[PacificNorthWest-Relics]

Flyjunkie, I do not think you are alone in your view. Excavation of burials is a HOT BUTTON topic and also a big “no, no” under our current laws. I personally have mixed views on the subject.

[Indianasmith]

I'm all for returning remains that have (a) been scientifically examined; (b) are less than 1,000 years old, and (c) are turned over to those who are their VERIFIED descendants. We could be turning over some of these remains to the descendants of their worst enemies for all we know.
And beyond 1,000 years, I think that we reach a threshold where there is greater scientific value in study than in simply replanting them. I got very heated up about the Buckeye Knoll site in Texas . . . an Early Archaic mortuary site about 7,000 years old that contained some remarkably unique ground and polished artifacts not normally found in Texas. They would have been valuable for study and beautiful to look at - but every bit was handed over to the Tonkawa and Karankawa tribes and put back in the ground, from what I understand. That is a travesty.

[David Crain]

Originally Posted by Indianasmith

... I think that we reach a threshold where there is greater scientific value in study than in simply replanting them. I got very heated up about the Buckeye Knoll site in Texas . . . an Early Archaic mortuary site about 7,000 years old that contained some remarkably unique ground and polished artifacts not normally found in Texas. They would have been valuable for study and beautiful to look at ...

I'm with you 100% Brother Indy.
Matter of fact, I would be honored to be dug up and have my earthly remains studied after I leave this realm. I will be more likely to have a parking lot located over my bones, just like hundreds of thousands of other Native American (and European Settlers) graves to date.
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, my friends...

[Kenny Holt]

Originally Posted by David Crain

I'm with you 100% Brother Indy.
Matter of fact, I would be honored to be dug up and have my earthly remains studied after I leave this realm. I will be more likely to have a parking lot located over my bones, just like hundreds of thousands of other Native American (and European Settlers) graves to date.
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, my friends...

I agree 1,000%, Ashes to Ashes, no one is there after death.

[dollarcreek]

Buckeye Knoll was an example of political correct stupidity. It made me furious also. I still don't know if we even have pictures of what was found, and if so, can we see them??

[silver lake]

Common sense is extinct in CA.................And has never existed in D.C., but this is certainly a step in the right direction.