Investigation continues into bones discovered at school construction site in Stockton

Excavation continued Monday morning at the construction site where workers found what could be American Indian remains on Thursday afternoon.

Archeologists from Jones and Stokes, a Sacramento-based environmental consulting firm, unearthed additional bones Monday at the Podesta Ranch Elementary School, according to Art Hand, assistant superintendent of facility planning for Lodi Unified School District.

Podesta Ranch Elementary is located on Whistler Way near Lower Sacramento Road in Stockton.

Hand said the archeologists believe that the newly found bones belong to the same body that was found on Sept. 13.

District officials have contacted the Native American Heritage Commission, an official government agency that identifies and coordinates American Indian resources, such as remains and sacred sites.

The NAHC turned the matter over to Katherine Perez, who was designated as the most likely living descendent of the remains. In order to obtain such a designation by the NAHC, a person must register with the commission by turning in an application with documentation proving his or her heritage.

A representative sent by Perez was on site Monday morning, assisting archeologists.

Once excavated, Hand said, the bones will be turned over to Perez. Perez said she will reinter them in an undisclosed location.

Construction at the Podesta Ranch Elementary was light on Friday and Monday, according to Hand. Regular construction should resume as soon as the NAHC releases the site.

Perez said the possibility of finding American Indian remains often shows up on developers' environmental impact report.

Hand said the district did do such a report before construction started.

"Any time that you build in the Central Valley you run the possibility that you will find ancient remains," Hand said.

However, Hand said, the district is doing everything possible to ensure the remains are treated with respect.

Construction at Podesta Ranch began Aug. 30. The school is expected to cost $14 million, with $7 million coming from Measure L funds and $7 million coming from the state. The school will house 822 students and is scheduled to open for the 2008-09 school year.

Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Note to Commenters: Valid Registration Required

Effective immediately, we will be reviewing registration information submitted by commenters. This includes phone number, name and address. While most commenters have been providing this information, a few registrants have used clearly incomplete or invalid information. We hope our ability to internally verify this information allows us to better monitor these comment boards. Those who have registered with invalid information, and who violate the rules of this forum, may be blocked from further posts. Thank you for your cooperation.

Rich Hanner
Editor

1492 wrote on Sep 19, 2007 12:16 PM:

" Some say it's "pitiful" and some say it's the right thing to do. Spending money to do the right thing shouldn't be an issue. How much more development does Stockton need? "

Report Abuse

83 Alliance wrote on Sep 18, 2007 7:44 PM:

" Maybe they're migrant farm worker bones. But, If they were no-one would care. As long as the grape gondola wasn't damaged when running over them. Or maybe the bones of a worker that AG Spanos sold a bad sandwiches to. No...he cuts all his deals with the City of Stockton. "

Report Abuse

Pfc. Joe Silverhawk wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:45 PM:

" Bones are everywhere in the valley dirt. This is such a hoax. It is pitiful that companies have to spend money to appease the whining of some group or the other "

Report Abuse

Metric Time System wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:08 PM:

" How strange that only Indians bones are ever unearthed. How can you tell Indian bones from the early settler's bones? "

Report Abuse

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes