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By Stephanie Vargas
When you hear the word “archaeology,” what do you think about? Indiana Jones? Academics with hats dusting and digging in Egypt?
Archaeology encompasses much more. And, a specially trained archaeologist, called a site monitor, is integral to the construction of homes, commercial buildings, and even in the I-405 Improvement Project.
According to the Department of Transportation, the 405 Improvement Project spans 16 miles of the I-405 highway and stretches from State Route 73 to Interstate 605, adding one new general purpose lane and one new toll lane in each direction. Work began in November 2016, with the majority of construction completed by December 2023. As part of the construction process, site monitors must be present to watch the debris unearthed by construction workers. Their job is to keep an eye out for anything that could be considered a cultural resource, including discarded tools, pottery shards, animal bones, and human remains.
Site monitors often work alongside tribal monitors who represent interests of local tribes. Their cultural knowledge is invaluable even to a site monitor. If the monitors find any cultural resources, construction must pause while they evaluate the provenience and significance of the item. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours before monitors can accurately advise the foreman on how to proceed. One of the biggest worries for anyone on the jobsite is the discovery of human remains because that could point to the presence of a gravesite.
If it is determined that there is a high likelihood of additional remains present in the location, archaeologists and field technicians are called in to conduct salvage archaeology. They excavation methods to unearth and document the remains. The excavation process can sometimes take several months before construction may resume. Salvage archaeology can be applied to other objects of antiquity as well. Any artifacts or remains that are discovered are then sent to the proper channels for further documentation and preservation, and sometimes, repatriation.
The job of a site monitor or tribal monitor is vitally important to the preservation and respect of Native American culture. Gideon Cauffman, staff archaeologist of Oak Harbor in Washington, told the Whidbey News-Times, “We have a responsibility by state and federal law to preserve cultural resources.” California has some of the strictest regulations regarding construction, the environment, and cultural resources. This has caused many projects to be drawn out but, arguably, not without reason.
Fortunately, because of the efforts of archaeologists and local tribes and compliance of construction workers, Southern Californians can now reap the benefits of the expanded and mended 405 highway guilt free.
