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More Native Remains Discovered on Fourth Street in Berkeley

Becky O'Malley
Friday May 06, 2016 - 10:42:00 AM

More human remains have been discovered in Berkeley's Fourth Street area. They are assumed to date from the period when Ohlone Native Americans occupied the site, which includes a shell mound and other evidence of Native habitation. The Jamestown corporation, current owners of Spenger's restaurant who are engaged in developing additional shopping spaces at 1919 Fourth Street, issued the following statement:

“A second set of partial remains was found under the 4th Street sidewalk during excavation work. Upon identification, construction was stopped and the remains were removed by the archeological team under the supervision of the Ohlone Indian Tribe’s appointed representative, Andrew Galvan. Mr. Galvan is storing the remains and preparing them for reburial based on his own recommendations. Construction work continues in accordance with the recommendations of Mr. Galvan and with onsite monitoring by a professional archaeologist and Mr. Galvan’s team. We will continue to keep the community informed of any further developments.”

This discovery could also affect the development proposed across the street at 1900 Fourth Street by a corporation represented by former Berkeley Planning Director Mark Rhoades. Environmental review of that site in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act requirements is currently underway. No EIR was required by Berkeley's Planning Department for the work at 1919 Fourth, which some observers who have asked to remain anonymous now believe to have been an error.