Early Polynesian / Australasian / South Indian settlement identified at Farallon Islands, Point Reyes, and San Francisco Bay area, California, in Coast Miwok and Ohlone traditional territories

Press Pool -

Early Polynesian / Australasian / South Indian settlement identified at Farallon Islands, Point Reyes, and San Francisco Bay area, California, in Coast Miwok and Ohlone traditional territories© Provided by Indian Country Today

News Release

Stephen D. Janes, M.A., Ph.D.

Lou-Anne Fauteck Makes-Marks, M.F.A., M.A., Ph.D.

Ancient, megalithic structures at Point Reyes, California, traditional Coast Miwok territory, have been found to be part of an ancient mortuary complex, with spirit paths to the Farallon Islands and ceremonial sites for the dead. Stone mounds and other structures there have been determined to be culturally Polynesian in origin. A related mortuary complex exists for the Ohlone at the West Berkeley Shellmound in San Francisco Bay.

The Farallon Islands are considered by both Coast Miwok and Ohlone to be part of these complexes, as their Islands of the Dead. These islands have now been identified as the most likely first settlement of early settlers—Polynesian, Australasian, and South Indian in origin — along the central California coast.

The Farallon islands are presently the approved target for rodent-poison bombing in the near future by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Point Blue Conservation Science. Point Reyes is the site of expanded dairy operations and culling of the native Tule elk. The Ohlone’s West Berkeley Shellmound is being threatened by commercial development.

Per Dr. Janes, “Protection and preservation of these structures are essential, as well as non-invasive testing to further describe them.”

Conclusions are based on observations, oral traditions of Coast Miwok, Ohlone, and other California Indian tribes, records of comparable cultural sites throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans, and other substantial academic and field research.

Dr. Makes-Marks, a scholar of Native American religions, said, “These mortuary complexes are among the ancient, traditional cultural places in the Americas and demand more attention.”

A book detailing this research is forthcoming.