Although this is not Mariposa County (thank goodness)- I think that this is worth a post here-as we have recently learned this can happen anywhere-~!! Carolyn SF Examiner- March 12, 2001---------------- http://www.examiner.com/headlines/default.jsp?story=chumash.0309 Santa Barbara woman charged with destroying ancient Chumash site Associated Press SANTA BARBARA -- A federal grand jury charged a 34-year-old woman with destroying an ancient Chumash Indian village when she ordered contractors to clear cut and excavate an area to move her cabin and garage. The site was inhabited between 1,069 and 1,209 years ago. It was not immediately clear whether the area was within Chumash Painted Caves State Historical Park. A federal prosecutor in Los Angeles only said the damage occurred near the Santa Ynez River in the Los Padres National Forest. "The area where this site is located is rich with significant archaeological deposits, including village sites, cemeteries, rock art sites, and quarries," Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns in Los Angeles said Thursday. The destruction allegedly occurred on or about April 23, 1998, he said. The grand jury in Los Angeles on March 1 indicted Patricia E. Hogan, whose hometown only was listed as Santa Barbara County, with unlawful excavation of archaeological resources and depredation of government property. If convicted of both charges, Hogan faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison. "Hogan had knowledge of the archaeological resources on the property at the time she relocated the cabin because a Native American expert inspected the property and warned Hogan that it was a major archaeological site," Johns said. An arraignment was set for April 2 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. There was no Santa Barbara telephone listing for Patricia E. Hogan. Hogan was granted a special use permit in 1996, allowing her to use a cabin located in the national forest. The permit only allowed recreational use. "The permit expressly prohibited Hogan from undertaking any excavation, construction activity, improvements or alterations to the property without first notifying and receiving authorization from the U.S. Forest Service," Johns said. The prosecutor said the Hogan "caused" her contractors to cut down trees, shrubs and other indigenous vegetation, as well as dig up and move soil. "This excavation activity caused significant damage to the archaeological remains of a Chumash Native American village site," Johns said. -------------