DISCOVERY BAY – Archaeologists hired by the Jefferson County Public Utility District got a first look Thursday at the Beckett Point site where human bones thought to be Native American were found on Sunday.
But by the evening, the archaeologists had no answers to the pressing questions posed by PUD officials about the likelihood of more bones at the location.
The 58 bones and bone fragments were discovered when crews from Pape and Sons Construction were digging near the shore as part of constructing on-site septic and community drain field project contracted by the PUD.
The discovery of the bones – that were turned into the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday – put a stop to the work where they were found, as is the state protocol when bones or artifacts thought to be Native American are unearthed.
The $2.8 million project, which has been under way for about a month and a half, would update outdated septic systems that pose a threat of leaking into Discovery Bay.
As two archaeologists from Olympia-based Cascadia Archaeology strolled the Beckett Point spit where dozens of beach shacks wrap the shoreline, Wayne King, PUD commissioner from Gardiner, stood for a moment alone looking at the cordoned-off 30-foot by 30-foot site where the bones were found.
“If they find fire pits and a camp site, this whole thing will be over,” King said.
“I don’t even want to think about it.”
Worrying out loud, King mentioned the graving yard site in Port Angeles where the discovery of a Klallam tribe village in 2003 derailed the project to build pontoons and concrete anchors for a section of the Hood Canal floating bridge.
The Federal Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 protects tribal burial sites, historical cultural items, human remains, funeral or burial objects, sacred ceremonial objects and other items important to Native American tribes.
“This could be an expensive deal,” King said.
He said if more bones are found, the septic project, like the Hood Canal project, could be forced to be abandoned.
If that happens, the PUD would be left with the bill and still have to fulfill contracts for Pape and Sons and Parametrix, the Sumner-based engineering firm hired to design the project.
However, King said, given the sensitive nature of the situation, “We want to do more than what is required to show respect.
“We want to be damn sure that we’re doing the right thing for the American Indians.”
He was also curious about what lay below the ground.
“It’s going to be interesting what comes out of this.”
The contracted archaeologists will have a conference today with the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which is the lead government agency overseeing the discovery.
Also at the table will be local tribes to help determine if the bones are, in fact, Native American and, if so, from which tribe.
Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation officials will decide what to do next and whether further digging will be required or if the project can proceed as planned.
“It all depends what they find,” said King.
