Archaeological and Biological Assessment of Submerged Landforms off the Pacific Coast

In a cooperative agreement between San Diego State University (SDSU) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and in collaboration with a variety of academic institutions and governmental agencies, this study concerned the exploration of submerged geological landforms using terrestrial analogues, paleoshoreline mapping, sediment coring, ground-truthing, and biological assessments. Fieldwork was conducted along California’s Northern Channel Islands (NCI) and off the central Oregon Coast, targeting now-submerged landforms that may contain cultural resources. Recovered data were used to build predictive models for the corresponding study areas, identifying the most likely locations where pre-contact submerged geological landforms, archaeological sites, and traditional cultural properties might be found and preserved along the Pacific outer continental shelf (POCS). As a critical part of this project and in consideration of the appropriate study areas, the scientific team regularly consulted, both formally and informally, with Chumash Tribal members, the Elders Council for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians (SYBCI), the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and cultural staff from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI). Remote sensing methods for future research of this type would need to be adapted as appropriate in regards to the seafloor geology and topography of the study area.

USD: $899,893

2015-10-01 → 2022-04-30