Archaeology and Cultural Resources
People have been living, working, and playing in the national forests in California for more than 9,000 years. With 109 federally recognized tribes in California, the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region encompasses almost 20% of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the nation — the most of any Forest Service region. Additionally, there are over 50 more non-federally recognized tribes in the state who may also have cultural interest in our national forests. List of tribes per national forest (PDF 336 KB).
Evidence of Native Americans, explorers, miners, loggers, and herders remain at the thousands of prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and historic buildings and structures scattered throughout the national forests in California. Remember these special places are protected by laws; removal or disturbance of any artifact, structure, or buried material is illegal. Enjoy the cultural resources, but please help us protect them for future visitors.
Cultural resources on federal land are protected by laws including:
- The National Historic Preservation Act
- The Antiquities Act
- The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
- The Archaeological Resources Protection Act
Archaeological Resources Protection Act
It is Illegal to excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise deface any archaeological resource located on public or Indian lands. Damage to archaeological sites in excess of $500 is a felony punishable by up to $250,000 in fines and imprisonment for up to two years for the first offence. All materials, equipment, and vehicles used in the commission of such crimes are subject to forfeiture.
