Caltrans Lists 73 Ancient Items from Marin County for Tribal Return
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) finished checking 73 ancient items found during road work in Marin County, California. These items belong to Native American tribes, and starting January 16, 2026, they can be returned to the tribes. No money changes hands, but tribes can now ask to get these important cultural objects back.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
73 Funerary Objects Eligible for Return
Caltrans completed an inventory of 73 associated funerary objects found in Marin County and those objects can be returned to tribes or descendants on or after January 16, 2026. The items come from sites along Highway 101 between Petaluma and Novato and are housed at Sonoma State University.
Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Identified
Caltrans determined there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. That identified connection means the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria may request repatriation of the items starting January 16, 2026.
Who May Request Repatriation and Priority Rules
Written repatriation requests may be submitted by any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization identified in the notice, or by any lineal descendant or unlisted tribe that proves cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence. If competing requests are received, Caltrans must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests count as a single request.
No Known Hazardous Treatments Reported
Caltrans reported that there are no known or documented potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of the 73 cultural items. This applies to the unaccessioned collection from excavations at multiple Marin County sites conducted in 2005.
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