What might they turn up next?

The surprising discovery of a Native American artifact, found in

February off the coast of Crystal Cove and announced last week by

California Department of Parks and Recreation, opens up the

tantalizing possibility for more to come.

The pestle, officials say, may be put on display at the park’s new

visitor center, to be built as part of a $13-million project to

restore its cottages and grounds. It would be a terrific piece to the

educational mission at Crystal Cove to have it, and other artifacts,

available for public perusal.

It also is an interesting counter-balance to what artifacts might

be discovered hundreds of years from now from our own day.

A Mercedes hood ornament? A laminated ID card for a fitness

center? A computer mouse?

Who knows? And who knows what people might make of the remnants of

life in Newport-Mesa just past the turn of the millennium.

Especially if there’s a DVD box set of “The OC” found.