IN THE PIPELINE:

Have you ever heard of ORA 83?

This is from the Bolsa Chica Land Trust website: “One of the most unique and significant archaeological sites in coastal Southern California lies within the Bolsa Chica. Known as ORA 83, this site contains evidence of an 8,000-year-old village site and burial ground on the grassland mesa, now proposed for a residential tract.” As you may know, that’s where the Brightwater housing complex is being developed.

More from the site: “It is the last remaining Early Holocene coastal village in Orange County, California. At least 25 known burial sites are within ORA 83. The precious nature of this site is even more profound with the loss of a second nearby site for construction of housing units. Over 1,000 ‘cogged’ stones have been found on the Bolsa Chica Mesa, possibly a manufacturing site of these mysterious artifacts.”

Have you heard of cogged stones? They are fascinating. Lastly, from the Land Trust site: “Various theories about the religious or social use of the cogged stones abound. While cogged stones are found at other sites in the region, they are few. No other site shows indications of cogged stone manufacture. Prehistorically, ORA 83 was situated near the mouth of the Santa Ana River and the beginning of a known natural transportation corridor that stretched into the Mojave Desert. ORA 83 had a profound influence in the region and probably was the hub of a ritual interaction sphere.”

OK, so now you’re up to speed on ORA 83 and cogstones. Why the quick lesson? Well there’s a letter circulating, which I had the opportunity to read this week. Sent to the California Coastal Commission from Larry Meyers at the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)it details how upset the commission is becoming over the shoddy reporting work being done at ORA 83 by Hearthside Homes, developer of Brightwater.

In case you missed it, Hearthside has landed in even more hot water recently (after erecting the infamous, bird-killing “Wall of Death”) for not disclosing many of the discoveries they made at the site — discoveries that are supposed to be cataloged, detailed and reported in a timely manner (before being reburied out of respect for the tribe).

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of cogstones and other artifacts may be at issue, and it seems like a war may soon break out between the developer and tribal representative over the missteps.

From the letter Meyers sent: “The NAHC is informed that both Most Likely Descendants support waiting six months for the first reburial until major features that are clearly associated with individual burials can be studied and documentation on these completed. The NAHC supports this disposition. The NAHC remains concerned about the Brightwater Bolsa Chica Project. Although the NAHC has been in contact with the project archaeologist and has received a January 2007 and a Nov. 5, 2008 status report, as of this date the NAHC has not received a promised map from the project archaeologist showing burials, house pits, photos and features.

“The NAHC has not received a report clearly showing the dates, locations and details of burial discoveries. At this point based on information available and the large number of burials recovered and associated items, it appears that the whole area may be a burial ground. Southern California Indians created and used discrete areas as cemeteries. The NAHC understands that the Coastal Commission will be reviewing its permit for the Brightwater Project. The NAHC suggests that the Coastal Commission consider requiring some sort of guarantee or performance bond in order to assure that all required reports are provided on a timely basis and that documentation is completed and reburials of remains and artifacts occur as agreed.”

So, there could be some serious trouble brewing up on the hill — a tribal war of sorts. I focus on this today because simply, I’m getting sick and tired of watching Huntington Beach’s most valuable piece of history become so desecrated and abused.

We have no museum in this city to account for this precious story. It’s not taught in local schools — the history of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians and Gabrieleno-Tongva here in Huntington Beach is woefully under-represented and at some point it’d be nice if everyone could work together to create some legacy piece so future generations will understand what took place here.

Instead, swimming pools are being dug on burial grounds, bones and artifacts are being stashed away by the thousands, and developers refuse to answer questions, choosing instead to duck and dodge and weave.

This is a holy mess with virtually no opportunity for the public to learn and relish the value of what took place here. I’m frustrated. Are you?

On a separate note, I’ll be signing my books this Saturday at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the Santa Monica Press booth, No. 618. Come say hi!

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 11 books including “Roadside Baseball” and the forthcoming “Huntington Beach – Then & Now.” He also hosts “The Pop Culture Road Trip” radio show on webtalkradio.net. You can write him at chris@chrisepting.com.