Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Refuge Resources
4.4 Cultural Resources
4.4.1 Introduction
All accessible lands (dry land areas) within the Seal Beach NWR have been surveyed for cultural
resources, and one site, CA-ORA-298, has been identified within the Refuge boundary. This site
was previously evaluated and determined to be eligible for listing in the National Register of
Historic Places (NRHP). Four additional cultural sites have been recorded just beyond the
Refuge boundary within NWSSB.
Requirements for Federal agencies to identify, evaluate, and protect cultural resources are
outlined in several Federal regulations, including the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
of 1966, as amended (PL 89-665; 50 STAT 915; 16 USC 470 et seq. 36 CFR 800). The NHPA sets
inventory, nomination, protection, and preservation responsibilities for Federally-owned cultural
properties and directs Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their actions on items or
sites listed or eligible for listing in the NRHP. The criteria used to evaluate eligibility to the
NRHP, as contained in 36 CFR 60.4, include, among others, consideration of the quality of the
property’s significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, and culture and the
property’s known or likely ability to yield information important in prehistory or history. An
historical property must also retain the integrity of its physical identity that existed during the
resource’s period of significance. Integrity is evaluated with regard to the retention of location,
design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.
In accordance with the applicable cultural resource regulations, a Cultural Resources Review for
Seal Beach NWR (Zepeda-Herman, C. and J. Underwood 2007) was prepared to assemble known
information about the cultural resources located within and near the Refuge, to identify gaps in the
existing data base, and to establish procedures for ensuring compliance with all applicable cultural
resource regulations in the context of the CCP process. The findings of this overview are
summarized in the sections that follow.
There are currently no federally recognized Tribes in Orange County. However, representatives
of the Cahuilla Band of Indians, Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, and Gabrieleno/Tongva Indians
of California were contacted as part of the formal scoping process and have been receiving
Planning Updates regarding the CCP process for the Seal Beach NWR. No responses have been
received to date regarding any traditional uses or the potential existence of sacred sites within the
Refuge boundary.
4.4.2 Cultural Setting
While the date that human settlement first began in the coastal area of Orange County is unknown,
archaeological evidence indicates people were present in the area at least by the end of the
Pleistocene Epoch, over 11,000 years ago. The cultural history for Orange County describes
people living during four traditions or horizons: Early Man, Millingstone Horizon, Intermediate,
and Late Prehistoric. These periods, which are described below, were first identified by Wallace
(1955) and later modified by Warren (1968) and again by Mason and Peterson (1994).
4.4.2.1 Early Man (Initial Occupation – 7,500 B.P.)
The initial occupation of coastal southern California appears to have occurred between 11,000
and 8,500 B.P. (Before Present) (Jones 1992). Although little is known about this period in
Orange County, the recovery of primarily lithic tools from this period led both Wallace (1955)
and Warren (1968) to believe that hunting of terrestrial game was the focus of these highly
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment 4-77