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HomeWorld NewsA Prehistoric Look at OC’s Indigenous History

A Prehistoric Look at OC’s Indigenous History

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Most of Orange County’s history is lived on, built over or erased.

Yet it’s a story that often goes untold.

Orange County is the only major county in Southern California without a public museum focusing on local natural history. 

Local Paleontology Technician, Paul Alms, 52, showing off an array of fossils found at OC Toll Roads construction sites at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC

“It’s important to show that this place didn’t just appear, there is a bunch of history here, good and bad,” said Marisol Moreno, who was among a host of families gathered this past weekend at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park to put a local focus on Indigenous People’s Day at Prehistoric OC.

“It’s important we teach kids that people were here long before we were,” Moreno added. 
The event offered hands-on activities presented by OC Parks archaeologists and paleontologists, educational booths and admission to Clark Park’s Interpretive Center.

Fossils displayed at the OC Toll Roads booth at Prehistoric OC, which was held at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC
Prehistoric OC attendees photograph the volcanic simulation at Ralph B. Clark Regional Park on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA, Voice of OC

Of the booths at the event, only one – The Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum and Acjachemen Cultural Center – put a direct focus on showcasing indigenous history.

“It’s important to preserve the technology that’s thousands of years old and show how it is still viable today,” said Belardes.

“It’s good that people are reconnecting with their roots and recognizing how viable and vibrant their culture was,” added Belardes.

Domingo Belardes, 54, shows a map of Indigenous California at Prehistoric OC, an event that invited the public to explore Orange County history through archaeology and paleontology, on Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: MAXIMO SANTANA Voice of OC

Here in Orange County, the local indigenous community – like many around California – became anchored to the local Catholic Mission – and were often referred to by their connection to the mission, such as Juaneños, Gabrieleños and Luiseños

Orange County’s local tribe – which has three different groups that sought federal recognition back in the 1990s – today emphasizes use of their indigenous name, Acjachemen, identifying formally as the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians of Acjachemen Nation.

[Read: Putuidem Village Unearths OC Indigenous History]

Neither tribe is federally recognized, joining more than 55 tribes that remain unrecognized in the state.

Ciara Belardes, right, shows Prehistoric OC visitors models Indigenous tools, jewelry, instruments and more items at the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum Foundation’s booth. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

The interpretive center at the regional park displays fossils recovered within the park and surrounding areas, allowing the public a view of some natural artifacts from across OC.

The Clark Park Interpretive Center on Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

“The collection here at the center focuses primarily on mammals and ,” said OC Parks volunteer Sandy Larsen, who worked in the center’s fossil prep lab the day of the event. “Many indigenous artifacts are not on display inside museum spaces anymore.” 

Most indigenous artifacts found by archaeological teams are made from stone, according to Larsen. 

Common artifacts include debitage, or waste material made when producing stone tools, in addition to spearheads, cobbled stone known as core and cogged stones, artifacts with no known use that are unique to California.

Sandra Larsen, an OC Parks volunteer with the Clark Park Interpretive Center and the Cooper Center, prepares a fossil during the Prehistoric OC event on Oct. 12, 2024. Fossil preparation includes removing material around a fossil, in addition to cleaning and repairing the piece. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Many remnants of the area’s past sit on shelves away from the public eye inside the Cooper Center, the county’s primary storage facility for paleontological and archaeological remains.

A view of educational booths at Prehistoric OC held at the Ralph B. Clark Regional Park on Oct. 12, 2024. Credit: ERIKA TAYLOR, Voice of OC

Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You can find her on Instagram @camerakeepsrolling or email at etaylor@voiceofoc.org





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