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The historical and religious significance of a tiny, ancient wall carving that might be bulldozed to make way for 2,500 homes has prompted growing debate between local American Indian groups and Irvine Co.
The carving looks like little more than a doodle, according to archeologists who have seen it--a wavy line about 4 inches long with a circle at one end. It was cut into the wall of a shallow cave by a Native American almost 2,000 years ago on what is now Irvine Co. land near the Turtle Rock community in Irvine.
Company officials and archeologists have invited local tribal representatives to view it and submit ideas for its fate. But they say there are far larger, more significant finds that will be preserved in the area.
Local Native American groups, however, say the site and others like it are sacred grounds that all should be left intact.
"The Turtle Rock area is considered one of the more sacred areas, and I would imagine these sites could be tied to some of our major villages," said Dameon Shilo, chairman of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians.
The hollow with the carving is one of nine containing Indian artifacts that dot 1,600 rugged acres in Irvine at the foot of the San Joaquin Hills. Seven will be preserved on about 1,000 open acres bordered roughly by the San Joaquin Hills toll road, Shady Canyon Road and Bonita Canyon Drive.
The remaining two, which sit on opposite sides of an unnamed creek, are in the middle of an area where Irvine Co. has approval to build the homes.
One of the sites is definitely destined for demolition. Numerous archeologists agree that the crushed shells and chipped stone inside tell little about the Native Americans who used it. The site has been documented, as required by law, and archeologists will monitor demolition in case other artifacts hidden deeper in the soil are turned up. If so, any significant artifacts will be removed.
The other cave contains the wall carving that some consider a valuable archeological find.
Although such cave drawings or carvings exist throughout Southern California, the debate over this one centers on whether every fragment can or should be preserved...