There are numerous traditional cultural properties
encompassed within
the entire Stony Valley area. These include village
sites, cultural
processing sites and an extremely important ceremonial
site. The
ceremonial site includes a natural rocky arch that is
visibly fragile.
The type of activity proposed would cause it to
deteriorate and
collapse.
In 1980, the Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers directed the
preparation of a "Cultural Resources Reconnaissance
and Overview of Fort
Hunter Liggett". In part, the report concludes "The
Ceremonial Arch as
described in the Ethnography section of this report
represents the
documentation of a sacred place that has been 'lost'
for many years.
This natural sandstone arch is located within a vast
occupational site
known in contact times as Chuquilim. The cultural
significance of this
area mandates total protection. It is recommended
that the site which
houses the ceremonial rock and the sites in this
general area be placed
off limits to military personnel and civilian hunters"
(page 273).
In summary, the entire Stony Valley area consists of
overlapping,
integrated and related traditional cultural properties
that must not be
altered, vandalized or defaced. Therefore,
establishing a bombing range
in this area would be completely inappropriate.
Joe Freeman,
President
Salinan Nation Cultural
Preservation Association
January 25,
2001