THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1999

Archaeologist causes concern

By John Putman

On-Line Forty-Niner

Committee members who advise Cal State Long Beach officials on policy regarding American-Indian remains and artifacts voiced their concerns about the archaeologist responsible for the recovery of artifacts discovered during campus construction projects.

During its April 26 meeting, Members of the Committee on Native American Burial Remains and Cultural Patrimony questioned the ethics and methodology of archaeologist Matthew Boxt. They also wondered whether it was appropriate for the university to hire him for another project scheduled for this summer.

Committee members were responding to a report by Keith Polakoff, associate vice president for academic affairs and instructional programs, on why it has taken Boxt six years to report his findings from three previous archaeological excavations: the expansion of the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center; the construction of the Parking Structure; and the construction of the Central Plant, along with trenching for pipes laid throughout campus which distribute water from the plant.

The digs unearthed a rich collection of artifacts which point to American-Indian habitation, including shells, animal bones and pottery, Polakoff said. The discoveries will contribute to understanding the culture of the area's native inhabitants.

"I find this kind of insulting as a people that after six years nothing has come to us," said Lillian Robles, a Juaneno elder and committee member.

Polakoff believes that Boxt's reports are undergoing a final round of required peer review and should be made public before fall. He defended the archaeologist's methodology.

"There are probably relatively few places in California that have been studied as thoroughly as Matthew Boxt has studied these three sites on our campus," Polakoff said.

Still, Polakoff is troubled that lawyers for the Cal State University may seek to delay the publication of the reports because of its pending lawsuit with American-Indians over the Puvungna worship site.

"I'm concerned because there is a legitimate scholarly interest in seeing these reports disseminated to the academic community," Polakoff said.

He hinted that he would enlist the help of CSULB President Robert Maxson to persuade CSU lawyers "that we have interests, academic and otherwise, in seeing these reports made public."

While Polakoff asserted that it was unfair to blame Boxt for the delay in reporting his findings because he was working under the authority of CSU lawyers, CSULB anthropology professor Eugene Ruyle criticized Boxt's ethics.

"Secretive research is a violation of the ethical code of the American Anthropological Association, and if Matthew Boxt has put himself in a position where he's done this, he has only himself to blame," Ruyle said.

Committee members were also concerned that Boxt had been hired as the archaeologist for what Polakoff described as a "particularly sensitive project," the extension of existing water lines that will connect The Pyramid to the Central Plant. This project will involve 1,700 feet of six-feet wide by eight-feet deep trenching that will cross Bouten Creek, an area that has proved to be a rich depository of American-Indian artifacts, according to Polakoff.

"To hire Matthew Boxt yet again for an archaeological excavation on campus when he has demonstrated, I think, questionable ethics, I just question this," Ruyle said. "I'm really concerned that this kind of old-style, hostile, contract archaeology that's been so rampant in Southern California is being continued here on campus."

Some committee members also expressed concerns that Boxt might be prejudiced against the wishes of local American-Indians. Ruyle referred to an unpublished paper Boxt wrote in which he questions "the ethno-historical significance and current significance of [American-Indians] sites on this campus."

In light of their concerns with Boxt, many on the committee thought it would be appropriate for CSULB to open up the project for bidding.

Polakoff disagreed.

"I think that if the reports are made public and they are subjugated to criticism that raises legitimate questions about the quality of the work or the conclusions that are drawn from the evidence, that's the point at which it would be appropriate to take that step," he said.

The committee moved to invite Boxt and Scott Sharmack, associate vice president-physical planning and facilities management, to their next meeting, scheduled May 17, to address the committee's concerns.