Museum: Cultural: Archeological Collections

The Point Reyes National Seashore Museum staff maintain and preserve over 12,000 archeological artifacts in the archeology collections. Artifacts at the museum collections facility were collected since the early 1960s through inadvertent discovery, archeological investigations, park historic research, and the regulatory management of cultural and natural resources. Associated field records are collected with archeological research and retained in the Archives as part of the park’s museum collection.

The bulk of the archeological materials in the collection are the result of excavations of known Coast Miwok sites within the park boundary during the late 1950s–1970s. For millennia, the Coast Miwok people were the only inhabitants of what is now known as Marin and Southern Sonoma County in California. The tribe, federally recognized in 2000, makes up part of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria which also includes the Southern Pomo people.

The materials are primarily lithics, debitage, worked obsidian, bone, shell, beads, as well as midden and faunal remains. The collection also includes rare late 1500s European and Chinese manufactured materials excavated from Point Reyes archeology sites. They provide evidence of the first encounters on the West Coast of Northern California between indigenous people and Europeans and have been of interest to scholars worldwide. A large collection of blue and white Ming Dynasty porcelain sherds, iron and glass shards were recovered and in particular, some of the porcelain pieces were repurposed into adornments and tools.

The source of these European materials are the two recorded encounters which took place with the Coast Miwok in Point Reyes in the late 1500s. In June of 1579, English explorer Sir Francis Drake and his crew encamped on Marin shores for six weeks while repairing the Golden Hind. Sixteen years later, in 1595, Captain Rodrigo Cermeno and crew were on shore when their Spanish Manila Galleon, San Agustin, loaded with cargo from Asia shipwrecked in Drakes Bay.

Associated records, studies and reports pertaining to prehistoric or historic archeology sites may also be available in the park archives. Site records are restricted.

Archeological materials recovered within the park boundaries are National Park Service property and must be retained in the park's museum collection in accordance with 43 CFR 7.13 and National Park Service Management Policies.

The Point Reyes National Seashore Museum is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of five reproductions of Coast Miwok feather regalia made by noted historian, Craig Bates. These reproductions are defined as ethnology objects by the National Park Service Museum Management Program as objects produced by or associated with Native Americans or other indigenous peoples from contemporary cultures.

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How can you help protect archeology sites?

• Watch your step. Cultural sites are fragile and easily damaged.
• Look with your eyes, not with your hands. If you think you find something in the park that may be archeology, please leave it in place. The exact spot an artifact is found is important for archeological researchers. Call Visitor Information at 415-464-5100 x2 x5, or email the park archeologist and let them know where and what you found.
• Be smart. Talk to rangers, ask questions, learn about the archeology of Point Reyes and the NPS Archeology Program.
• Remember. Archeology is a legally protected cultural resource.