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News Release

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

Peavine Mountain Rock Art Update

Sparks, Nevada…The Humboldt-Toiyabe has collected a civil penalty of $21,523 from two individuals who admitted removing three boulders with prehistoric rock art from the National Forest on Peavine Mountain.  Although John Ligon, a Reno resident, and Carroll Mizell of California, were charged in 2003 with theft of government property and violations of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), they were not convicted of these crimes.

Following a jury trial, the two were convicted only of the theft charge.  A subsequent appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the theft convictions; the court determined that the government had not sufficiently proven the commercial value of the stolen rock art.   

The Forest Service pursued and collected civil penalties against the two men after the criminal case was closed.  The ARPA provides for both criminal and civil penalties against anyone who damages, disturbs, or alters archaeological resources on federal or Indian land.  The penalty of $21,523, paid under an agreement with the two offenders, represents the full archaeological value and restoration and repair costs for the three petroglyphs. 

“I am truly grateful for the work of the USDA Office of General Counsel and our federal law enforcement officers in pursuing and receiving this important penalty,” said Ed Monnig, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor.  “The petroglyphs are such an important part of our heritage as Americans, and I appreciate the cooperative work of the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in assisting us in restoring these priceless pieces of our history,” continued Monnig.  

The Forest Service now plans to use the funds collected to cover the costs of returning the boulders to the original site and adding protective measures to secure the artifacts in their original location.  The work will be done in partnership with the tribes.  Site work is expected to be completed this fall. 

“Our cultural resources are vital to our existence as indigenous people,” said Waldo Walker, Washoe Tribal Chairman.  “Native heritage and traditions are born out of respect for our cultural connection to the past, and because of this, these valuable sites warrant diligent protection,” Waldo added.

The rock art depicts an archer, a bighorn sheep, a lizard, a wheel, and a human figure.  They probably were created in the range from 150-to-less-than-1,300 years ago.  Since being impounded from Ligon’s yard in Reno, the boulders have been held as evidence by the Forest Service. 
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“These very important cultural items were left by past family and ancestors for us,” said Arlan Melendez, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Chairman.  “The significant assault on Native American memories and cultural items is as bad as walking into a Catholic Church and taking a cross off the wall or defacing any painting in that church,” Melendez stated.  “It’s inappropriate and disrespectful.” 

Melendez further emphasized that the tribes remain concerned about how many Native American artifacts go missing without being recovered.  “Tribes, along with federal land managers, need to develop effective partnerships in protecting the remaining cultural resources,” said Melendez.   

For more information on this release, contact Forest Supervisor Ed Monnig at 775-355-5304, Forest Archaeologist Fred Frampton at 775-352-1253, Public Affairs Officer Christie Kalkowski at 775-355-5311, Carson Ranger District Archaeologist Joe Garrotto at 775-884-8108, Washoe Tribal Cultural Resources Director Lynda Shoshone  at 775-265-7274, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Cultural Resource Manager Michon R. Eben at 775-785-1363, or Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Cultural Director Ben Aleck at 775-574-1088, or visit the website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/.

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Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Contacts:
Ed Monnig                775-355-5304 
Supervisor’s Office

Fred Frampton         775-352-1253
1200 Franklin Way

Christie Kalkowski    775-355-5311
Sparks, NV 89431

Joe Garrotto             775-884-8108


For Immediate Release on August  7, 2007       
Stop Date is September 7, 2007