Archaeological tests are under way at the site of the planned athletic complex near Memorial Stadium, which some activists say is the location of a Native American burial ground.

Local activists and historians making such claims cite newspaper articles from the 1920s about the unearthing of Native American remains during the stadium's construction. Earlier articles also document the discovery of 12 burials near Faculty Glade, said local historian Richard Schwartz.

"If there are burials under the stadium ... and there are other burials just to the west, including Faculty Glade, then the area would logically, in my opinion, be considered one large burial ground," Schwartz said in a letter sent to UC Berkeley.

Starting in December 2006, a number of protesters occupied a grove of trees at the site, seeking to prevent the destruction of 42 trees and what they said was an ancient Native American burial ground.

"It's a burial ground-we know it is," said Native American activist Zachary RunningWolf. "They couldn't have done a tree-sit for so long unless it was a sacred place. Something magical was happening."

But James Allan, vice president of the independent consulting firm William Self Associates, published an assessment based on archival research in September 2007, finding "no verifiable evidence for a burial ground at the site of the Stadium."

The firm is conducting the tests at the stadium site by taking 50 core samples, each approximately four inches in diameter and 15 to 50 feet deep. Testing should take another two weeks, Allan said. The results of these tests should be available in mid-November.

Dan Mogulof, the campus's executive director of public affairs, said the campus is not legally obligated to conduct the tests, but is taking a "conservative approach." He added that it is the general practice of the campus to conduct similar research for all projects of this type.

"Before building anywhere, we want to know as much as we possibly can about the history of the site," Mogulof said.

A representative of the local Ohlone tribe is on site every day to oversee the excavation.

In the event that Native American remains are uncovered, Mogulof said the campus would contact the state's Native American Heritage Commission, which would come to a decision about what would happen to the remains.

"There are good processes in place," Mogulof said. "It's nothing that would stop the project from going forward."

Schwartz said that the area has historical, cultural and ecological importance-even if no more human remains are uncovered.

"If you destroy it, you destroy it forever," he said. "In England, they didn't destroy Stonehenge to put up a McDonald's."

Tags: STUDENT ATHLETE HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTER, MEMORIAL STADIUM