Gr 9 Reading Level

1. Archaeological dig stopped short of
solving mystery of the Lone Woman
By Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.16.15
Word Count 971
Rene Vellanoweth, an archaeology professor at Cal State-Los Angeles, is pictured inside the cave he believes was the
home of Juana Maria, the Lone Woman of San Nicolas made famous in "Island of the Blue Dolphins." Photo: U.S. Navy
photo courtesy Steve Schwartz/TNS
For months, they worked together in the cave where the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island
may have lived. Slowly, painstakingly, they removed bucket after bucket of sand — 40,000
in all.
Navy archaeologist Steve Schwartz was leading the project. He was impressed by one of
the California State University students taking part in the dig: Tom Holm, a filmmaker eager
to make a documentary about the excavation of the cave.
Holm felt lucky to be working shoulder-to-shoulder with experts, impressed with their
knowledge of the Native American woman who survived on the island for 18 years,
abandoned and alone, in the 1800s.
A Sudden Stop
In April 2012, they were finally getting close to the historical relics that would shed light on
the real-life story of the woman who inspired “Island of the Blue Dolphins," which was one
of the 20th century’s most popular novels for young readers and required reading in many
California schools.

2. Then, Schwartz was ordered to stop digging by the commanders at the naval base on the
island.
The archaeologist was especially shocked by a blunt question contained in the order: “Is the
work you’re doing out there legal?”
Something else stung as well — the shutdown grew out of claims made by Holm. Becoming
concerned that the archaeological dig was breaking laws designed to protect cultural
resources, Holm brought members of the Pechanga Native American tribe to the island.
The closure interrupted research on one of the most significant historical finds in California
history. It led Schwartz, 57, to retire early in anger and frustration.
“It’s a heartbreak. A travesty,” Schwartz said recently. “We may never learn what
archaeological riches that cave is guarding.”
Woman Of Legend
Very little is known about the Nicoleno Indians, who, in the early 1800s, suffered huge
losses in repeated fights with Russian fur traders and Alaskan sea otter hunters.
After a particularly brutal battle in 1814, the Nicoleno population, which had been about
300, dropped to a few dozen.
In 1835, a ship was sent by Franciscan fathers at the Santa Barbara Mission to bring the
few remaining Nicoleno back to the mainland. All but one made the trip aboard the Peor es
Nada — loosely translated as “better than nothing.”
According to legend, a woman jumped overboard and swam for shore after realizing that
her baby had been left behind. A sudden storm forced the ship’s captain to leave without
her.
Her baby didn’t survive, according to the legend.
“What actually happened to her remains a mystery,” Schwartz said.
He was determined to find out.
Finding The Cave
By 2012, Schwartz had already spent more than 20 years searching for the cave. Then, a
breakthrough — the precise location of the case was confirmed in the notes of a 19th
century government surveyor. One of his field stations on the island was, he wrote, “100
yards eastward of the large cave formerly inhabited by a wild Indian woman who lived there
alone for 18 years.”
Schwartz discovered the cave — 20 feet high, 75 feet long and packed with sand — under
a rock overhang. Digging out the sand, Schwartz and his team uncovered two sets of
initials and a date etched near the cave’s mouth: “September 11, 1911.” They also found
two glass bottles, left by late 19th century sailors.

3. At first, Holm was excited to be taking part in the dig, led by Schwartz and Rene
Vellanoweth, Holm’s archaeology professor at Cal State.
Holm’s views began to change after he met with Pechanga elders who questioned the
archaeologists’ explanations of artifacts they had found. He also disliked T-shirts worn by
Vellanoweth and his team members that said “San Nicolas Cave Archaeology.” As Holm
put it, “we did not have permission to do anything other than remove sand.”
Later, teams of archaeology students were stunned by heated arguments between Holm
and Schwartz and Vellanoweth in the cave and elsewhere on the island.
A "Wasps' Nest"
Eventually, Holm invited three members of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians to
accompany him on a tour of the cave. A few weeks later, the tribe sent letters demanding
that the Navy stop archaeological research in the cave and at 549 other sites across the
island.
Now, the cave is closed indefinitely. Its fate is being negotiated between the Navy and the
Pechanga tribe, which is claiming a connection with the island’s mysterious ancient people,
who for 8,000 years survived eating mostly shellfish, sea lions, small fish and roots.
“We’re only trying to do what’s right by our ancestors,” Mark Macarro, the tribe’s chairman,
said in an interview. “We must ensure that all applicable federal laws are followed.”
Among the losers in the dig shutdown is Holm himself, who says he invested $100,000 in a
film project that may never be completed.
Holm, 53, said he didn’t know that bringing Pechanga tribal members to San Nicolas would
stir up a “wasps’ nest.” Still, he says he believes the Navy made the right decision.
The Mystery Remains
Schwartz has retired, but said he wishes the research could go on. “If the Navy hadn’t
stopped us, I’d still be out there continuing the research,” he said.
For now, at least, the mystery of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island will remain
unsolved.
In the years after she was left behind, fishermen occasionally reported seeing a person
running along the deserted island’s windy beaches.
In 1853, the woman — about 50 years old — was skinning a seal and living in a nearby
cave when she was found by Santa Barbara fur traders.
She sailed to Santa Barbara with them and died seven weeks later of dysentery. On her
deathbed, she was baptized and named Juana Maria.
She is buried at the Santa Barbara Mission. One hundred and sixty-two years after her
death, she remains as alone and mysterious as ever.

4. Quiz
1 Which event from the article likely led to the closure of the archaeological dig?
(A) In the years after she was left behind, fishermen occasionally reported seeing
a person running along the deserted island’s windy beaches.
(B) Eventually, Holm invited three members of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno
Indians to accompany him on a tour of the cave.
(C) She sailed to Santa Barbara with them and died seven weeks later of
dysentery. On her deathbed, she was baptized and named Juana Maria.
(D) Schwartz has retired, but said he wishes the research could go on. “If the
Navy hadn’t stopped us, I’d still be out there continuing the research,” he
said.
2 Which paragraphs from the section "Finding The Cave" show reasons why finding out more
about the Lone Woman of San Nicholas was challenging?
(A) paragraphs 1, 2 and 3
(B) paragraphs 1, 2 and 4
(C) paragraphs 2, 3 and 4
(D) paragraphs 3, 4 and 5
3 Which selection is MOST important to the main idea of the article?
(A) For months, they worked together in the cave where the Lone Woman of San
Nicolas Island may have lived. Slowly, painstakingly, they removed bucket
after bucket of sand — 40,000 in all.
(B) The archaeologist was especially shocked by a blunt question contained in
the order: “Is the work you’re doing out there legal?”
(C) The closure interrupted research on one of the most significant historical finds
in California history.
(D) “It’s a heartbreak. A travesty,” Schwartz said recently. “We may never learn
what archaeological riches that cave is guarding.”
4 Which paragraph from the section "Woman Of Legend" is MOST relevant to the main idea
of the article?
(A) Very little is known about the Nicoleno Indians, who, in the early 1800s,
suffered huge losses in repeated fights with Russian fur traders and Alaskan
sea otter hunters.
(B) After a particularly brutal battle in 1814, the Nicoleno population, which had
been about 300, dropped to a few dozen.
(C) In 1835, a ship was sent by Franciscan fathers at the Santa Barbara Mission

5. to bring the few remaining Nicoleno back to the mainland. All but one made
the trip aboard the Peor es Nada — loosely translated as “better than
nothing.”
(D) According to legend, a woman jumped overboard and swam for shore after
realizing that her baby had been left behind. A sudden storm forced the ship’s
captain to leave without her.