Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology

In 2003 and 2004, theCenter for Archaeological Research at California State University, Bakers eld, conducted Phase I and II studies at CA-MER-415 (also known as the Dover Over ow site), a prehistoric (or possibly protohistoric) site located in western Merced County north of Los Banos, California. During the Phase II study, a cremation and an inhumation were discovered. The cremation feature contained the remains of at least two individuals, an adult and a juvenile. The inhumation feature consisted of the remains of a young female who stood just over ve feet tall. Radiocarbon dates associated with these individuals demonstrated that CA-MER-415 was likely inhabited between approximately A.D. 1520 and 1700. In this article, the cremation and inhumation features are described in detail, and a discussion is provided regarding their potential signi cance for the archaeology of the northern San Joaquin Valley.