Native American Remains Found At UC Berkeley Construction Site: Report

BERKELEY, CA — Construction on a new volleyball complex at UC Berkeley has been paused after crews unearthed Native American skeletal remains, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle.

The remains were found underneath a layer of concrete two feet underground, according to Berkeley Scanner, which first reported the findings.

Construction was paused at the site following the discovery, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Per California law, all work must be stopped when remains are found at any location other than a cemetery.

The courts are being built in the southwest part of the campus. They're expected to be done by Summer 2026, although it's unclear if the discovery of the remains will delay that.

UC Berkeley officials said they are coordinating with the California Native American Heritage Commission, which is tasked with ensuring the remains are handled properly, according to the reports.

UC Berkeley was built on Ohlone land. The university previously came under fire in 2023 for still possessing Native American remains in its collections.

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle and the Berkeley Scanner.