UC Merced Journal of and Great Basin Anthropology

Title An Asphaltum Coiled Basket Impression, Tarring Pebbles, and Middle Water Bottles from San Miguel Island, California

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Journal Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 25(2)

ISSN 0191-3557

Authors Braje, Todd J. Erlandson, Jon M. Timbrook, Jan

Publication Date 2005

eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology | Vol. 25, No. 2 (2005) | pp. 207-213

REPORTS

An Asphaltum Coiled Basket Among the Chumash and Tongva, a distinctive type of basket was bottle-shaped and sealed with bitumen Impression, Tarring Pebbles, (asphahum) (see Blackburn 1963; Hudson and Blackburn and Middle Holocene Water 1983). Gamble (2005) has suggested that such water Bottles from San Miguel Island, bottles were an important component of strategies designed to cope with arid landscapes, especiaUy during California drought periods. At European contact, a variety of large and small TODD J. BRAJE botties were used by both island and mainland peoples. Dept. of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1218 Missionaries described these as vessels, flasks, or pUchers (Bolton 1916:88; Wagner 1929:237) in which water was JON M. ERLANDSON stored. An early description comes from Costanso in A.D. Dept. of Anthropology, University of Oregon, 1769, who noted: Eugene, Oregon 97403-1218 ...the large vessels which contain water are made of JAN TIMBROOK a very strong texture of rushes, coated inside with Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, pitch, and they give them the same shape as our jars Santa Barbara, California 93105 USA [Hemert-Engert andTeggart 1910:45]. Historical accounts describe water bottles in a variety A stratified and deeply buried Middle Holocene shell of shapes and sizes constructed from processed reeds, (CA-SMI-396) on San Miguel Island recently rushes, grasses, juncus, or sumac. These items have been produced evidence of the earliest securely dated water classified into two general types: small bottles with a bottle and tarring pebbles in southern California. Several rounded body and (often) a neck, used for individual asphaltum basketry impressions, including what appears consumption, and large botties with a tubular body and a to be a fragment of a coiled basket, and two tarring small neck, used by a household (Hudson and Blackburn pebble features were found eroding from shell midden 1983:39-54). Both types were normally twined and deposits dating as early as 5130 cal BP. We suggest that mtemaUy sealed with asphaltum, readily available from water bottle production may have developed during the onshore or offshore oil seeps (see Dedera 1976; Dittman Middle Holocene on the Channel Islands, where fresh 1973; Grant 1962; Heizer 1940). water resources were scarce, as a response to the relatively Ethnographic accounts also describe the water- warm and dry periods of the Middle Holocene. The coiled sealing process (see Craig 1966:210, 1967:98). Nidever basketry impression is unique for this time period in the described the process used by the "Lone Woman" of San Chumash area and its implications are difficult to assess. Nicolas Island: I came across her lining one of the vessels she used for holding water. She had buUt a fire and had several Southern California contains some of the earliest small stones about the size of a wahiut heating in it. and most diverse evidence of basketry in Taking one of the vessels, which was in shape and North America (Adovasio 1977; Connolly et al. 1995; size very like a demijohn, excepting that the neck and VeUanoweth et al. 2003). San IVtiguel Island's Daisy mouth were much longer, she dropped a few pieces of asphaltum within it, and as soon as the stones were and Cave of the Chimneys, for example, have yielded heated they were dropped in on top of the asphal­ twined basketry and cordage fragments from Early tum. They soon mehed it, when, resting the bottom of Holocene deposits datmg between 9900 and 7500 cal B.P the vessel on the ground, she gave it a rotary motion ConnoUy et al. (1995) and VeUanoweth et al. (2003) have with both hands until its interior was completely cov­ ered with asphaltum. These vessels held water well, mterpreted these as possible fragments of sandals, straps, and h kept fuU may be placed with safety in a hot sun belts, fishing nets and hnes, or bags. [1973:14].

207 208 Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology | Vol. 25, No. 2 (2005)

CASMI-396 V e: San Miguel Santa Rosa

Northern Channel Islands

50 San Nicolas r J Kilometers Southern Channel Islands

Figure L Map of southern California and the adjacent Channel Islands and the location of CA-SMI-396 (by R. Gerke).

Except under rare preservational conditions, and other processes, it is often difficult to be certain of archaeological evidence of this process is found as the age of tarring pebbles or basket impressions found negative impressions of the woven fiber preserved in in mainland sites. This problem is compounded by the asphaltum or as small, round stones (tarring pebbles) with fact that even where preserved fiber from possible water traces of asphaltum on theh surfaces. Our recent research bottles is recovered, dhect dating is problematic due to on San Miguel Island yielded both tarring pebbles and oil contamination. Fortunately, the stratigraphic integrity basketry impressions—including an impression of coiled of many Channel Islands sites allows a relatively secure basketry—dated to the Middle Holocene. These appear determination of the age of in situ artifacts. to be among the earhest such remains that have yet been Prior to our research, the earliest archaeological found in the region. evidence for water bottles hi coastal southern California came from San Nicolas Island, where asphaltum hnpres- sions from CA-SNI-40 may date to as early as 3550-3800 THE ANTIQUITY cal BP and at CA-SNI-11 to about 4450- 4850 cal BP OF SEALED WATER BOTTLES (Bleitz 1991; Erlandson 1997). Other early evidence comes Although ethnographic examples are weU documented, from San Miguel Island, where an asphaltum basketry the antiquity of sealed water bottles among the Chumash hnpression recovered by VeUanoweth et al. dated to ca. and Tongva is poorly known. Tarring pebbles are 4100 cal BP and extensive asphaltum processing features relatively common constituents of archaeological sites dated to about 3000 cal BP (Rick 2004:92). On Santa along the southern California coast and asphaltum Cruz Island, basketry impressions and tarring pebbles basketry impressions have been found in many sites. were found in CA-SCRI-333 midden deposits dated Due to stratigraphic disturbance from gophers, plowhig. between about 3300 and 4000 cal BP (Wilcoxon 1993; REPORT I An Asphaltum Colled Basket Impression, Tarring Pebbles, and Middle Holocene Water Bottles from San Miguel Island, California | Braje / Eriandsoo / Timbrook 209

Table 1.

^C DATES FROM CA-SMi-396

Measured '"C Conventional Age Range Provenience Material lab# Age Age (calBP) Abalone paleosol. Black abalone Beta-181392 4220 ±70 4B50±70 4780-4440 western area Abalone paleosol, Marine shell Beta-194508 4240 ±70 4650±70 4710-4490 northeast area Abalone paleosol. Marine shell Beta-194509 4580 ±50 4990 ±50 4900-5130 southeast area

Notes, Dates were calibrated using Calib 5,01 (Stuiver and Reimer 1993,2000) using a AR of 225 ±35 years was used for all shell collected, "C/"C ratios were either determined by the radiocarbon lab, or an average of +430 years was applied. All '''C dates in table and text are given with ranges at one sigma.

Connolly et al. 1995). On the Santa Barbara coast, tarring 50 cm. thick, eroding from prominent paleosols. The pebbles at CA-SBA-2067 were found in a buried shell lower midden component, embedded in what Johnson midden dated between about 3900 and 4200 cal BP (1972) referred to as the Abalone soil, is deeply buried by (Eriandson 1997:98; Eriandson et al. 1993). North of San dune sand capped by midden deposits dating to the Late Luis Obispo, CA-SLO-977 produced numerous pebbles, Holocene. The Middle Holocene Abalone soil stratum is cobbles, and flat rocks coated in asphaltum, described by erodmg from the north side of a flat ridge approximately DaUas (1993:338) as "asphaltum spreaders" and dated to three-fourths of the way up the dune, at about 60 m. hi ca. 3750-4000 cal BP elevation. Here we defined three archaeological loci— In 2004, two asphaltum basketry impression east, central, and west—within a horizontaUy-continuous fragments and two tarring pebble features were identified sheU midden soil. Below the site, a low sea cliff overlooks eroding from a deeply buried component m a large sheU a mosaic of sandy beaches and rocky hitertidal habitats. A midden at CA-SMI-396 on San Miguel Island (Figure 1). smaU intermittent spring is located in a canyon about 100 Three radiocarbon (^''C) dates on weU-preserved marine m. to the west, and a large offshore oil seep located about sheUs from this midden produced cahbrated ages ranghig three kilometers to the northwest deposits large amounts between 5130 and 4490 cal B.P (Table 1), somewhat of asphaltum on nearby beaches (see Heye 1921:20). extending the antiquity of asphaltum-sealed basketry Except for reconnaissance, no archaeological along the Cahfomia coast. One of the asphaltum basket work had been conducted at CA-SMI-396 prior to impressions appears to be from a coiled basket, an our investigations. In 2004, University of Oregon unusual find for basketry remams from the Chumash area archaeologists visited the site to surface coUect artifacts at such an early date, and perhaps the earhest example of and ecofacts, gather ^''C samples, and excavate two 25-hter coiled basketry yet discovered from southern Cahfomia. bulk samples from eroding midden exposures, rich in Here, we describe the settmg of CA-SMI-396, our mitial shells of large red abalone, black abalone, mussel, owl findmgs, and their hnphcations. hmpet, stone artifacts, and other site constituents. Our research revealed the remnants of what appear to be two water botde production features, both clearly SITE SETTING AND BACKGROUND in situ m the Middle Holocene component at CA-SMI- CA-SMI-396 is located on a prominent dune ridge 396. The western midden locus produced two asphaltum overlooking Simonton Cove on the northwest coast of basketry hnpressions and a cluster of sandblasted tarring San Miguel Island, the westernmost of the Northern pebbles, eroding from the dense shell midden deposit. Channel Islands (Figure l).The site is large, extendmg for Embedded in the surface of the midden in the east locus, approximately 300 meters north-south and 250 meters 25-30 tarring pebbles were found in a cluster with a east-west. There appear to be two major sheU midden heavy concentration of asphaltum. In 2005, several smaU strata in eroding dune exposures, each between 20 and and poorly preserved fragments of an asphaltum-sealed 210 Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology | Vol 25, No 2 (2005)

Figure 2. Asphaltum coiled basket impression from CA-SMI-396 (photo by C. Ruiz). basket were also found near the tarring pebble the western Great Basin during the Middle Holocene in this eastern site area. Unfortunately, these hnpressions (Adovasio 1986:200; Dawson 1990; Johe and Hattori 2005), were too fragile and fragmentary to recover for analysis. but not adopted by the Chumash and Tongva (Gabriehno) The two basketry impressions from the western until sometime after AD 1200 (L. E. Dawson, personal site area were examined by Timbrook at the Santa communication to J. Timbrook 1978, 1990). Recent Barbara Museum of Natural History. One of these basket research suggests that southem California coiled basketry impressions appeared to be of twined weave but was may have a separate origin, possibly hi northem Mexico at badly degraded, limitmg any definite conclusions about a somewhat earher date (E.A. Johe, J.K. Polanich, personal the materials or methods used in the construction of communications to J. Timbrook 2005). The fragment the basket. The other specimen produced an impression from CA-SMI-396 suggests that coiled baskets may have approximately 50 mm long and 26 mm wide, with a been used by the Island Chumash as early as the Middle well-preserved surface texture of the stitches (Figure 2). Holocene. Whether the coiled basket was made on the It appears to be from a coiled basket sewn with spht Juncus Northern Channel Islands, where Juncus textilis is not stems, shnilar to the basketry of the historic Chumash. The known to have grown (Tunbrook 1993:50), or hi the larger exposed foundation appears to be constructed from a Santa Barbara Channel area remains uncertain. It could bundle of grass stems or of slender Juncus rods. have originated elsewhere, as Middle Holocene trade In addition to its unusually early date, the basket's links with interior tribes of California and the western origin and function are problematic. Although Craig Great Basm are well documented. (1966:209-210) cited ethnographic evidence that the base Asphaltum was used in combhiation with a variety of of Chumash water bottles may somethnes have been coiled, basketry along the southem Cahfonua coast. all known ethnographic and archaeological specimens For example, bottomless baskets were glued onto hopper were made by twining. Coiled basketry technology is mortar bases with asphaltum. Asphaltum hnpressions of generaUy considered to have spread mto Cahfomia from mortar hoppers might well be preserved, but the rows REPORT I An Asphaltum Coiled Basket Impression, Tarring Pebbles, and Middle Holocene Water Bottles from San Miguel Island, California | 6raje / Eriandson / Timbrook 211 of coiling would be expected to have a greater radius Cahfomia's Channel Islands before they came into use of arc than the SMI-396 specimen. This fragment has a on the adjacent mainland. Water was probably always a tighter curve and appears to have come from an area scarce and valuable commodity on the Channel Islands, near the center of the basket, an area absent in the especiaUy on San Miguel, Anacapa, Santa Barbara, San bottomless hoppers. On the other hand, the exteriors of Nicolas, and San Clemente islands. Asphaltum-sealed some large, coiled Chumash storage baskets were coated water bottles may have been developed in response to with asphaltum to protect them from moisture (see the relatively warm and dry conditions that characterized Craig 1966:212; Hudson and Blackbum 1983:65), and the much of the Middle Holocene. Although the coiled asphaltum impression from CA-SMI-396 could be "Altithermal" of the Middle Holocene encompassed a fragment of such a basket. Ethnohistoric accounts also considerable climatic variability (see Kennett 2005:70), describe tar-lined coiled baskets used to hold offerings a general decrease in rainfaU and increase in temper­ or water for ritual purposes (Hudson and Blackburn ature probably affected the number and productivity of 1986:243-246). fresh water springs and the rehable availabUity of fresh Tarring pebbles, while well documented for water in seasonal drainages. Sealed water bottles may waterproofing basket interiors, are unlikely to have been have developed as people needed to travel increased used to coat the exteriors of baskets with asphaltum. distances to water sources and to store fresh water for Consequently, the presence of tarring pebble features prolonged periods. at CA-SMI-396 suggests that water bottles were being Water storage technologies were an important part manufactured (or at least sealed) at the site between of marithne hfeways along the arid southem California about 5100 and 4500 years ago, using a process well coast no less than for people hving in the arid interior of documented for the ethnographic Chumash and Tongva. eastem Cahfomia and the Great Basm, who apparently kept water in containers other than baskets until relatively late m (Catherine S. Fowler, personal DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS communication to J.Timbrook 2005). Nevertheless, The tarring pebble features and asphaltum basketry conclusions concerning the antiquity of sealed water impressions found at CA-SMI-396 add to our current bottles in southem California must be made with caution, knowledge of the development of traditional technologies as much remams to be leamed about Middle Holocene in southern California. The excellent preservation peoples along the California coast. The development of conditions at the site provide glimpses into the daily asphaltum-sealed basketry among Channel Islanders hves of coastal Cahfomian residents and early marithne between at least 5100 and 4500 years ago adds to the technologies. Basketry impressions and tarring pebbles evidence of a weU-estabhshed basketry tradition among have been found at many mainland and Channel Islands Middle Holocene peoples of California. sites, but to our knowledge the CA-SMI-396 examples The use of ancient coded basketry on the Northem are the earhest securely dated specimens yet documented. Channel Islands also suggests that woven technologies Although it seems unlikely that we have found the may have been more diverse than currently represented earhest examples, excavations at several island and smgle- in archaeological assemblages, where basketry is rarely component mainland sites dated between about 7500 preserved. Until additional examples of similar age are and 10,000 years old have produced no similar arttfacts. discovered, however, there is a strong possibihty that the The lack of earher finds suggests that asphaltum-sealed SMI-396 coiled basket was obtained through trade rather baskets and water bottles were probably not a part of than made in the local Chumash region. Although its size, technologies along the southem California coast during shape, and purpose are hnpossible to determine from the the Early Holocene (see Eriandson 1994). fragment, one can speculate that the basket may have The presence of multiple tarring pebble features at had its asphaltum coating apphed at the site to make it CA-SMI-396 around 5100-4500 years ago suggests the suitable for holding water. possibility that asphaltum-sealed water bottles may have Although they are often fragmentary and difficult to been developed during the Middle Holocene on interpret, asphahum basketry impressions are frequently 212 Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology | Vol, 25, No 2 (2005)

found in archaeological sites along the southern and DaUas,H. central California coast. The systematic study of such 1993 Results of Lunited Testmg at SLO-977. Proceedings of the Society for California Archaeology 6:337-356. finds may help fiU some of the gaps in our knowledge of ancient coastal basketry tradhions in the area. Dawson, L.E. 1990 The Spread of Coiled Basketry in California. Exhibh Text from Fields of Clover: Larry Dawson's Thirty-Eight Years with the Lowie Museum Collections, Jime-August ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1990, Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology Our research was supported by Channel Islands National Park, [formerly Lowie Museum of Anthropology], Berkeley, a Mia Tegner Memorial Grant from the Marine Conservahon Cahfomia. Biology Institute, the Western National Parks Association, and the University of Oregon. Funds for ^''C dating of the Dedera, D. CA-SMI-396 samples came from a Knight Professorship 1976 Petroleum and the American Indians. Exxon USA (Eriandson) from the College of Arts and Sciences at the 15(3):16-21. University of Oregon. We thank Ann Huston, Kelly Minas, Dittman, C. and Ian WilUams for theh time and support. Special thanks to 1973 Neirrati ve of a Seafaring Life on the Coast of California. Channel Islands National Park and the Chumash community In Original Accounts of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas for theh continued support of our research. We are also grateful Island, R. Heizer and A. Elsasser, eds, pp. 1-7. Ramona: to Torben Rick, Doug Kennett, Lynn Gamble, Tom Blackbum, BaUena Press. Tom Connolly, Catherine Fowler, Edward Johe, Judith Polanich, and an anonymous reviewer for theh comments and assistance Eriandson, J. M. in the final revisions and production of this paper. 1994 Early Hunter-Gatherers of the California Coast. New York: Plenum. 1997 The Middle Holocene on the Westem Santa Barbara Coast. In Archaeology of the California Coast during the REFERENCES Middle Holocene, J.M. Eriandson and M.A. Glassow, eds., pp. 91-109. Los Angeles: UCLA Insthute of Adovasio, J. M. Archaeology. 1977 Basketry Technology: A Guide to Identification and Analysis. Chicago: Aldine PubUshing. Eriandson, X, R. Carrico, R. Dugger, L. Santoro, G.Toren, 1986 Prehistoric Basketry. In Handbook of North American T. Cooley, and T. Hazeltme Indians: Great Basin, W. L. D'Azevedo, ed., pp.194-205. 1993 Archaeology of the Westem Santa Barbara Coast: Results Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. of the Chevron Point Arguello Project Cultural Resources Program. Santa Barbara: Ogden Environmental and Blackbum, T Energy Services. 1963 Ethnohistoric Descriptions of Gabrielino Material Culture. UCLA Archaeological Survey Annual Reports, Gamble, LH. 1962-1963, pp 5-48. Los Angeles 2005 Culture and Climate: Reconsidering the Effect of Bleitz, D. Paleoclimatic Variability among Southem California Hunter- 1991 A Discussion Concerning Evidence of Coiled Gatherer Societies World Archaeology 37(1):92-108. Basketry from SNI-11 on San Nicolas Island, Cahfomia. Grant, C. California Anthropologist \?i(V).25-21. 1962 The Carpmteria Tar Pits. Noticias: Quarterly Bulletin Bolton, H.E. of the Santa Barbara Historical Society 8(4):ll-20. 1916 Spanish Exploration in the Southwest, 1542-1706. New York: Scribners. Heizer, R. 1940 Aboriginal Use of Bitumen by the California Indians. Connolly, T. X,J. M. Eriandson, and S. E. Norris Geologic Formations and Economic Development of 1995 Early Holocene Basketry and Cordage from Daisy the Oil and Gas Fields of California, Bulletin 118:73-75. Cave, San Miguel Island, California. American Antiquity San Francisco: California Division of Mines 60(2):309-318. Craig, S. Hemert-Engert, A. and F. Teggart, eds. 1966 Ethnographic Notes on the Construction of Venturefio 1910 The Narrative of the Portola Expedhion of 1769-1770 Chumash Baskets from the Ethnographic and Linguistic by Miguel Costanso. Publications of the Academy of Field Notes of John P. Harrington. UCLA Archaeological Pacific Coast History 1(4). Berkeley. Survey Annual Reports 8:201-214. Los Angeles. HeycG.G. 1967 The Basketry of the Venturefio Chumash. UCLA 1921 Certam Artifacts from San Miguel Island, Cahfomia. Archaeological Survey Annual Reports 9:82-149. Indian Notes and Monographs 7(4):1-211. New York: Los Angeles. Museum of the American Indian.

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