UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press Title Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz, 1791-1834 Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9j67q6t8 ISBN 0-917956-92-3 Author Allen, Rebecca Publication Date 1998 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California PERSPECTIVES IN CALIFORNIA ARCHAEOLOGY, VOLUME 5 Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz, 1791-1834 Interpreting the Archaeological Record Rebecca Allen Institute of Archaeology University of California, Los Angeles 1998 UCLA INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY EDITORIAL BOARD Jeanne E. Arnold, Marilyn Beaudry-Corbett, Susan Downey, Ernestine S. Elster, Lothar von Falkenhausen, Richard G. Lesure, Richard M. Leventhal, Daniel C. Polz, Glenn Russell, and James R. Sackett UCLA INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY Richard M. Leventhal, Director Marilyn Beaudry-Corbett, Director of Publications EDITORS Rita Demsetz, Marilyn Gatto, and Brenda Johnson-Grau DESIGNER Brenda Johnson-Grau PRODUCTION Amy Chen, Linda Tang, and Michael Tang Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Allen, Rebecca. Native Americans at Mission Santa Cruz, 1791-1834: interpreting the archaeological record/ Rebecca Allen. p. cm. (Perspectives in California Archaeology; v. 5) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-917956-92-3 1. Mission Santa Cruz. 2. Costanoan Indians-Missions. 3. Costanoan Indians-Antiquities. 4. Yokuts Indians-Missions. 5. Yokuts Indians-Antiquities. 6. Franciscans-Missions-California-Santa Cruz. 7. Excavations (Archaeology}-California-Santa Cruz. 8. Spain-Colonies-­ America-Administration. 9. Santa Cruz (Calif.)-Antiquities. I. Tttle. II. Series. E99.C8744A48 1998 979.4'71-dc21 98-36326 CIP Copyright© 1998 Regents of the University of California. AU rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Contents Acknowledgments vii Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Founding and History of Mission Santa Cruz 8 Chapter 3 Native Americans 19 Chapter 4 Archaeological Investigations 30 Chapter 5 Changes in the Physical Environment 42 Chapter 6 Neophyte Diet and Work Patterns 55 Chapter 7 Material Culture 69 Chapter8 Cultural Adaptation and Modification 90 Bibliography 99 For Nancy J. Parezo in small recompense for years of friendship and inspiration Acknowledgments HIS STUDY originated as my doctoral research at arranged for me to take the time necessary to complete my the University of Pennsylvania. Robert Schuyler dissertation. Many other scholars, friends, and colleagues T and Murray Murphey proved very efficient at find­ have shared their data and ideas with me as well. I would ing the sources of funding that made this research possible. especially like to thank Leo Barker, the late James Bennyhoff, Robert Hoover introduced me to the romance of California Father Virgilio Biasol, Julia Costello, Rob Edwards, Ken missions through Mission San Antonio and offered many Gobalet, Edna Kimbro, Charles Miksicek, George Miller, suggestions regarding research. I first contacted Glenn Farris Cres Olmstead, Lester Ross, Lisa Shapiro, Charlotte with a letter asking whether he knew of any available ar­ Simpson-Smith, and Brian Wickstrom. Karen Hildebrand, chaeological collections concerning Spanish Colonial Cali­ Larry Felton, and Gina Zanelli allowed me to make use of fornia. He responded within two weeks and has provided their excellent illustrations. Larry Felton, Marilyn Beaudry­ me with information and constant encouragement ever Corbett, Jeanne Arnold, Pete Schulz, Brenda Johnson-Grau, since. With an intellectual openness that is rarely matched, Marilyn Gatto, and Rita Demsetz helped tum a dissertation Larry Felton immediately welcomed me and my efforts to into a publication; their time and input are appreciated. write up the collections from the excavations he had di­ Finally, I would like to acknowledge the intellectual sup­ rected at Santa Cruz. He freely shared data, ideas, and com­ port and friendship given to me by Nancy J. Parezo, Re­ ments and enthusiastically waded through several versions search Professor at the University of Arizona. The one who of this manuscript. initially encouraged me to go to graduate school Nancy has The California Department of Parks and Recreation been a friend, sister, counselor, role model, and a continu­ (DPR) provided me with research space and access to col­ ing source of inspiration since our first meeting. This book lections. All the people at DPR were good to me, especially is dedicated to her. Pete Schulz and Lee Motz. My former employers at KEA Environmental, Inc., were generous in allowing me access to office equipment and graphic capabilities. Jamie Cleland REBECCA ALLEN vii ~CHAPTER 1 Introduction N 1769, the Spanish government began its settlement one missions and four presidios along the coast of Alta Cali­ of Alta California. San Diego Mission and Presidio were fornia (figure 1.1). During this same period, secular efforts I founded partly in response to Russian and English in­ resulted in the establishment of three pueblos and several cursions on lands claimed by the Spanish Crown. Desiring a private cattle ranches. Mission Santa Cruz was founded in colony that would not be a large monetary drain on royal 1797 as part of this colonization effort. coffers, officials felt that the most expedient and economic Hispanic colonizers referred to the native peoples as Indios means of establishing this new colony was through a mis­ and initially did not recognize that they had any social af­ sionary program. Previously there had been experiments with filiations or a governing order, nor did the Spanish recog­ such programs in other parts of New Spain, including por­ nize native religions and cultural traditions. The native tions of what is now Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, and people recruited to the missions did not, however, see them­ Baja California. The intent was to create a taxpaying, Span­ selves as a single group of people; rather, they viewed them­ ish-speaking Colonial peasantry that would settle the land selves as members of specific villages. Hunter-gatherers who and remain loyal to the king. generally lived in small groups and who migrated seasonally In the worldview of the Spanish in the fifteenth to the within a specific area, the native peoples had a way of life nineteenth centuries, physical conquest implied spiritual suited to local environments. conquest. God had given Spain, in their view, the right to The Franciscans' intent in the missionization process was conquer the New World. In tum, colonizers would intro­ to effect a complete psychological, sociological, physical, and duce to Alta California a version of the Christian religion spiritual makeover of the native peoples. In their view, and civilization that expressed the morals and ideals of the Franciscans were bringing civilization where none had ex­ Catholic Church. Although Jesuits had long been active in isted previously. Members of two native groups, the Ohlone the spiritual conquest of New Spain, most recently in Baja and Northern Valley Yokuts, were recruited as neophytes California, royal suspicions over Jesuit political involvement (new citizens) to Mission Santa Cruz. The Ohlone were re­ and intentions culminated in the expulsion of Jesuits from cruited from nearby locales, but as their numbers dwindled the New World in 1767. The Franciscan and Dominican because of disease, Northern Valley Yokuts were recruited orders took over Jesuit missions throughout the colonies, from lands farther away. and it was the Franciscans who initiated the missionization Because of the frontier situation and the physical limits of Alta California. that such a situation imposed, the Franciscans introduced Following a policy known as reduccfon, the Franciscans an abridged version of Spanish culture, one adapted to the gathered native peoples into controlled mission communi­ circumstances of colonization (Foster 1960: 10). Catholicism ties. The Spanish government assigned two or more soldiers was also simplified in its presentation to New World na­ to each mission to protect Spanish interests and also estab­ tives. Missionaries also deliberately purified their religion of lished presidios to defend their ownership of the land. In some cultural sediment that had accumulated over the cen­ only fifty-four years, between 1769 and 1823, the Franciscan turies. The conquest of new lands and new peoples offered a order and the Spanish military together established twenty- chance to "produce a theologically ideal religion" in the New 2 Chapter 1 -----------., I I I t Mission I I • Presidio I I • Pueblo I I I I ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' La Purisima, 1787 ' t Santa lne>, 1804 ' \ t Santa Barbara, 1786 \ San Buenaventura. 1782 t San Fernando, 1797 J • tSan Gabriel, 1771 I'' Los Angeles ( I / )... San Diego, 1769 - J N -- ------- A 0 100 200 miles Figure I.I Missions, presidios, and pueblos founded during the Spanish and Mexican periods (1769-1834). Illustration by Gina ZaneUi World, free of the taints of paganism (Foster 1960:15). Un­ Others may have joined as a way of maintaining their sta­ conquered lands presented a challenge to the Franciscans-­ tus. Most native peoples recognized that the colonizers held as well as an opportunity to fulfill their vow of self-sacri­ power, power that may have seemed alien but that could be fice-to Christianize an alien people (Gibson 1966:201 ). opposed or used by the native community. Native Californians were attracted to the missions for While initial entry into the mission environment was several reasons. Spanish