4.4 Cultural Resources
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Trancas Canyon Park EIR Section 4.4 Cultural Resources 4.4 CULTURAL RESOURCES This section analyzes potential impacts to archaeological and historical resources. The discussion summarizes the findings of a Phase I Archaeological Study performed by Historical, Environmental, Archaeological, Research Team (HEART) (HEART, January 2006). The archaeological study included a records search with the South Central Coastal Information Center (SCCIC) and a field survey of the site. The full report is contained in Appendix C. 4.4.1 Archaeological Setting a. Archaeological Overview. At Spanish Contact, the region was occupied by the Native American Indian group known as the Chumash, a diverse population living in settlements along the California coast from Malibu Creek to the southeast, to Estero Bay in the north, including the islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz, and as far as Tejon Pass, Lake Casitas and the Cuyama River inland (Kroeber 1925, Landberg 1965, Grant 1978, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History 1986, 1991, Miller 1988 and Gibson 1991). Chumash society became more complex over its last 9,000 years. Regional chronologies were first developed by Wallace (1955) and then Warren (1968). Warren revised Wallace's scheme to include regional variants and traditions enhanced by radiocarbon dates. King (1982) proposed sequences based on changes in ornaments, beads and other artifacts. After A.D. 1000, changes in bead types suggest the development of a highly developed economic system that was observed by early Spanish explorers. Following the 1542 Cabrillo voyage, many small Chumash settlements were abandoned and some of the largest historic towns were founded. This change in population distribution is attributed to growth in importance of trade centers and the development of more integrated political confederations. The Chumash economic system enabled them to make efficient use of diverse environments within their territory. Acorns and seeds were traded between the islands, mainland and interior populations who lacked marine resources traded with coastal populations for fish and other seafood. Most religious ceremonies had their roots in the Early Period when objects similar to those used historically were placed in mortuary associations or owned by religious leaders. The HEART report lists 17 Chumash names for places in the larger project vicinity: • Alqilko'wi: "white of the eye" - A village in Little Sycamore Canyon • Kats'ikinhin: "pine tree" - a village on Las Virgenes Creek, inland from Malibu • Kay'iwish: "the head" - village on what is now Calleguas Creek, southwest of Simi • Lalimanuh: A village on Calleguas Creek, northeast of Pt. Mugu • Lisiqishi: Village at Arroyo Sequit, west or Point Dume • Lohostohni: Village at Trancas Canyon, west of Point Dume • Luulapin: The name for Point Mugu • Muwu : "beach" - A village at the mouth of Mugu Lagoon • Sa' aqtik'oy: "place sheltered from the wind" - village at Saticoy • S'ap tuhuy: "house of the rain" - village on Potrero Creek, inland from Malibu • S'apwi : "house of the deer" - village on Conejo Creek, near Thousand Oaks • Satwiwa : "bluff"? - village on Rancho Guadalasca, north of Mugu City of Malibu 4.4-1 Trancas Canyon Park EIR Section 4.4 Cultural Resources • Seq'is: "beachworm" - now Arroyo Sequit • Shalikuwewech: "it is piled up" - a place north of Point Mugu • Shuwalahsho: "sycamore" - a village in Big Sycamore Canyon • Simo'mo: "the saltbush patch" - a village inland from Point Mugu • Ta'lopop : A village on Las Virgenes Creek. However, none of these locations are within or adjacent to the proposed project site (HEART, 2006). Prehistoric Chumash culture underwent dramatic changes following colonization in the late 1800s. The introduction of diseases weakened and destroyed many Native American cultures. Many Chumash towns and villages were abandoned by 1810. However, large segments of the population survived and worked to build the Spanish Missions, and the Mexican and American ranches that followed. Other Chumash managed to survive by effectively blending into the cultural landscape. Several thousand Chumash currently live in Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. They place a high value on objects and places associated with there past history, namely archaeological sites and artifacts. Present-day Chumash are concerned in the preservation of the prehistoric and ethnographic records, including sacred lands. b. Records Search Results. A records search performed by archaeologist, Wayne Bonner, at the South Central Coast Information Center on January 5, 2006 indicated that no previously recorded prehistoric or historic archaeological sites or isolates exist on the property, although 32 studies have been performed within a one mile radius, and six known sites are located within that radius. c. Field Investigation Results. The 13.5-acre project site was surveyed on-foot by HEART on January 4, 2006. All exposed terrain and fortuitous exposures such as trails, roads, rodent burrows, stream cuts and excavated, landscaped and/or cleared areas were thoroughly inspected for signs of cultural resources within the project area. The results of this study indicated that no prehistoric and no historic archaeological resources were encountered within the project area, and that proposed modifications within the property boundaries would have no adverse impacts on known cultural resources. d. Native American Consultation. A letter was sent to the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) on December 27, 2005, requesting a check of the data base and sacred lands files to determine if the project would adversely impact potentially sensitive Native American resources, or if any current tribal issues exist with respect to this general area. A response was received on January 5, 2006 indicating that no potential resource issues are noted in the NAHC sacred lands files. 4.4.2 Historical Setting a. Historic Overview. From the voyages of Cabrillo in 1542 and Vizcaino in 1602 to the land expeditions of Portola in 1769 and Anza from 1773-1776, there was little interference from white men in the Chumash region. The Spanish Period was followed by the Mission Period when 21 missions were established between 1769 and 1823. All of the missions were located a day's ride from one another along the Camino Real which connected San Diego with Solano. City of Malibu 4.4-2 Trancas Canyon Park EIR Section 4.4 Cultural Resources Native Americans were slowly assimilated into the mission system through recruitment, and moved from their villages and the islands to help sustain the missions. During this period, many introduced diseases contributed to the decimation of Native Americans. After the decline of the mission system, large land grants became ranchos including Las Virgenes, El Conejo and Topanga Malibu-Sequit. During this time, land was primarily used for cattle grazing, agriculture and ranching. The first European settlers in the Malibu area were Felipe Santiago Tapia and his family. Jose Bartolome, Tapia's eldest son eventually received a permit to graze cattle on the future rancho lands and in the late 1700s applied for formal possession of the land. Around 1802-1804, Tapia was granted most of the coastal land extending from the Ventura County line near Point Mugu, to Las Flores Canyon on the east as grazing area for his livestock. The only access at the time was by muleback or boat. The land passed from Tapia, to Bartolome, and to his son Tiburcio, and continued to be used for cattle and agricultural (Greene 1980). Eventually, Leon Victor Prudhomme, a Frenchman obtained title from Tapia's widow in 1848 by marrying a daughter of Tiburcio Tapia. Problems during the Land Commission hearings forced Prudhomme to sell to Matthew Keller. The 13,315-acre land grant was surveyed as Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit and patented on August 29, 1873 to Keller. Passed down through family inheritance, the rancho was eventually sold by Henry Keller to Frederick Hastings Rindge in 1891. As one of the last intact Spanish land grants, it served as the ideal country home for the Rindge family, who kept a tight watch on their private domain. Frederick's widow, Rhoda May Rindge, spent a large sum of money in court costs, to keep the Southern Pacific Railroad, the state, and homesteaders from encroaching on their land. After 17 years of litigation, the State of California was victorious and construction of the Roosevelt Highway (now the Pacific Coast Highway) was completed and opened to the public between Santa Monica and Oxnard in June 1929. The court costs forced May Rindge to begin leasing and then selling property north of the mouth of Malibu Creek. Malibu Colony was subdivided and opened for sale in the 1930's. During this time, May's daughter, Rhoda Agatha, married Merritt Huntley Adamson and they built a summer home on Vaquero Hill (in Malibu Lagoon State Park) and another home in Serra Retreat (which opened as a private retreat in 1943). In order to provide tiles for the two homes, May Rindge brought in the finest craftsmen and established the Malibu Tile Works. Since the 1900s, Malibu has become one of the most desirable areas to own real estate in California. Land use in the region has been under the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission since the 1970s, and the City of Malibu since its incorporation in 1991. Additionally, large portions of the region have been set aside as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The project parcels were created as part of the Malibu West subdivision in 1963. The owner recently donated the parcels to the City of Malibu in a legal settlement. b. Records Search Results. There are no records of any historic buildings, structures or associations on the site. A records search determined that there are no registered national or state historic resources, buildings, landmarks or Points of Interest within one mile of the site (HEART, 2006).