Site Chronology on San Clemente Island, California

4 Site Chronology on San Clemente Island, California

Carol Goldberg, Michelle Titus, Roy Salls, and Rainer Berger

Introduction In addition to the simple documentation of the early occupation of southern California’s Channel Islands, This study reports 48 radiocarbon dates, 56 obsidian these dates also provide indirect evidence of sea-faring hydration dates, and archaeological evidence from six craft as early as 10,000 years ago. Although no major archaeological sites on San Clemente Island. archaeological evidence for boat making technology is These data provide a preliminary chronological frame- known from such early sites, their presence must be work for cultural development on the island, which inferred as it would be impossible to traverse the was occupied for 10,000 years, one of the longest roughly 50 mile distance between San Clemente documented cultural sequences on the West Coast. Island and the mainland without sea-worthy craft, even when the ocean level was lower (San Clemente In any archaeological investigation, reliable dating of has never been connected to the mainland and is the site and its contents is critical. Without such infor- separated from it by very deep water). mation, it would be impossible to formulate hypoth- eses concerning temporal placement or culture change. Reliable dating is also needed to tie the cultural This is particularly true of San Clemente Island due to chronology of San Clemente Island into those devel- the considerable time depth of occupation, the heavy oped for the adjacent islands and mainland. As noted reliance of its inhabitants on the surrounding maritime above, the Eel Point B site contains radiocarbon dates resources, and the complexity of its culture transitions. which suggest an extremely early occupation. This site would appear to be contemporaneous with other sites At present, there is excellent evidence for extremely in the southern California region that have been early occupation of San Clemente Island. There are, classified as Early Millingstone Cultures. This culture for instance, many radiocarbon dates for the Eel Point is characterized partially by an artifact assemblage that B site (SCLI-43B) which suggest that the island was suggests a subsistence pattern based primarily upon occupied as early as 10,000 years ago. While this date seeds. Coastal groups of the Early Millingstone is not the earliest date for the human occupation of Culture were known to exploit a number of littoral southern California’s Channel Islands (Snethcamp, molluscan species, but there was no significant 1986, as cited by Salls, 1988), it is of great signifi- consumption of either fish or marine mammals cance as it documents the widespread presence of (Moratto 1984:127-133). maritime oriented populations at a previously unsus- pected early date.

Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly, Volume 36, Number 1, Winter 2000 32 Goldberg, Titus, Salls, and Berger

In contrast, studies of the stable isotopic composition Point C (SCLI-43C), and the Nursery Site of carbon and nitrogen in human bone collagen (SCLI-1215). Special attention is paid to Eel Point B, suggest that San Clemente Island’s earliest popula- Eel Point C, and the Nursery Site as they are critical to tions were heavily reliant on marine resources an understanding of human occupation on the island (Goldberg 1993a, b). Furthermore, nitrogen isotope and have been the subject of serious confusion in the analysis, which can be used to discern trophic level past. differences in feeding regimes (Schoeninger and DeNiro, 1984), indicates that marine mammals Site Chronology composed a tremendous percentage of the diet. Other analyses of early coastal populations reveal similar A chronology for the various sites on San Clemente information, suggesting that a different adaptive Island has been established using three different pattern may have been present at an early date in methods; artifact typology, obsidian hydration dating, southern California (Masters et al. n.d.). and radiocarbon dating. Although this paper is primarily concerned with the radiocarbon data, a brief Accurate control over specific site chronologies is also discussion of the other methods and their respective important as there may have been occupations by contributions is also included. more than one human population on San Clemente Island. Recent studies of osteological material by Titus Typological Evidence and Walker (1986) indicate that there were two morphologically distinct populations occupying the With the exception of the historic sites on San island. One of these, as represented by burials exca- Clemente Island, the use of artifacts as temporal vated at Eel Point C (SCLI-43C), is morphologically markers is at best imprecise and at other times similar to the Chumash Indians from the northern inconclusive. An excellent example of the successful Channel Islands and the adjacent mainland. The use of artifact typology for dating is found in the second group, from the Nursery Site (SCLI-1215), is historic component of the Ledge Site (SCLI-126). more similar to the Shoshonean groups that inhabited Here, various European artifacts (ceramics, textiles, Santa Catalina Island and the adjacent coastal regions metal, and glass) accurately date the site to the historic around Los Angeles County. Early evidence suggested period with the latest occupation ending during the that there might be some contemporaneity of occupa- late 18th century or early 19th century (Rechtman tion for these two groups. 1985). In this instance, the dating is so precise that the use of other methods, such as radiocarbon, would be As various radiocarbon and obsidian hydration dates redundant and possibly less accurate. A similar began to accumulate for San Clemente Island sites, a situation was encountered at the historic period Old confusing and sometimes contradictory picture of Airfield Site (SCLI-1487; Meighan 1986). occupation on the island emerged. This study will summarize the original dates for the island and present At Eel Point C and Nursery the presence of shell new radiocarbon dates in an attempt to reconstruct the fishhooks, steatite effigies, diagnostic shell beads and complex occupation history of San Clemente. Al- other artifacts places these sites temporally with other though all available dates for the various sites are Canaliño cultures as defined by Salls (1988). While documented, discussion is directed toward Ledge this is important information, specific temporal (SCLI-126), Old Air Field (SCLI-1487), Xantusia placement of these sites based upon artifact typology Cave (SCLI-1178), Eel Point B (SCLI-43-B), Eel alone could place them anywhere in a 2000 year span.

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 Site Chronology on San Clemente Island 33

However, it is important to document as specifically as was calibrated from obsidian samples originating from possible the actual span of occupation at each site so it the West Sugarloaf subsource at Coso. can be determined if the morphologically distinct populations were contemporaries. Additional dating At present, this new San Clemente Island hydration techniques are thus helpful. rate must be considered tentative. On one hand, the comparatively old dates it produces might be solely At other San Clemente Island sites, the use of artifact the result of sampling errors in correlating obsidian typologies is useless. An example of this is seen at the hydration readings and radiocarbon dates. As will be Xantusia Cave Site (SCLI-1178), (Foley 1987) where discussed later, there is some difficulty in distinguish- virtually no diagnostic artifacts have been found. ing between occupation layers at Eel Point. Under such conditions, other dating methods need to be employed. Alternatively, the Coso and Malibu rates may be inappropriate for San Clemente Island. It has been Obsidian Hydration Dates suggested that either the climate is significantly different, or that the majority of the obsidian found on Due to the presence of obsidian artifacts and chipping San Clemente originated from a different subsource waste on San Clemente Island, obsidian hydration has than the obsidian used for the other two calibrations. also been used to date archaeological sites. Obsidian is Although most of the obsidian from San Clemente known to absorb small quantities of water at a rate Island appears to derive from the Coso Hot Springs determined by a number of complex variables, the two location, there is some chance that a local source most significant of which are the chemical composi- exists as veins of a poor grade obsidian have been tion of the obsidian and temperature. If the rate of found on the island. These particular samples were of hydration can be calibrated for a particular obsidian too poor quality to be easily worked, but the possibil- source and its depositional regime, the depth of ity exists that other, better quality veins might have hydration on a given artifact can be translated into an been exploited (Salls, personal observation). age. Regardless of the difficulties surrounding the applica- Preliminary analysis of 17 obsidian flakes from Eel tion of the new San Clemente obsidian hydration rate, Point C suggests that most of the obsidian found on it certainly cannot be used a priori for dating the San Clemente Island can be traced back to the original Eel Point C obsidian samples as they were obsidian flow at Coso Hot Springs (see Scalise, used for the calibration itself. Any application of the Chapter 5). Until recently, only two hydration rates new hydration rate to other sites on the island must had been calibrated for this source. One lineal value of also be interpreted with caution until the source of all 220 ± 44 years per micron is based on data from the obsidian samples can be determined. Malibu site (Meighan 1978), while the other value of 344 ± 69 years per micron is based on data from the There are four sites on San Clemente Island for which Coso Hot Springs area (Ericson 1977). The range of meaningful obsidian dates are available. They are the uncertainty for each rate assumes an 0.2 micron Ledge Site, the Old Airfield Site, the Nursery Site, and uncertainty from laboratory procedures. Recently, Eel Point C. The results of the obsidian hydration Scalise proposed a third hydration rate of 458 ± 92 measurements appear in Table 4.1. years per micron for San Clemente Island. This rate

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 34 Goldberg, Titus, Salls, and Berger

Table 4.1. San Clemente Island obsidian hydration readings.

Coso SCLI Seite S.ampl Ltab No U)ni D2epth (cm M0icrons ±0. Malibu m x22 m x344 m x458 N5ursery 445 14145 K0-3/4 63/6 06-4 00. 1432 2806 274 N1ursery 656 1.145 W0. cor. hse 160-2 62. 1045 2327 302 N2ursery 966 1.145 N5W. cor. hse 03-6 66. 1738 2516 288 N5ursery 454 1.147 W0. cor. hse 230-3 66. 1738 2516 288 N4ursery 1101 1W205 108N-12 00-1 70. 1854 2640 320 N3ursery 1294 1W025 109N-11 220-3 64. 1336 2013 284 N0ursery 2311 1W205 108N-11 300-4 20. 484 668 91 N*ursery 4538 1.325 W0. cor. hse 260-3 62. 1045 2327 302 N*ursery 4638 1.325 W0. cor. hse 250-3 60. 1643 2723 297 N*ursery 47080 1W325 208N-15 180-2 26. 631 926 128 N*ursery 48683 1W325 229N-15 400-7 30. 626 1403 137 N*ursery 40682 1W326 229N-15 440-7 38. 704 1717 155 N*ursery 41543 1W326 609/70N-13 230-3 66. 1738 2516 288 N*ursery 42860 1W326 407/48N-13 120-2 64. 1336 2013 284 N*ursery 4357 1t326 K0unit S pi 120-2 64. 1336 2013 284 N*ursery 3489 1.326 W0. cor hse 270-3 64. 1547 2930 306 N*ursery 4509 16326 109/20-65/6 455-6 70. 1065 2558 343 L6edge 1775 10022 Q5-3 380-4 16. 399 641 82 L2edge 680 10022 X0-3 01-2 62. 1834 2409 279 L9edge 893 11022 P5-3 06-1 52. 1623 1592 256 L1edge 198 10023 E5-3 03-1 56. 1316 1782 242 L2edge 304 18024 K5-2 03-1 66. 1738 2516 288 L1edge 11024 Q8-3 4816. 399 641 82 O*ld Airfld 7033 14305 N02-E 200-3 20. 484 668 91 O*ld Airfld 526 15308 N00-E1 120-2 14. 236 401 55 E3el B 1645 12144 Q0-2 125-3 24. 478 785 100 E0el B 1987 12304 U0nit 360-4 32. 789 1923 164 E8el C 125 1B024 B0urial 5 1490-20 58. 1818 1385 247 E8el C 135 1B024 B0urial 5 1590-20 1010 01072 229 E5el C 145 13024 U5nit 1990-20 68. 1451 2037 316 E8el C 970 15024 B6urial 52. 1623 1592 256 E7el C 283 12024 U3nit 2A/F. 56. 1316 1782 242 E1el C 894 1C024 U5nit 2 1890-20 56. 1527 1699 265 E7el C 165 13025 U5nit 1760-17 1854 02640 320 E3el C 776 11025 U5nit 2/F. 50. 1221 1989 251

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 Site Chronology on San Clemente Island 35

Table 4.1, cont. San Clemente Island obsidian hydration readings.

Coso SCLI Seite S.ampl Ltab No U)ni D2epth (cm M0icrons ±0. Malibu m x22 m x344 m x458 E5el C 785 12025 U0nit 2405-22 58. 1818 1385 247 E4el C 109 1A030 U9nit 2 58. 1029 2203 270 E0el C 817 1A030 U5nit 4 1280-21 54. 1914 1278 238 E6el C 559 1A031 B0urial 5 1865-20 56. 1527 1699 265 E8el C 866 1A031 U0nit 2 1480-20 68. 1240 2320 293 E0el C 971 15031 B4urial 58. 1818 1385 247 E6el C 185 1A031 U0nit 2 221 64. 1336 2013 284 E2el C 290 15031 B2urial 54. 1914 1278 238 E4el C 165 14033 B60urials 2 + 1432 2806 274 E4el C 175 14033 B2urials 2 + 64. 1336 2013 284 E4el C 185 14033 B2urials 2 + 64. 1336 2013 284 E4el C 135 14039 B8urials 2 + 56. 1527 1699 265 E4el C 559 15144 H5-1 1290-20 484 0668 91 E8el C 371 13144 H5-1 1740-15 1854 02640 320 Eael C 2899 13144 H0-1 1655-17 1432 02806 274 Ebel C 2999 13144 H0-1 1155-17 62. 1834 2409 279 Ecel C 2099 13145 H0-1 1355-17 66. 1738 2516 288 Edel C 2199 13145 H0-1 1255-17 64. 1336 2013 284 Eeel C 2299 13145 H0-1 1455-17 68. 1240 2120 293 Efel C 2399 13145 H0-1 1455-17 68. 1240 2120 293 E*el C 18107 1I304 T4rch I Str II 8458. 1818 1385 247

* Previously unpublished hydration readings prepared by Janet Scalise and used in her accompanying article (Chapter 5). All other readings in this table are published by Meighan and Scalise 1988.

The six obsidian hydration readings available for The numerous obsidian dates for both Nursery and Eel Ledge are extremely informative. Although there is Point C are also of great interest as they provide strong solid evidence that the site was occupied during the evidence that both sites were occupied contemporane- historic period, the obsidian dates indicate the pres- ously for at least some of their occupational history ence of a prehistoric component dating anywhere from (see discussion of these dates by Scalise, Chapter 5 about 400 years BP to 3000 years BP, depending upon and Meighan, introduction to Nursery Site). Although which hydration rate is considered. The two hydration the actual dates may be as early as 3000 years BP, the readings available for the Old Airfield Site, the second similarity in hydration readings indicates some historic site in question, do not suggest as much contemporaneity for the two sites. This is of extreme prehistoric use as was found at Ledge. Indeed, the importance considering the morphological differences smaller reading may fall comfortably within the between the Nursery and Eel Point C populations historic period. described by Titus and Walker (1986).

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 36 Goldberg, Titus, Salls, and Berger

There are also two hydration readings reported from There are four dates available for the Nursery Site, Eel Point B. Both yielded ages similar to those found three of which remain problematic. The most reliable at Eel Point C. It is suspected that both samples came date was obtained from human bone collagen from from later occupations capping Eel Point B deposits. Burial 2 (UCLA-2592). This yielded an age of 1330-1400 years BP, which generally conforms with It must be noted that obsidian hydration dates do not both the Canaliño cultural assemblage and the obsidian necessarily reflect the total temporal span of occupa- hydration readings. Another radiocarbon date was tion at these sites, but rather the period during which derived from a sample of eel grass that was associated the obsidian was imported and used. Throughout with the same burial (UCLA-2583). The result was a Southern California, there were periods when the date of 8900 years BP. This aberrant date was most obsidian trade was not active and periods when other likely caused by localized fumarole activity, although stone materials were used for artifacts with little or no upwelling effects or diagenetic change may have obsidian use. Therefore, radiocarbon dates are still contributed to the problem. necessary for an accurate assessment of the temporal span of occupation at each of the sites. An effort is San Clemente Island is formed by an actively uplifting made in other papers in this volume to relate the fault block (Olmsted 1958). Such regions are known obsidian hydration dates to the collections recovered, for their high levels of volcanic activity and it has been rather than to the midden itself. suggested that the eel grass may have grown next to gas fumaroles releasing significant quantities of Radiocarbon Dates radioactively dead CO2 (Johnson et al. 1983; Goldberg 1993). Upwelling of older ocean waters also may have Numerous radiocarbon dates have been collected for contributed slightly to the problem. San Clemente Island. The first series was run at the La Jolla laboratory, as part of a field project under the A recent study by DeNiro and Hastorf (1985) has direction of L. Michael Axford. All subsequent demonstrated that uncarbonized plant materials in analyses were performed at the UCLA Isotope archaeological sites do not retain their original stable Laboratory. For the purposes of this study, only those carbon or nitrogen isotope signatures. If this is true for dates from Nursery, Eel Point B, Eel Point C and stable isotopes, then radiocarbon may also be affected Xantusia Cave will be discussed. All dates reported in by diagenetic change. the following text have been calibrated where possible (no calibration is available for samples from the 9th A third date of 6290-6400 years BP was derived from millennium BP or older). A list of all raw dates and charcoal in the grave fill of Burial 3 (UCLA-2585). calibrated dates can be found in Table 4.2. Note that Since this burial is thought to be contemporaneous these dates and those in the text may not correspond with Burial 2, it should have yielded a date no older with previous reports such as Axford (1977) and than about 1500 BP. This date can be rejected as Meighan (1983), Ghiradelli (1984) and Salls (1988). representative for the burial as there is no way to The dates reported here represent the most recent document association between a burial and a piece of calibrations based on data from Pearson et al. (1986) charcoal found within its fill. It is most likely that this for terrestrial 14 C samples and Stuiver et al. (1986) charcoal came from an earlier midden deposit and was for marine 14 C samples. intrusive in the fill of the burial pit.

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 Site Chronology on San Clemente Island 37

The fourth date from Nursery (UCLA-2586) was and 2578) and represent either later time periods or based on a wood sample from a hearth (Feature 27). intrusive burials. This wood yielded a date of 4090-4200 years BP. If this feature was indeed a hearth, then the date would Subsequent radiocarbon dates have clarified the above appear to be reliable, though much earlier than chronology and added additional time depth to the expected for this site. occupation of the area B component. The first date, suggestive of extreme antiquity of occupation on San The last two relatively early dates may indicate a Clemente Island, came from a Mytilus shell found in longer period of occupation at the Nursery Site than association with an extremely deteriorated burial from either the artifactual evidence or obsidian hydration Eel Point B. This sample (UCLA-2735B) yielded a readings would suggest. Due to such a possibility, it is date of 9310 ± 140 years BP. suggested that additional human bone collagen samples be analyzed in order to measure the temporal Additional samples were obtained for analysis during span of the associated cemetery. the 1986 field season on San Clemente. Samples were collected from an excavation unit placed in an area The Eel Point archaeological sites are undoubtedly the where Eel Point C deposits were suspected to overlay most complex and misunderstood midden deposits Eel Point B deposits. Results confirmed these expecta- under consideration. Early researchers divided the tions. Only one date of 3210-3470 years BP deposits into 3 distinct units labelled Eel Point A, Eel (UCLA-2758A) was found to derive from the later Point B and Eel Point C (SCLI-43A-C). Eel Point A is deposits. All of the other four dates (UCLA-2758B-E) the most recent deposit as judged by artifactual which ranged from 8850 years BP to 9870 years BP evidence. Eel Point B is the oldest deposit while Eel confirm the early occupation of the site (Salls, 1988). Point C falls temporally between A and B (only the A portion of the site was tested by McKusick and Warren At Eel Point C, initial estimations of site age were 1959). uncertain due to insufficient radiocarbon dates. Until recently, the only date available was a 4230-5200 year Before field work was initiated by UCLA, four BP date run on a shell fishhook (UCLA-2574). This radiocarbon dates for Eel Point B were available from date is incongruent with the ages suggested by the earlier research by Axford and Axford and Meighan obsidian hydration readings (1500 to 3000 year BP) (1983). These dates indicated a span of occupation and our general perception of the Canaliño artifact from 5940 years BP to 8770 years BP. assemblage. Although this particular date is not representative of the entire occupation history at Eel During the first two field seasons of UCLA’s project Point C, it is extremely important as it is the earliest (1983 and 1984), samples were collected from Eel known directly dated shell fishhook from the southern Point B for six radiocarbon dates. These samples California region. yielded results similar to the four dates reported by Axford. For example, a shell sample (UCLA-2532A), Subsequent radiocarbon dates for Eel Point C confirm which dated 7770-7920 BP was collected at the same a long history of habitation at the area C component. level as Axford’s 8500-8770 (LJ-4130) and 8370-8510 The last nine radiocarbon dates (UCLA-2735A and (LJ-3961) BP dates (Axford and Meighan, 1983). The UCLA-2757A-H) span from 950 years BP to 3720 rest of the UCLA dates ranged from 2850 years BP to years BP. Both the obsidian hydration dates and the 5030 years BP (UCLA-2532B, 2532E, 2532G, 2573 earlier fishhook date fit comfortably in this time span.

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 38 Goldberg, Titus, Salls, and Berger

Table 4.2. Calibrated age of radiocarbon determinations, San Clemente Island.

S.ite No. Llab No Meateria Perovenienc C*14 Ag Years B.P. * N2ursery UnCLA-259 c2ollage B0urial 10490±3 1330-140 N3ursery UsCLA-258 e2el gras B5urial 8-900±10 N5ursery UlCLA-258 c3harcoa B5urial 50495±4 6290-640 N6ursery UdCLA-258 w2oo F5eature 30750±3 4090-420 E0el Pt. B LlJ-413 s0hel 80180±11 8500-877 E1el Pt. B LlJ-396 s0hel 80000±8 8370-851 E1el Pt. B LlJ-413 s0hel 50810±9 6150-631 E2el Pt. B LJ-413 Haliotis 50650±90 5940-617 EAel Pt. B UCLA-2532 Mytilus 900-120cm 70420±5 7770-792 EEel Pt. B UnCLA-2532 c1ollage B5urial 40365±5 4870-503 E3el Pt. B U,CLA-257 fishhook Haliotis 30950±330 3530-441 E8el Pt. B U,CLA-257 fishhook Norrisia 30380±280 2850-357 EBel Pt. B UlCLA-2532 c1harcoa F5eature 20430±7 3350-275 EGel Pt. B UCLA-2532 Haliotis 1085-200cm 5060±5 3390-351 *AEel Pt. B UlCLA-2758 cmharcoa u5nit 3, 30-40c 1025±8 3210-347 *BEel Pt. B UlCLA-2758 cmharcoa u5nit 3, 130-140c 8850±12 *CEel Pt. B UlCLA-2758 cmharcoa u1nit 3, 140-160c 9775± *DEel Pt. B UlCLA-2758 cmharcoa u0nit 3, 180-190c 9870±77 *EEel Pt. B UlCLA-2758 cmharcoa u2nit 3, 250-260c 9655±3 EBel Pt. B UCLA-2735 Mytilus B0urial 3 9-310±14 E4el Pt. C UkCLA-257 fmishhoo 2015-230c 40500±35 4230-520 EAel Pt. C UnCLA-2735 c3ollage B0urial 30040±7 3100-336 *AEel Pt. C UnCLA-2757 umrchi t5p1, 80-86c 10420±1 95 *BEel Pt. C UlCLA-2757 cmharcoa t5p, 80-90c 10090±2 970-105 *CEel Pt. C UlCLA-2757 cmharcoa t0p, 90-100c 20685±7 2750-285 *DEel Pt. C UlCLA-2757 cmharcoa t0p1, 120c 20695±12 2750-294 *EEel Pt. C UlCLA-2757 cmharcoa t5p2, 60-80c 20820±6 2850-307 *FEel Pt. C UnCLA-2757 umrchi t5p2, 90-100c 30600±19 3300-372 *GEel Pt. C UnCLA-2757 umrchi t0rch 1, 120c 30205±18 2770-325 *HEel Pt. C UlCLA-2757 cmharcoa A5-1, 172-177c 20585±6 2730-277 X8antusia C. LlJ-416 s0hel 60300±9 6670-687 X9antusia C. LlJ-416 s0hel 40950±9 5220-540 X1antusia C. UnCLA-255 c1ollage B5urial 50130±5 5770-594 291 LlJ-395 s0hel 20000±5 1500-160 221 LlJ-396 s0hel 10630±24 920-139

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 Site Chronology on San Clemente Island 39

Table 4.2, cont. Calibrated age of radiocarbon determinations, San Clemente Island.

S.ite No. Llab No Meateria Perovenienc C*14 Ag Years B.P. * 2059 LlJ-396 s0hel 9060±3 520-55 5416 LlJ-422 c0harcoa 3050±7 300-49 13174 LlJ-417 s0hel 30300±36 2730-355 10174 LlJ-417 c0harcoa 30110±11 3180-347 19251 LlJ-421 c0harcoa 4030±7 470-55 1639 LJ-453 Haliotis 3-6000±4000 1339 LlJ-453 c0harcoa 10400±10 1270-140 12295 LlJ-453 c0harcoa 9010±5 730-92 ?5LlJ-399 s0hel 20360±7 1890-206 ?4LlJ-407 s0hel 20190±7 1690-185 S7eal Pt UCLA-257 Mytilus m-odern UtCLA-2547 lnimpe m-oder UsCLA-2720 enel gras m-oder

After Ghiradelli (1984) * after Salls (1988). Unmarked dates are the La Jolla series reported by Ghiradelli (1984) Permanent site numbers for La Jolla samples provided by Andrew Yatsko ** Calibrated dates using Pearson et al. 1986, for terrestrial, and Stuiver et al. 1986, for marine samples

Of the radiocarbon dates collected for Eel Point C, southern Channel Islands were inhabited historically only one was obtained from bone collagen. The by Shoshonean linguistic groups, cremations are 3100-3360 years BP date for burial 3 (UCLA-2735A) rarely encountered (Meighan and Eberhart 1953). It suggests that the burial population from the site dates has been suggested that this may be due to a shortage to the earlier portion of the deposit. This finding is of firewood on the islands. It is not anomalous that a extremely important as it tentatively places the burial cremation should occur on San Clemente Island, but it population from Eel Point C in a time period almost is unusual that it should occur in a cemetery contain- 2000 years earlier than the burial population at the ing individuals of a “Chumash” morphology. A precise Nursery Site. This does not suggest contemporaneity date for this cremation is critical to our understanding for the two populations as do the obsidian hydration of when this event took place relative to the readings. It is suggested that additional radiocarbon Shoshonean habitation of the Nursery Site. dates be gathered for individuals from both popula- tions in order to clarify this issue. Finally, there are three radiocarbon dates available for the Xantusia Cave Site (SCLI-1178). A sample of One burial of particular interest from Eel Point C is human bone collagen from Burial 1 was analyzed at Burial 7, the cremated remains of a young female. UCLA and yielded a date of 5770-5940 years BP This cremation is unique if one considers the morpho- (UCLA-2551). This agrees well with Axford’s dates of logical population with which the individual is 6670-6870 years BP (LJ-4168) and 5220-5400 years associated. Of all of the native Southern Californian BP (LJ-4169). While the artifact assemblage for this peoples, only the Shoshonean groups are known to site is almost entirely non-diagnostic, there seems to cremate their dead (Kroeber 1976:556). Although the

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000 40 Goldberg, Titus, Salls, and Berger be close agreement between all three radiocarbon Point C. While the obsidian hydration evidence dates suggesting that they are all quite reliable. demonstrates that both this site and Nursery were occupied at the same time, it is impossible to deter- Conclusion mine if the later occupations at Eel Point C were by Chumash-like populations or Shoshonean-like Radiocarbon dates, obsidian hydration dates, and populations. Additional bone collagen dates for other artifactual evidence from various archaeological sites individuals from Eel Point C are needed to determine on San Clemente Island, have been presented. The the occupation span of the Chumash-like occupants data suggest that the island was occupied for a span of relative to the habitation sequence. some 10,000 years. During this time, there is evidence of a maritime oriented sea-faring tradition. Specific At Eel Point B, radiocarbon dates suggest an occupa- attention has been directed to six sites: the Ledge Site, tion span from as early as 9870 years ago to 2750 the Old Airfield Site, Eel Point B, Eel Point C, the years ago. As mentioned above, some of the dates that Nursery Site and Xantusia Cave. are later than about 4000 years ago may represent the later Eel Point C occupation. Based upon the presence of European artifacts, both the Ledge Site and the Old Airfield Site were found to With the exception of one 6290-6400 years BP date, extend into the historic period. Additional obsidian there is close agreement between radiocarbon dates, hydration readings indicate that both sites had obsidian hydration readings, and artifactual evidence intermittent occupation extending back 1-3000 years. from the Nursery Site. Although the site may have been occupied from as early as 4200 years BP, most of An extremely complex occupation was found at the the burial population is assumed to date to approxi- two site components of Eel Point. At Eel Point C, the mately 1500 years BP. Further testing is necessary to later component, obsidian hydration readings can be confirm this hypothesis and to secure the temporal consistently fitted to the radiocarbon dates. Occupa- relationship of the Nursery population to the morpho- tion may have started as early as 5200 years ago and logically distinct Eel Point C population. have persisted until about 950 years ago. The earliest component of this site overlaps the range of dates The three radiocarbon dates for the Xantusia Cave Site available for Eel Point B. This occurrence emphasizes range from 5220 to 6870 years BP. Although the the difficulty of separating the two components from artifact assemblage for this site is undiagnostic and no one another. obsidian hydration readings are available, the close agreement of these dates suggests that they reliably A single human bone collagen date of 3100-3360 date the occupation of the site. years BP is available for the burial population at Eel

PCAS Quarterly, 36(1), Winter 2000