A woman buried in USA in the Pre-Columbian North America era

The Chumash people are a Native American tribe historically situated in the coastal regions and foothills of what is now Southern California, covering areas like modern-day San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties. The \Mainland Chumash" specifically refers to those tribes situated on the mainland as opposed to those on the Channel Islands off the coast. The Chumash culture is rich and multifaceted, with a history that predates European contact by thousands of years.
Geography and Environment The Mainland Chumash inhabited a region with a diverse environment, including coastal shores, inland valleys, and mountain ranges. This geography provided a variety of resources, from marine life along the coast to terrestrial plants and animals. This diversity allowed the Chumash to develop a complex and sustainable way of life based on what their environment offered.
Social Structure and Community Life The Chumash society was organized into numerous villages, each with its own chief or leader, known as an "alcalde." These villages were often based around extended family groups or lineages. The Chumash operated within a complex social structure where barter and trade were commonplace, facilitated by their use of shell bead money, which was highly valued throughout the region.
Housing and Settlement Chumash homes, or "ap," were typically dome-shaped structures made from willow branches, tule reeds, and other local materials. These homes were both functional and suited to the climate, providing insulation against the elements. Villages were strategically located near water sources and food supplies, but also took into account protection against potential threats.
Material Culture and Technology The Chumash are well-known for their remarkable skills in craft and technology. They constructed plank canoes called "tomol," which were used for fishing and trade, notably being able to travel between the mainland and Channel Islands. These canoes were expertly crafted from redwood or driftwood and sealed with natural tar. The Chumash also produced tools and utensils from bone, stone, wood, and shell, showcasing a deep understanding of their environment.
Economy and Trade The Chumash were part of a broad trade network that extended throughout California and beyond. They traded fish, shell beads, tools, and other goods with neighboring tribes. The shell bead currency not only facilitated trade but also indicated wealth and social status within Chumash society.
Diet and Subsistence The Chumash diet was varied and rich, utilizing the abundant resources available to them. They harvested acorns, a staple which they processed into flour, fished extensively, and hunted deer, rabbits, and other game. Additionally, they gathered shellfish, seaweed, seeds, and berries, employing a variety of techniques for preservation and storage, such as drying and smoking.
Spirituality and Religion Spirituality was a central aspect of the Chumash life, with a rich tapestry of beliefs and practices. They believed in a complex spiritual world and had a pantheon of deities. Rituals and ceremonies were performed by specially trained spiritual leaders, or "antap," who were responsible for mediating between the human and spiritual worlds. These ceremonies often involved intricate dances, music, and the use of datura for visionary purposes.
Art and Expression Chumash rock art is among the most elaborate and sophisticated found in North America, consisting of vibrant pictographs depicting both abstract and representational forms. This art served not only a decorative purpose but also a spiritual and communicative one, playing a significant role in their religious ceremonies and societal narratives.
Interaction with Europeans and Legacy The arrival of Spanish explorers and missionaries in the late 18th century marked a significant period of disruption and change for the Chumash. The establishment of missions led to forced relocations, cultural suppression, and exposure to new diseases. Despite these challenges, the Chumash culture has persevered, with modern descendants actively working to preserve and revitalize their language, traditions, and cultural practices.
Today, the Chumash legacy is acknowledged and celebrated in various forms, from archaeological research to cultural exhibitions that underscore their historical significance and ongoing contributions to the cultural fabric of California. The Chumash community continues to be an integral part of California’s heritage, embodying resilience and a profound connection to the land and seas of their ancestors."
Sample ID | Culture/Period | Date | Location | Action |
---|---|---|---|---|
SC-05 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 775 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-44 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3626 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
CR-01 | Santa Cruz Island Chumash Culture, California, USA | 774 CE | San Cruz Island. CA, USA | View |
CT-01 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 1440 CE | San Catalina Island. CA, USA | View |
SM-02 | San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA | 1174 CE | San Miguel Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-11 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 771 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-06 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 417 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
523a | Athabaskan Culture, Alaska, USA | 1800 CE | Palm Site, USA | View |
SN-13 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 1040 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
I15690 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 420 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
NC | Chumash Culture, New Cuyama, California, USA | 571 CE | New Cuyama. CA, USA | View |
SN-17 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3369 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
Ala1 | San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA | 1400 CE | Síi Túupentak (ALA-565/H). San Francisco Bay, USA | View |
SN-53 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 1165 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-10 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-48 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-03 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 239 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-07 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 422 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SC-07 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
SC-01 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
SC-04 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 1039 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-52 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 990 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-15 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 78 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-51 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 410 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
US-14 | Colonial Period Pennsylvania, USA | 1521 CE | Shohola Creek. Indian Cabin Ridge. PA, USA | View |
SN-54 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 2835 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-39 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SC-06 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-16 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SM-01 | San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA | 1286 CE | San Miguel Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-32 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3341 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-03 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 416 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-01 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-18 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-38 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-58 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-59 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3328 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-26 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-25 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 2570 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SC-03 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 890 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-20 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-17 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-09 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-04 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3081 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-02 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-12 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 663 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-43 | Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 795 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-23 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
CT-02 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 1400 CE | San Catalina Island. CA, USA | View |
SN-57 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-37 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-09 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-56 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-55 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-31 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-60 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 2835 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SN-41 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
PS-04 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
SN-45 | Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View |
SC-02 | Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View |
PS-34 | Chumash Culture, California, USA | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View |
CH-01 | Mainland Chumash Culture, California, USA | 416 CE | California. Carpenteria, USA | View |
B-03 | Pericues Culture, Mexico | 3000 BCE | LC-218. Baja, Mexico | View |
MX-01 | Baja California, Mexico | 3000 BCE | Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico | View |
B-04 | Baja California, Mexico | 3000 BCE | Comondu. Baja, Mexico | View |
CK-13 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 2914 BCE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
CK-09 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1458 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
LU-06 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
CK-10 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
LU-03 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
LU-02 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
LU-05 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
LU-01 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
CK-03 | Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada | 1223 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View |
SN-39 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
I15690 | 420 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
523a | 1800 CE | Palm Site, USA | View | |
Ala1 | 1400 CE | Síi Túupentak (ALA-565/H). San Francisco Bay, USA | View | |
B-03 | 3000 BCE | LC-218. Baja, Mexico | View | |
B-04 | 3000 BCE | Comondu. Baja, Mexico | View | |
CH-01 | 416 CE | California. Carpenteria, USA | View | |
CK-03 | 1223 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
CK-09 | 1458 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
CK-10 | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
CK-13 | 2914 BCE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
CR-01 | 774 CE | San Cruz Island. CA, USA | View | |
CT-01 | 1440 CE | San Catalina Island. CA, USA | View | |
CT-02 | 1400 CE | San Catalina Island. CA, USA | View | |
LU-01 | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
LU-02 | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
LU-03 | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
LU-05 | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
LU-06 | 1200 CE | Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada | View | |
MX-01 | 3000 BCE | Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico | View | |
NC | 571 CE | New Cuyama. CA, USA | View | |
PS-02 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-03 | 416 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-04 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-06 | 417 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-07 | 422 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-09 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-17 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-18 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-23 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-26 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
PS-34 | 100 CE | Point Sal. CA, USA | View | |
SC-01 | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SC-02 | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SC-03 | 890 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SC-04 | 1039 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SC-05 | 775 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SC-06 | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SC-07 | 700 CE | San Clemente Island. CA, USA | View | |
SM-01 | 1286 CE | San Miguel Island. CA, USA | View | |
SM-02 | 1174 CE | San Miguel Island. CA, USA | View | |
SN-01 | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-03 | 239 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-04 | 3081 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-09 | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-10 | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-11 | 771 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-12 | 663 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-13 | 1040 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-15 | 78 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-16 | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-17 | 3369 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-20 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-25 | 2570 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-31 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-32 | 3341 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-37 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-38 | 3700 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-41 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-43 | 795 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-44 | 3626 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-45 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-48 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-51 | 410 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-52 | 990 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-53 | 1165 CE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-54 | 2835 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-55 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-56 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-57 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-58 | 3650 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-59 | 3328 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
SN-60 | 2835 BCE | California. San Nicolas Island, USA | View | |
US-14 | 1521 CE | Shohola Creek. Indian Cabin Ridge. PA, USA | View | |
SN-50 | San Nicolas Island Native American | 420 CE | San Nicolas Island (California), USA | View |
Sample ID | Culture/Period | Date | Location | Action |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH-01 | Mainland Chumash Culture, California, USA | 416 CE | California. Carpenteria, USA | View |
Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (CH-01) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.
Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (CH-01) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles modern populations from different geographic regions.
These results complement the ancient ancestry components shown in the previous section, offering a different perspective on the individual's genetic profile by comparing it with modern reference populations rather than prehistoric ancestral groups.
The G25 coordinates for the sample CH-01 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.
CH-01,0.05336024,-0.34268322,0.1199062,0.07765872,-0.12254244,-0.02588554,-0.23966602,-0.27997162,-0.00468488,-0.00890358,0.01333854,0.00090242,-0.00374336,0.02037346,-0.00832348,-0.0048212,0.00550408,0.00610194,0.00813484,0.00183448,0.01164988,-0.0050849,-0.00046832,-0.0019969,0.00025992
Ancient human parallel lineages within North America contributed to a coastal expansion
Little is known regarding the first people to enter the Americas and their genetic legacy. Genomic analysis of the oldest human remains from the Americas showed a direct relationship between a Clovis-related ancestral population and all modern Central and South Americans as well as a deep split separating them from North Americans in Canada. We present 91 ancient human genomes from California and Southwestern Ontario and demonstrate the existence of two distinct ancestries in North America, which possibly split south of the ice sheets. A contribution from both of these ancestral populations is found in all modern Central and South Americans. The proportions of these two ancestries in ancient and modern populations are consistent with a coastal dispersal and multiple admixture events.