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

SM-02
Portrait reconstruction
Disclaimer: The portrait shown is a speculative reconstruction and not the actual face of the ancient sample. It represents an artistic interpretation based on archaeological data.
Specimen Details
Sample ID:
SM-02
Date:
1174 CE - 1269 CE
Biological Sex:
Female
mtDNA:
A2
Y-DNA:
Not applicable
Cultural Period:
San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA
Location
Country:
USA
Locality:
San Miguel Island. CA
Coordinates:
34.0333, -120.3833
Map Location
Historical Timeline
Description

The San Miguel Island Chumash culture represents a fascinating and integral part of the broader Chumash cultural region, which once spanned along the coastal and channel islands of Southern California. San Miguel Island, one of the Channel Islands, played a significant role in the history and development of the Chumash people, who are renowned for their complex society, seafaring prowess, and rich cultural traditions.

Location and Environment

San Miguel Island is the westernmost of California's Channel Islands, situated approximately 26 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. As the island is subject to cool temperatures, strong winds, and rich marine biodiversity, its environment necessitated adaptive strategies among the Chumash who settled there. The island's rugged terrain, with its cliffs, grassy plains, and sand dunes, provided both challenges and resources, shaping the lifestyles and culture of its inhabitants. The surrounding Pacific Ocean, filled with diverse marine life, was a key resource for sustenance and trade.

Subsistence and Economy

The Chumash of San Miguel Island relied heavily on the rich marine ecosystem for their subsistence. They were expert fishermen and hunters, utilizing tools like fishing nets, hooks, and harpoon-like implements to catch a variety of fish, shellfish, and marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. The island’s resources also included edible plants and seeds, which were gathered seasonally.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Chumash culture was their development and use of the \tomol," a plank-built canoe, which demonstrated advanced shipbuilding techniques. These canoes enabled the Chumash to navigate the challenging waters of the Channel Islands, facilitating trade, communication, and fishing expeditions. They traded goods such as shell beads, fish, and manufactured tools with mainland Chumash groups and other neighboring tribes.

Social Structure and Organization

The Chumash society on San Miguel Island, like other Chumash communities, was complex and hierarchically organized. Their social structure was composed of a network of villages, each led by a chief who wielded political, economic, and spiritual authority. The chief’s role was pivotal in decision-making and maintaining social order, as well as managing resources and trade relations with other groups.

Craft specialization was notable among the Chumash, with specific communities and individuals skilled in producing items such as shell beads, ornaments, and baskets. These items were often used in trade or as cultural symbols, indicating social status and wealth.

Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality was integral to the Chumash way of life, with a rich body of myths, rituals, and ceremonies. Their belief system was deeply connected to the natural world and celestial phenomena. They believed in powerful spiritual beings and forces that influenced daily life and the environment. Rituals, led by spiritual leaders or shaman figures, were conducted to ensure harmony, good fortune, and successful harvests or hunts.

Rock art, which includes elaborate pictographs and petroglyphs, is one of the most intriguing aspects of the Chumash spiritual expression. Although San Miguel Island itself has fewer known rock art sites compared to the mainland, these artworks are considered to hold religious and cultural significance, often relating to Chumash mythology and cosmology.

Archaeological and Historical Significance

The archaeological record of San Miguel Island has provided valuable insights into the Chumash culture. Excavations have unearthed remains of village sites, artifacts, and tools that illustrate the day-to-day life and advanced technological achievements of the Chumash. These findings help historians and archaeologists understand the adaptive strategies and innovations that enabled the Chumash to thrive in their island environment.

Contemporary Relevance

While the traditional way of life of the San Miguel Island Chumash has largely disappeared due to colonial impacts, including Spanish missions and later American expansion, the cultural heritage and legacy of the Chumash people continue to endure. Today, descendants of the Chumash work to preserve their cultural heritage, language, and traditions, ensuring that the story of their ancestors remains a vibrant and respected part of California's history.

In summary, the San Miguel Island Chumash culture is emblematic of the adaptive prowess, technological innovation, and rich spiritual traditions of the indigenous peoples who once inhabited the Channel Islands of California. Their legacy offers profound insights into the complex societies that existed in pre-colonial North America."

Related Samples
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
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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
SM-02 San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA 1174 CE San Miguel Island. CA, USA View
SM-01 San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA 1286 CE San Miguel Island. CA, USA View
Ancient Genetic Admixture

Ancient genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (SM-02) with present-day reference populations. These results show what percentage of the individual's genetic makeup resembles ancient populations from different geographic regions.

Ancient Native Americans 74%
Ancient Asians 23%
Western Steppe Pastoralists 3%
Modern Genetic Admixture

Modern genetic admixture analysis compares the DNA profile of this individual (SM-02) 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.

America 91%
America 91%
Native American 91.4%
Asia 8%
Japanese & Korean 4%
Japanese 3.8%
Northern Asian 2%
Siberian 2.0%
Chinese & Southeast Asian 2%
Tibetan 1.4%
Chinese 0.6%
Oceania 0%
Melanesian 0%
G25 Coordinates

The G25 coordinates for the sample SM-02 are as follows. You can analyze its admixture using G25 Studio.

SM-02,0.05574552,-0.32189306,0.1137498,0.0958717,-0.11754788,-0.0141047,-0.29220314,-0.34351342,-0.01298982,-0.01535224,0.00334948,-0.00037594,-0.00159972,0.02486864,-0.00617674,-0.0007682,0.00585274,0.00395744,0.00211146,-0.00116874,0.00106626,0.00567958,-0.00252006,-0.0043193,-0.00449394
Analyze it in G25 Studio
Scientific Papers References
Ancient human parallel lineages within North America contributed to a coastal expansion
Authors:
Scheib CL, Li H, Desai T
Abstract:

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.

Link:
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