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The Island Chumash and Exchange in the Santa Barbara Channel Region

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Kristina M. Gill  and
Jon M. Erlandson
Kristina M. Gill
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
Jon M. Erlandson
Affiliation:
Museum of Natural & Cultural History, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
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Abstract

Fauvelle (2013) used experimental approaches to evaluate whether acorns were an important commodity traded from mainland groups to the Island Chumash. Consistent with a dearth of acorn remains found in island sites, he concluded that acorns were not a major export. We agree with this conclusion, but Fauvelle never adequately explains why acorns were not a major trade item and proposes that trade for high-quality asphaltum, supposedly unavailable on the islands, drove an intensification of Chumash social complexity. We believe the Island Chumash had abundant local plant foods, asphaltum, and other resources.

Fauvelle (2013) utilizó enfoques experimentales para evaluar si bellotas eran productos importantes negociados entre el continente y las islas de los Chumash. Hay muy pocos restos de bellota encontrados en los sitios de las islas; por lo tanto, el concluyo que las bellotas no eran productos importantes de exportacion. Estamos de acuerdo con esta conclusion, pew Fauvelle nunca explica adecuadamente por que las bellotas no eran un elemento importante en el comercio. El propone que el comercio de asfalto de alta calidad, supuestamente disponible en las islas, resultó en la intensificación de la complejidad social de los Chumash. Nosotros creemos que los residentes Chumash de las islas tenίan una abundancia de alimentos locales de plantas, asfalto, y otros recursos.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 79 , Issue 3 , July 2014 , pp. 570 - 572
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2014

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References

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