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2.2 Local Native American Cultural History
Archaeological evidence suggests that populations of Paleoindians began inhabiting the
region as far back as 13,000 years ago (Erlandson 1994, 1999, Moratto 2004, Moss and
Erlandson 1995). The earliest cultural period in the region, known as the Paleoindian
Period, occurs during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene, circa 13,000 - 8,000 years
ago. These maritime communities inhabited local islands and coastal sites where
communities probably obtained more than half of their subsistence from fishing. The
communities used technologies such as boats, animal bone hooks, baskets, beads, chert
tools, worked shells, and cordage for nets and fishing lines, indicating that early Pacific
Coastal peoples exploited a variety of marine niches and resources (Rick et al. 2006). The
Arlington Springs Man, from Santa Rosa Island, represents one of the earliest dated
populations in North America, and dates to about 13,000 years ago.
Beginning in the middle Holocene, a regional cultural period known as the Archaic
Period spans approximately 8,000 - 1,500 years ago (Moratto 1984). Dividing the
Archaic Period are cultural sub-periods and horizons. The “Milling Stone Horizon,” for
example, represents a cultural period from about 7,500-4,500 years ago that is
characterized by groundstone artifacts (e.g., manos and metates). Other multipurpose
tools also have been recovered, including scrapers, projectile points, bone awls, shell
beads and shell fishing implements. Grinding implements were used to make piñole of
grasses and other seed-bearing plants such as chia sage. Near coastal areas, shellfish
gathering continued to supply protein, but hunting and fishing apparently were relatively
unimportant. In drier upland areas, communities subsisted upon not only piñole, but nuts
of pine and oak which all provided a staple source of plant protein. They also hunted
deer, rabbit, and other small vertibrates. The region where contemporary Tongva reside
probably was divided socially into disparate cultural communities based upon smaller
extended families who exploited different econiches. Some communities exploited
marine shellfish exclusively while inland communities hunted animals, fish, and birds.
While trade between communities was practiced, especially in material such as
asphaltum, steatite, and shells, small-scale barter on an individual, local basis may have
been the norm.
Beginning about 1,500 years ago, the southern California region where contemporary
Tongva reside is classified as the Protohistoric Period (Breschini 1983) or the beginning
of the Late Period (King 1990). For example, the Emergent Period spans 1,500 - 200
years ago, while the Protohistoric Period dates from 1,500 - 400 years ago. During this
cultural period in time, recognizably distinct regional cultural complexes emerge. New
technologies and techniques emerge, such as bow and arrow technology, ceramics, yucca
roasting ovens, the replacement of flexed inhumations with cremations, the appearance of
the mortar and pestle, and an emphasis on inland plant food collecting and processing,
especially of acorns (Meighan 1954, Moratto 2004).
Following this pre-historic period, the first interactions begin between European
explorers and Native communities. In 1542, Cabrillo arrived in the Catalina and San
Pedro harbor area. In 1602, Vizcaino visited the coastal sites present-day Los Angeles. In
1769, Gaspar de Portola entered the Los Angeles area. By 1771, the Mission San Gabriel

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