The Chumash are an indigenous group who formed a complex material culture around 8,000 BP when they began to permanently settle. They settled in SW California and created a material culture which...Show moreThe Chumash are an indigenous group who formed a complex material culture around 8,000 BP when they began to permanently settle. They settled in SW California and created a material culture which revolved around a shell-bead industry and specific ceremonial practices which were governed by a strict socio-political order that was in place until colonialists arrived in the 1700s. From the Early Period (12,000 BP) to the Mission Period (200 BP) the sociopolitical organisation changed dramatically, but how did this happen? This study represents how migratory patterns were crucial in how material culture changed for the Chumash within this timespan. Furthermore, this study examines the migratory patterns of the Chumash through three case studies – The shell-bead industry, ceremonial events and missionisation. The shell-bead industry case study demonstrates how the Chumash on the mainland moved to certain areas in the latter periods in order to gain further autonomy over the industry which was centrally governed by the Chumash on the Channel Islands. Further examination looks at several sites on the Channel Islands which also demonstrated movements, but in those cases was shown as being a motive to increase production. Ceremonial events display how the Chumash temporarily moved into areas for specific reasons and gives another angle to the complex concept of migration which contains many different avenues such as forced, voluntary, permanent and temporary. Missionisation shows how colonial contact forced the Chumash into moving from their villages to specific areas which the colonisers created such as Missions and ranches. The periods of pre and post-contact demonstrate two different types of centralised control: The Chumash elite and the Spanish colonisers. These two groups are important to distinguish during discussion as they reflect differing ideals and thus migratory methods. Using Naismith’s rule of walking, energy expenditures were calculated for each case study and therefore greater insight can be made into exactly why or how people were willing to undertake these movements. Applying this rule using GIS, maps were made of the respective case studies that visually represent the distances that the Chumash voluntarily or forcibly made. Additionally, the theme of centralised control is viewed alongside migratory patterns to examine if migration is reflective of it or not. By investigating each of these case studies an overview of differing migratory patterns that the Chumash undertook can be compared with each other and a clear conclusion can be drawn that they were all linked to centralised control. By using this case study, further research can be made into other past indigenous groups and their retrospective movements pre and post-contact. The brief comparison in the conclusion to other historical sites and to modern day migration also demonstrates that these types of studies can be used when discussing present issues, whereby we can learn from the past and how we choose to study and participate in migration movements.Show less
