Subsistence patterns at Ven-11 : a coastal Chumash village

Includes bibliographical references (pages 87-98)This research examines the subsistence base of a coastal Chumash Indian village near Point Mugu, California. The primary focus is the analysis of shell debris from five column samples, removed from two main areas of the site. Data from the analysis of two field samples are also incorporated to determine the role of other protein sources in the diet of the villagers. The relative amounts of each variety of shellfish, as well as fish, mammal, and bird are plotted. The site is located in a unique ecological niche. It fronts Mugu Lagoon, a well-studied bay, where floral and faunal resources are constant. It is posited that Ven-ll was a major village which had a stable enough food supply to allow a substantial population to remain sedentary year round. The study demonstrates that fish from the immediate vicinity were the main source of protein for these Indians, augmented by shellfish, sea and land mammal, bird and vegetable foods. During the period of habitation there was no depletion of favored mollusk species, and there is some indication that the predominant varieties were selected by cultural preference. Thus, this village, rich in resources, possessed a secure, stable economy