Santa Cruz Island Reserve

18 Sep, 05 AM - 25 Sep, 05 AM

Archaeological evidence for increasing social complexity among prehistoric populations often parallels evidence for local population growth. Research worldwide indicates that throughout most of human history populations have remained small, low density and highly mobile in response to spatial and temporal resource fluctuation.Yet, coincident with the emergence of social complexity the archaeological record indicates almost simultaneous evidence for localized population increase, technological innovation, subsistence intensification and decreased mobility. Thus, the intimate inter-relationships between subsistence, technology, mobility and population growth are of primary concern for researchers interested in elucidating the development of social complexity. How foragers moved about and exploited prehistoric landscapes is cited as key to understanding population growth and the emergence of socio-cultural complexity among hunter-gatherers. Extensive research regarding the emergent complexity evidenced among hunter-gatherer populations in the Santa Barbara Channel region has focused on diachronic shifts in each of these variables. The archaeological record indicates that the Northern Channel Islands were colonized by hunter-gatherers as early as 13,500 years ago. Populations in the region maintained considerable cultural and genetic continuity from at least 7500 years ago until Spanish contact. Despite this striking degree of continuity, significant diachronic shifts in subsistence strategies, mobility patterns and population levels parallel the emergence of socio-cultural complexity in the Late Holocene. Indeed, many researchers highlight significant population increase as a central factor in the rapid cultural developments evidenced during the Late Holocene. The early portions of the archaeological sequence are defined by successive periods of population increase and decrease resulting in slow cumulative population growth. This pattern holds until approximately 1600 BP, after several millennia of continuous occupation, when population levels begin to rise dramatically throughout the Santa Barbara Channel Region. However, the cause of this significant population growth remains elusive. The proposed research project is a case study focused on elucidating the nature of population growth on Santa Cruz Island, California in relation to variation in subsistence strategies and mobility patterns. Understanding the interrelationship of these variables and their implications for prehistoric population dynamics is fundamental to evaluating models of culture change premised upon the role of demographic shifts. Specifically this research will evaluate risk-averse adaptive strategies employed to mitigate spatial and temporal discontinuity in the availability of resources. A thorough conceptualization of the relationship between seasonal nutritional insufficiency and population dynamics is essential to contextualizing wider social and demographic developments.

Visit #21568 @Santa Cruz Island Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 21826 | Research

Archaeological Investigation of Prehistoric Occupation of the Christy Watershed

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 3 Graduate Student Sep 18 - 25, 2010 (8 days)
Group of 3 Other Sep 18 - 25, 2010 (8 days)
HB Thakar Sep 18 - 25, 2010 (8 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Dorm 7 Sep 18 - 25, 2010
Jeep 7 Sep 18 - 25, 2010
Pickup Truck 7 Sep 18 - 25, 2010