MISHOPSHNO: REMNANTS OF THE PAST A MIDDEN ANALYSIS FROM CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA

Author

Alyssa del RosarioFollow

Date of Award

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Applied Archaeology

Department

Anthropology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Hepp, Guy

Abstract

For this study, my primary goals are to determine the depositional history of a shell midden at the archaeological site of Mishopshno (CA-SBA-07) through accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating, examine the artifacts found at the site, and analyze the midden contents. Mishopshno was initially recorded in the 1920s by David Banks Rogers with the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. The portions of midden analyzed for this thesis were excavated during construction monitoring of the sewer loop replacement in the Santa Rosa Campground at Carpinteria State Beach, Carpinteria, California.

Over time, significant disturbances have occurred to the site due to resource procurement and urban and land development activities. These activities caused substantial impacts on the site's integrity, shown in the stratigraphic mixing of the midden deposit. Though AMS radiocarbon dates from the midden confirm stratigraphic mixing, they also demonstrate the occupation of Mishopshno from 686 CE to at least 1811 CE. The analysis of faunal remains recovered from the midden indicates a heavy reliance on marine resources such as fish and California mussels. By drawing from multiple data sources, the results analyzed for this thesis show that this deposit is from the late 18^th century to the early 19^th century ethnohistoric period of Mishopshno.

Recommended Citation

del Rosario, Alyssa, "MISHOPSHNO: REMNANTS OF THE PAST A MIDDEN ANALYSIS FROM CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA" (2024). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 1903.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/1903