Ancient Individual

A woman buried in USA in the Pre-Columbian North America era

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A woman buried in USA during the Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA

A fragment of the ancient world, preserved across millennia in strands of DNA.

SC-07

700 CE - 1300 CE

Female

USA

Explore Their Story Discover Your Shared Roots

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Chapter I

Identity

The biological and cultural markers that define this ancient individual

Sample ID

SC-07

Date Range

700 CE - 1300 CE

Cultural Period

Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA

Biological Sex

Female

mtDNA Haplogroup

C1b41

Y-DNA Haplogroup

N/A (Female)

Chapter II

Place

Where this individual was discovered

Country USA

Locality San Clemente Island. CA

Coordinates 32.9000, -118.5000

Chapter III

Time

When this individual lived in the broader context of human history

SC-07 700 CE - 1300 CE

Chapter IV

Story

The narrative of this ancient life

The Late period on Santa Cruz Island, located off the coast of Southern California, represents a fascinating era and culture of the Native American peoples who inhabited this region. This period, which roughly spans from AD 1150 to the European contact in the 16th century, is characterized by significant social, technological, and environmental developments. The island was primarily inhabited by the Chumash people, who were sophisticated maritime hunters, gatherers, and traders.

Geography and Environment: Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the Channel Islands, with varied terrain including rugged mountains, deep valleys, and expansive coastlines. The island’s rich marine environment, including kelp forests and abundant sea life, played a crucial role in the sustenance and development of the island's inhabitants. The climate is Mediterranean, with wet winters and dry summers, which shaped the island's flora and fauna.

Social Structure and Settlement Patterns: The Late period Chumash communities on Santa Cruz Island were organized into complex chiefdoms. These were hierarchical societies led by chiefs who wielded considerable influence over religious, economic, and political matters. There were numerous settlements on the island, primarily located along the coast. The choice of settlement locations was influenced by access to fresh water, proximity to marine resources, and defensible positions. Villages consisted of dome-shaped houses constructed from willow branches and tule mats.

Economy and Subsistence: The Chumash of Santa Cruz Island had a diverse and rich diet, heavily reliant on marine resources such as fish, shellfish, and sea mammals. They employed advanced fishing techniques, including the use of plank canoes known as “tomols,” which were vital for deep-sea fishing and transportation. Terrestrial resources were also exploited; they gathered seeds, nuts, and roots, and hunted land animals such as deer, birds, and small mammals.

A noteworthy feature of the Late period was the advanced trade networks. The Chumash were known for their craft specialization and long-distance trade. They produced high-quality shell beads that served as a form of currency. The island’s residents traded these beads, along with other goods such as acorns, fish, and crafted items, with mainland tribes and other Channel Islands communities.

Technology and Craftsmanship: This period saw significant technological advancements. The construction of the tomol was a technological marvel, enabling safer travel and efficient trading activities. Basketry, pottery, and beadwork also flourished, showcasing the intricate artistry and skilled craftsmanship of the Chumash. The materials used in crafting were diverse, ranging from local clays to imported materials obtained through trade.

Spiritual and Cultural Practices: The Chumash had a rich spiritual life with a deep connection to the natural world. They believed in a supernatural order and personified natural phenomena through deities and mythological creatures. Religious practices included ceremonies led by shamans, who were revered as spiritual leaders and healers. Rock art and pictographs found on the island are a testament to their spiritual expressions and artistic endeavors.

Challenges and Adaptations: During the Late period, the Chumash faced environmental changes, such as fluctuations in sea levels and climatic variations. They adapted to these changes through innovations in subsistence strategies and modifications in their settlement patterns to ensure sustainability and resource availability.

European Contact and Transition: The arrival of Europeans in the 16th century marked the beginning of significant disruptions for the Chumash society. The introduction of new diseases, coupled with later Spanish colonization efforts, led to dramatic changes in their traditional way of life. Many were eventually absorbed into the Spanish mission system, resulting in a loss of cultural autonomy and substantial population declines.

In conclusion, the Late period on Santa Cruz Island serves as a poignant chapter in the history of the Chumash people, highlighting their resilience, innovation, and complex societal structures. Despite the challenges brought by European contact, the Chumash legacy endures as an integral part of California's cultural heritage.

Context

Related Samples

This individual exists within a broader network of ancient samples. No ancient genome stands alone.

Sample ID	Culture/Period	Date	Location	Action
SC-05	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	775 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SN-44	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3626 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
CR-01	Santa Cruz Island Chumash Culture, California, USA	774 CE	San Cruz Island. CA, USA	View
CT-01	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	1440 CE	San Catalina Island. CA, USA	View
SM-02	San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA	1174 CE	San Miguel Island. CA, USA	View
SN-11	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	771 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-06	Chumash Culture, California, USA	417 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
523a	Athabaskan Culture, Alaska, USA	1800 CE	Palm Site, USA	View
SN-13	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	1040 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
I15690	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	420 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
NC	Chumash Culture, New Cuyama, California, USA	571 CE	New Cuyama. CA, USA	View
SN-17	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3369 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
Ala1	San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA	1400 CE	Síi Túupentak (ALA-565/H). San Francisco Bay, USA	View
SN-53	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	1165 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-10	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-48	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-03	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	239 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-07	Chumash Culture, California, USA	422 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SC-07	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-01	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-04	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	1039 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SN-52	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	990 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-15	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	78 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-51	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	410 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
US-14	Colonial Period Pennsylvania, USA	1521 CE	Shohola Creek. Indian Cabin Ridge. PA, USA	View
SN-54	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	2835 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-39	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SC-06	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SN-16	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SM-01	San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA	1286 CE	San Miguel Island. CA, USA	View
SN-32	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3341 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-03	Chumash Culture, California, USA	416 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-01	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-18	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-38	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-58	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-59	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3328 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-26	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-25	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	2570 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SC-03	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	890 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SN-20	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-17	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-09	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-04	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3081 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-02	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-12	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	663 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-43	Late San Nicolas Island, California, USA	795 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-23	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
CT-02	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	1400 CE	San Catalina Island. CA, USA	View
SN-57	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-37	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-09	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-56	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-55	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-31	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-60	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	2835 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-41	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
PS-04	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SN-45	Early San Nicolas Island, California, USA	3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SC-02	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
PS-34	Chumash Culture, California, USA	100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
CH-01	Mainland Chumash Culture, California, USA	416 CE	California. Carpenteria, USA	View
B-03	Pericues Culture, Mexico	3000 BCE	LC-218. Baja, Mexico	View
MX-01	Baja California, Mexico	3000 BCE	Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico	View
B-04	Baja California, Mexico	3000 BCE	Comondu. Baja, Mexico	View
CK-13	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	2914 BCE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CK-09	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1458 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-06	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CK-10	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-03	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-02	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-05	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-01	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CK-03	Arctic Small Tool Tradition, Canada	1223 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
SN-50	San Nicolas Island Native American	420 CE	San Nicolas Island (California), USA	View
SN-39		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
I15690		420 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
523a		1800 CE	Palm Site, USA	View
Ala1		1400 CE	Síi Túupentak (ALA-565/H). San Francisco Bay, USA	View
B-03		3000 BCE	LC-218. Baja, Mexico	View
B-04		3000 BCE	Comondu. Baja, Mexico	View
CH-01		416 CE	California. Carpenteria, USA	View
CK-03		1223 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CK-09		1458 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CK-10		1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CK-13		2914 BCE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
CR-01		774 CE	San Cruz Island. CA, USA	View
CT-01		1440 CE	San Catalina Island. CA, USA	View
CT-02		1400 CE	San Catalina Island. CA, USA	View
LU-01		1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-02		1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-03		1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-05		1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
LU-06		1200 CE	Lucier. Southwestern Ontario, Canada	View
MX-01		3000 BCE	Iron Springs. Baja, Mexico	View
NC		571 CE	New Cuyama. CA, USA	View
PS-02		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-03		416 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-04		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-06		417 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-07		422 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-09		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-17		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-18		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-23		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-26		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
PS-34		100 CE	Point Sal. CA, USA	View
SC-01		700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-02		700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-03		890 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-04		1039 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-05		775 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-06		700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-07		700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SM-01		1286 CE	San Miguel Island. CA, USA	View
SM-02		1174 CE	San Miguel Island. CA, USA	View
SN-01		3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-03		239 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-04		3081 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-09		3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-10		3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-11		771 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-12		663 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-13		1040 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-15		78 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-16		3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-17		3369 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-20		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-25		2570 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-31		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-32		3341 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-37		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-38		3700 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-41		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-43		795 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-44		3626 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-45		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-48		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-51		410 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-52		990 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-53		1165 CE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-54		2835 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-55		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-56		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-57		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-58		3650 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-59		3328 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
SN-60		2835 BCE	California. San Nicolas Island, USA	View
US-14		1521 CE	Shohola Creek. Indian Cabin Ridge. PA, USA	View

Sample ID	Culture/Period	Date	Location	Action
SC-05	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	775 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
CT-01	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	1440 CE	San Catalina Island. CA, USA	View
SC-07	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-01	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-04	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	1039 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-06	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
SC-03	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	890 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View
CT-02	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	1400 CE	San Catalina Island. CA, USA	View
SC-02	Late Santa Cruz Island, California, USA	700 CE	San Clemente Island. CA, USA	View

Sources

References

Scientific publications and genetic data that inform this profile.

Scientific Publication

Ancient human parallel lineages within North America contributed to a coastal expansion

Authors Scheib CL, Li H, Desai T, Link V, Kendall C et al.

Abstract

Little is known regarding the first people to enter the Americas and their genetic legacy. Genomic analysis of the oldest human remains from the Americas showed a direct relationship between a Clovis-related ancestral population and all modern Central and South Americans as well as a deep split separating them from North Americans in Canada. We present 91 ancient human genomes from California and Southwestern Ontario and demonstrate the existence of two distinct ancestries in North America, which possibly split south of the ice sheets. A contribution from both of these ancestral populations is found in all modern Central and South Americans. The proportions of these two ancestries in ancient and modern populations are consistent with a coastal dispersal and multiple admixture events.

View in DNAGENICS View Original Publication

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