Ancient Individual

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

Name: DNAGENICS DNA Analysis Platform
Rating: 4.4 (96 reviews)
Author: DNAGENICS

A man buried in USA during the San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA

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

SM-01

1286 CE - 1396 CE

Male

USA

Explore Their Story Discover Your Shared Roots

Scroll to begin

Chapter I

Identity

The biological and cultural markers that define this ancient individual

Sample ID

SM-01

Date Range

1286 CE - 1396 CE

Cultural Period

San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA

Biological Sex

Male

mtDNA Haplogroup

Y-DNA Haplogroup

Q-M902

Chapter II

Place

Where this individual was discovered

Country USA

Locality San Miguel Island. CA

Coordinates 34.0333, -120.3833

Chapter III

Time

When this individual lived in the broader context of human history

SM-01 1286 CE - 1396 CE

Chapter IV

Story

The narrative of this ancient life

The San Miguel Island Chumash culture represents a fascinating and integral part of the broader Chumash cultural region, which once spanned along the coastal and channel islands of Southern California. San Miguel Island, one of the Channel Islands, played a significant role in the history and development of the Chumash people, who are renowned for their complex society, seafaring prowess, and rich cultural traditions.

Location and Environment

San Miguel Island is the westernmost of California's Channel Islands, situated approximately 26 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. As the island is subject to cool temperatures, strong winds, and rich marine biodiversity, its environment necessitated adaptive strategies among the Chumash who settled there. The island's rugged terrain, with its cliffs, grassy plains, and sand dunes, provided both challenges and resources, shaping the lifestyles and culture of its inhabitants. The surrounding Pacific Ocean, filled with diverse marine life, was a key resource for sustenance and trade.

Subsistence and Economy

The Chumash of San Miguel Island relied heavily on the rich marine ecosystem for their subsistence. They were expert fishermen and hunters, utilizing tools like fishing nets, hooks, and harpoon-like implements to catch a variety of fish, shellfish, and marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. The island’s resources also included edible plants and seeds, which were gathered seasonally.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Chumash culture was their development and use of the \tomol," a plank-built canoe, which demonstrated advanced shipbuilding techniques. These canoes enabled the Chumash to navigate the challenging waters of the Channel Islands, facilitating trade, communication, and fishing expeditions. They traded goods such as shell beads, fish, and manufactured tools with mainland Chumash groups and other neighboring tribes.

Social Structure and Organization

The Chumash society on San Miguel Island, like other Chumash communities, was complex and hierarchically organized. Their social structure was composed of a network of villages, each led by a chief who wielded political, economic, and spiritual authority. The chief’s role was pivotal in decision-making and maintaining social order, as well as managing resources and trade relations with other groups.

Craft specialization was notable among the Chumash, with specific communities and individuals skilled in producing items such as shell beads, ornaments, and baskets. These items were often used in trade or as cultural symbols, indicating social status and wealth.

Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality was integral to the Chumash way of life, with a rich body of myths, rituals, and ceremonies. Their belief system was deeply connected to the natural world and celestial phenomena. They believed in powerful spiritual beings and forces that influenced daily life and the environment. Rituals, led by spiritual leaders or shaman figures, were conducted to ensure harmony, good fortune, and successful harvests or hunts.

Rock art, which includes elaborate pictographs and petroglyphs, is one of the most intriguing aspects of the Chumash spiritual expression. Although San Miguel Island itself has fewer known rock art sites compared to the mainland, these artworks are considered to hold religious and cultural significance, often relating to Chumash mythology and cosmology.

Archaeological and Historical Significance

The archaeological record of San Miguel Island has provided valuable insights into the Chumash culture. Excavations have unearthed remains of village sites, artifacts, and tools that illustrate the day-to-day life and advanced technological achievements of the Chumash. These findings help historians and archaeologists understand the adaptive strategies and innovations that enabled the Chumash to thrive in their island environment.

Contemporary Relevance

While the traditional way of life of the San Miguel Island Chumash has largely disappeared due to colonial impacts, including Spanish missions and later American expansion, the cultural heritage and legacy of the Chumash people continue to endure. Today, descendants of the Chumash work to preserve their cultural heritage, language, and traditions, ensuring that the story of their ancestors remains a vibrant and respected part of California's history.

In summary, the San Miguel Island Chumash culture is emblematic of the adaptive prowess, technological innovation, and rich spiritual traditions of the indigenous peoples who once inhabited the Channel Islands of California. Their legacy offers profound insights into the complex societies that existed in pre-colonial North America."

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
SM-02	San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA	1174 CE	San Miguel Island. CA, USA	View
SM-01	San Miguel Island Chumash Culture, California, USA	1286 CE	San Miguel 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

Loading Report