Arroyo Sequit Revisited

Abstract

Between February 25 and March 2, 2003, archaeologists from Statistical Research, Inc. (SRI), under contract to California State Parks, completed an archaeological survey and testing program within the area of potential effects for a proposed visitors’ center and concession store in Leo Carrillo State Park. The proposed store is adjacent to CA-LAN-52, a well-known prehistoric archaeological site and the location of Arroyo Sequit, an important ethnohistoric Chumash village also known as Lisiqishi, as well as two smaller sites (CA-LAN-90 and CA-LAN-92). Several test units were placed near the southern edge of CA-LAN-52 and on the east bank of Arroyo Sequit Creek to assess the content and integrity of cultural deposits threatened by natural erosion and foot traffic from park visitors. Intact deposits were encountered at both locations, indicating that the southern boundary of the site extends under the beach sands, whereas the western boundary extends to the east bank of the creek. Analyses suggest that occupation occurred between the Middle and Mission periods. Shell beads and radiocarbon dates from a stratigraphic sequence provide insights into the chronology of the site.

Resumen

Entre el 25 de febrero y 2 de marzo del 2003, arqueólogos de SRI bajo contrato de Parques Estatales de California completaron un estudio arqueológico y programa de pruebas dentro del area of potential effect para el propuesto centro de visitantes y tienda de concesión en Leo Carrillo State Park. La propuesta tienda es adyacente a CA-LAN-52, un yacimiento prehistóricos bien-conocido y donde se encuentra Arroyo Sequit, un importante pueblo etnohistórico de los Chumash también conocido como Lisiqishi, y dos sitios más pequeños (CA-LAN-90 y CA-LAN-92). Varias unidades de prueba se colocaron cerca del extremo sur de CA-LAN-52 y en la orilla este del Arroyo Sequit Creek para evaluar el contenido y la integridad de los depósitos culturales que parecen estar en peligro de la erosión natural y el tráfico peatonal de los visitantes del parque. Se encontraron depósitos intactas en ambos sitios, los cuales indican que el límite sur del yacimiento se extiende bajo las arenas de la playa mientras el límite occidental se extiende a la orilla este del arroyo. Los análisis indican una ocupación del período Medio al período Misión. Las fechas de radiocarbono a partir de una secuencia estratigráfica proporcionan perspectivas sobre la cronología del yacimiento.

Acknowledgments

This article is an expanded version of a presentation made at the Society for California Archaeology 46th Annual Meeting, April 1, 2012, in San Diego. We thank the following: Herb Dallas (now with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) and the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Southern Service Center, San Diego, for sponsoring the research; the SRI Foundation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, for providing funding for the radiocarbon dates; Benjamin Vargas for serving as project director; William Hayden, who participated as a crew member and prepared the maps; Molly Fierer-Donaldson and members of Scout Troop 778, Boy Scouts of America, in Yorba Linda, California, for serving as crew members; and Kurt Heidelberg, Angela Keller, David Maxwell, and Theodore Perkins for conducting the analyses of material culture recovered from our investigations. Finally, we thank Henry Koerper, Barbara Tejada, Jill Gardner, and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on the article.

Notes

1. The park was named after a star of Broadway, television, and film, whose best-known role was as the comic sidekick in the television series “The Cisco Kid.” Less known is the fact that Leo Carrillo was also descended from a prominent early California family; his great-grandfather served as a governor of California in the last years of Mexican rule (California Department of Parks and Recreation 2010). Perhaps most important to the park, Carrillo also served for 14 years on the State Beaches and Parks Commission and was instrumental in the acquisition by the state of much of the property between Malibu and Point Mugu.

2. Following SRI's investigations, DPR extended the wooden staircase further onto the beach to protect the midden at the foot of the terrace.