Shell Beads Among the Indigenous Peoples of California
At the Museum | Farrand Auditorium
The Chumash Indians of Southern California made and used beads of stone, bone, and shell for over 8,000 years, but what did they use them for? Beads were used as a form of adornment and eventually as a currency. They also served to integrate people separated by long distances. In some areas of California, beads were brought for regularly scheduled feasts to help with the expenses of the dancers, musicians, and the food provided. More than 22 species of shell beads can be found in California. Some types were used as money by the Chumash. Beads made on the Northern Channel Islands were traded widely, as far as the Bay Area and even the Southwestern United States.
In this free public lecture presented by the Santa Barbara County Archaeological Society, UCSB Professor Emerita of Anthropology Lynn H. Gamble, Ph.D., will review the context and shifting uses of beads, and propose an earlier date for the first use of money in North America.
No tickets or reservations required, but it is recommended to arrive a little early to ensure a seat. For questions about the Santa Barbara County Archaeological Society or the upcoming meetings, please contact SBCAS President Glenn Russell, Ph.D., by email.
