PESTLE—DISTRESSED - - ANCIENT MALIBU VILLAGE SITE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:10884 | Color: Brown |
| Material: Stone | Maker: Indigenous people of California |
| Original/Reproduction: Original |
PESTLE—DISTRESSED--ANCIENT MALIBU VILLAGE SITE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIALength: 13 ½””Width: 1 ¾”Height: 1 ¾”Weight: 3 lbs 5.9 ozThis distressedpestle was found in the late 19th century just off Malibu Creekwhere several Chumash stone artifacts were uncovered.This artifact along with others was acquiredfrom a private Santa Monica collection. Several of these artifacts—effigies, pestles, gouges and such—have been listed by this site over the past... severalmonths. Given the village site provenance of these finds, this makesperfect sense. The pestle has a long, “squared” pestle with oneend clearly the percussive/grinding side. The other end tapers to a hand-held region, no doubt from an ancientnick.The pestle was repaired well before this siteacquired it—see photos. It showsevidence of extensive and regular use—many chinks, nicks and dings can be seenthroughout. This implement was CLEARLY utilized over the decades, as one wouldexpect from a major Chumash village site. The Chumash were an ocean-going people whofished extensively between the Channel Islands and the mainland. Theirs was a difficult world of obtaining enoughfoodstuffs for a viable community. Anyextra effort by a better hook or a shaman’s mixture was clearly wanted andappreciated..Intriguingly, the very location of this findsubstantiates an historical piece of information:According to early Spanish accounts there was amajor Chumash village in this area known as Humaliwo—at the mouthof Malibu Creek. (Today, modern beach houses rest atop Humaliwo)Incidentally, the word Malibu was recorded asmeaning one of three possibilities: where "the surf soundsloudly"; "where the mountains meet the sea"; or "place onthe cliff".These early accounts come from the explorationsof the Spanish mariner, Juan Cabrillo, sailed from Navidad, Mexico in1542. For four days in October of that year he anchored in Malibu Lagoon, claiming the landfall for the King of Spain, naming it Pueblode las Canoas (Town of the Canoes) because of the dozens of Chumashcanoes which came to his ships to greet him.Today, the area has completely changed. Itis common to see surfers out in the ocean while hundreds of cars crawl alongthe main road, on a Pacific Coastal Highway bridge crossing directly over theCreek--and the ancient Town of the Canoes!Here’s a chance to get a beautifully crafted, rate artifact from the Chumash people who lived along the region when it wasstill a pristine environment.
