<p> The spatial patterning of artifacts and features excavated from Tule Creek Village (CA-SNI-25), San Nicolas Island, CA provides an opportunity to analyze the intra-site correlations between artifact types, materials, and features, and allows for inferences to be made regarding the context and use of space at a late Holocene village. Excavations at East Locus at CA-SNI-25 have yielded evidence of trade with other islands as well as evidence suggesting complex ceremonial activity, such as dog and bird burials, large hearths, stacked stone features, and multiple pits which vary in size, shape and depositional content. The artifact assemblage, favorable geographic setting, and inferred ceremonial activity observed at East Locus in comparison to other late Holocene sites on San Nicolas suggest that CA-SNI-25 served as the primary center for social and economic interactions on the island during a time when the intensification of complex spheres of interaction are observed throughout the southern California Bight.</p><p> I use intra-site GIS and exploratory methods, such as spatial autocorrelation and hot-spot analysis to isolate distributions of formal artifacts and features and examine the organization of space in both ceremonial and utilitarian contexts. This provides a visual and interactive platform conducive to analyzing the abundant data collected during open area excavations at CA-SNI-25. The statistical analysis allows for inferences to be made regarding the manufacture and use of artifact types and toolkits in ceremonial and utilitarian contexts, as well as the import and use of exotic materials. Ultimately, spatial analysis using intra-site GIS reveals possible linkages of artifacts and features, as well as patterns of spatial and temporal variability in technology, subsistence, and behavior at a village on San Nicolas just prior to European contact.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1583064 |
| Date | 14 February 2015 |
| Creators | Guttenberg, Richard B. |
| Publisher | California State University, Los Angeles |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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