Craft Production and Landscape in Laguna Canyon, Santa Cruz Island

In the summer of 2012, I undertook a project to identify and record sites in Laguna Canyon, on the southwest side of Santa Cruz. That project included augering, and since its completing I have worked to sort the material recovered from 10 sites recognized in Laguna. The observed settlement patterns there were quite surprising. Most interestingly, I have a compelling lack of evidence for bead production in the canyon, unlike nearly every other major canyon at similar periods in the past. Based on the sorted material, LC-3 near the coast has excellent preliminary evidence for non-bead production that might explain that lack of evidence: a potential Tivela stultorum tool and the highest levels of asphaltum in the canyon, both possible indicators of chopping reeds and caulking boats to make them seaworthy. A limited amount of additional data will help to provide positive proof and firm data to support this hypothesis.