Origins of Olivella Beads in the Coachella Valley, Alta California

Abstract

It is generally accepted that most <i>Olivella</i> beads recovered from archaeological sites in southern California were manufactured by coastal groups such as the Chumash and the Gabrielino. However, archaeologists working in this region are also aware that some beads that circulated through southern California's prehistoric exchange networks were produced by groups other than those from the coast. The origins of such beads are largely unknown, as very few studies have identified bead production loci away from coastal territories. In this article, I present findings from the analyses of bead collections from several sites in the Coachella Valley, which confirm the presence of <i>Olivella</i> beads made from both Pacific coast and Gulf of California species, and I provide evidence for possible small-scale production of beads in this area in the form of unmodified shell, shell detritus, and beads in production.