Recently Asked
“I would like to know if this basket is Native American made, or is a tourist trade knock-off. If my pictures are not adequate, or you need more information, please let me know.”
Roger, Arroyo Grande - March 15, 2023
“I found this stone bowl shortly after the recent storms near Haskells Beach area. The bowl was among several large rocks that are not normally seen.
The bowl perfectly balanced upright has two gro...”
Emma, Montecito - February 1, 2023
“Found at at Goleta Beach. Any help in identifying its use or origin would be great. It feels almost like glass.
Thank you for your help with this inquiry!”
Angi, Goleta - June 24, 2022
“Do you have any Chumash bows or arrows on display or in the backroom archives? Do you know what plants the Chumash used for their arrows? In SoCal, the Kumeyaay used reed (Phragmitis) or arrow-weed (P...”
Kevin, San Diego - June 23, 2022
“Hello,
I found this fish hook and petrified fish at Hendry's Beach
Is the fish hook Chumash ?”
Silvia, Santa Barbara CA - June 11, 2022
“I am reading The Noontide Sun. In the book by Arlene Benson based off Stephen Bowers. He says he found two mortars. Carved from whale vertebrae. Did these make it to the SBMNH? Very curious to see wha...”
Joshua, Frazier Park - October 18, 2021
“Hello I am a social studies teacher and will be showing this to my class, I believe it might be an artifact of significance. Found in rocks below cliffs at a known location of Tongva village. ”
Nicole, Palos Verdes Estates - September 19, 2021
“On the north side of Santa Cruz Island I haves seen a couple small caves high up on ridgelines that appeared to have soot staining on the wall and roof. The caves are open to the sea to the north. Is...”
Don, boat in Channel Islands harbor - August 26, 2021
“Live in Oak View (Ventura County) near Ventura River. Dug up (within 12" from surface) this perfectly spherical shaped sandstone ball approx. 50' from house. Its diameter measures 2.825" and it weighs...”
Spencer, Oak View - May 31, 2021
“On the Natural History's Chumash page, I read the Chumash people were hunter-gathers. Did they hunt large animals like bears and mountain lions?”
Katelyn, Santa Barbara - May 22, 2021
“I am working in Santa Barbara and hike after work. Are there any public mortar sites or food processing sites? I have seen some in San roque, San Antonio creek parks. Are there more we can view? Aroun...”
Joshua, Santa Barbara - March 2, 2021
“I recall years ago hearing that there were people living in this area prior to the Chumash. The name I recall for these earlier people was "Oak Grove" people. However, a search of the web using that p...”
Wes Chapin, Somis, CA - February 16, 2021
“Dear museum scientists,
while camping on Paradise Rd near the Santa Ynez River in August, I found what appears to be a tool of some sort in the dry river bed. I am hoping to hear if it deserves fur...”
Bret Klopfenstein, Ventura, CA - January 16, 2021
“Hello SB Natural History Museum,
I think it's wonderful that you provide this ask-a-curator service, thank you. My question:
My daughter and I found a rock that looks a lot like the tip of a Chumas...”
Brent, Santa Barbara - August 29, 2020
“Hi,
I recently found this rock, which looks like a Chumash pestle or grinding stone, near a construction site at Hendry's beach. Do you think it is real? Is it something I should turn in to the museu...”
Melinda, Santa Barbara - August 28, 2020
“Is it known what the Chumash called the different species of whales active in the Santa Barbara Channel?
I am particularily interested in what they called the blue whales.”
Douglas Hall, 709 Toro Canyon Rd., SB 93108 - August 6, 2020
“Hola, ¿dónde puedo encontrar los archivos arqueológicos, geológicos y antropológicos del estudio de este yacimiento? ¿Los archivos están a disposición de todos y todas?”
Paula Núñez, Chile - August 6, 2020
“I recently found this pictograph and was curious about the snake or s like symbol or the right hand side lining up the with yellow paint on the left? I'm thinking this is a calendar or sun schedule..?”
Cooper H, Goleta - June 21, 2020
“Do you have anything in your museum that pertains to the legend of a 19th-century Native American woman who lived alone for 18 years on remote San Nicolas Island, off the coast of California? The book...”
Stephanie, San Antonio, Texas - November 24, 2018