Description
Precontact Archeological studies have primarily explored lithic, ceramic, faunal, shell and adornment artifacts. The Temeku collection includes material remains from each of these study areas. Excavated in 1952, the collection is considered a museum archaeological collection and has remained in storage since this time. A brief site report was published immediately after the excavations that analyzed only a portion of the collection, leaving many questions unanswered about the overall picture of this village site. The unanswered questions include insight about the lithic technology, diet, hunting strategies, trade and adornment that can be garnered from the existing material remains. This thesis provides a detailed archaeological analysis of the entire prehistoric portion of the Temeku collection and has lead to new conclusions about what village life was like for the Luiseño people before contact. The brief analysis in the 1950s was insufficient and a complete cataloguing of the collection did not occur until 2010. Unfortunately, many artifacts mentioned in the site report are no longer part of the collection and there is no information as to where these artifacts might be housed. The loss of artifacts motivated the author to request the collection in order to verify what remains of the collection and complete a detailed analysis of its content. The result of this analysis is outlined here and provides a greater picture of what village life was like before Contact. This information in turn provides the Temecula residents a greater cultural awareness of the people of this area and advances the discipline of anthropology by developing a more detailed understanding of the Luiseño people living in Temecula during precontact times. Of equal significance, the analysis has provided the author an opportunity to preserve her Luiseño ancestor's village through knowledge and affirmation of their thriving presence.
