The largest towns were built along the mainland coast near the Santa Barbara Channel. The villages were constructed on high ground near lagoons, creek mouths, lakes, or springs. Some villages were as large as towns while others were quite small. Chumash LifeĬhumash life was centered around their town and village.Īt one time there were hundreds of separate Chumash settlements here in Santa Barbara. Now you can learn more about how the Chumash people once lived, what customs they practiced, how they made money and what kinds of food they ate. Today, there are still many people who can trace their ancestry back to these historic Chumash communities. In addition to the plank canoe, the Chumash are known for their fine basketry, their mysterious cave paintings and their bead money made from shells. This trade was made possible in part by the seagoing plank canoe, or tomol, which was invented by 1,500 years ago. Villages along the coastline, on the islands and in the interior had access to different resources, which they traded with one another. Over time, the population increased and the people adapted their lifeways to the local environment.

The area was first settled at least 13,000 years ago. In different parts of the region, people spoke six different but related languages. Before the Mission Period, the Chumash lived in 150 independent towns and villages with a total population of at least 25,000 people. The Chumash Indian homeland lies along the coast of California, between Malibu and Paso Robles, as well as on the Northern Channel Islands.

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