A few words about the Ohlone

The Ohlone occupied the area of California from Monterey Bay up the Peninsula to San Francisco and included part of the East Bay. They were not a cohesive unit, but a group of tribelets, each made up of a few villages. The size of a village could range from 50 to 500 people. There were several different languages spoken.

Homes were usually dome-shaped structures of tule or similar grass mats over a frame of willow branches. Clothing was minimal in our temperate climate. Men often were naked, at least during the warmer months. Women wore aprons of grass or tule, with more supple animal skin skirts around the back. At puberty, a girl's face was tattooed with designs that were symbols of her tribelet. This served a practical purpose, as marriages were usually made outside one's own group. The tattoo identified the origin of each girl.

A chief was the official greeter of visitors to the village, and had to preside over the ceremonial feast to mark such an occasion. The chief could be a man or woman. Usually the position passed from father to son, but if there were no male heir, a sister or daughter might hold the office. Ratification by the tribe was needed any time there was a change in chief. The office was primarily ceremonial, and the chief set the dates for celebrations and led in hunts and gatherings.

These people were not warlike. Any disagreements were usually over tribal boundaries. Sometimes they settled disputes with surprise attacks and sometimes they held wars by appointment. Such battles, like duels, were stylized and usually ceased after the loss of the first warrior.

Although the Ohlone did not wander far from their own territory, they did trade with other nearby groups. Items to trade were chert, useful for making tools or arrow points, and the mineral cinnabar, used as body paint. They also had ocean products like shells, dried fish and salt. Of the items the Ohlone wanted were piñon nuts and obsidian.

The Ohlone were one of the few Native American groups to practice a form of agriculture. They burned fields to control weeds and encouraged growth of desired grasses. Some vegetables were planted, but most food was gathered from naturally growing sources. Acorns were the staple of their diet. Fruits, berries, seeds and roots were readily available. Abundant seafood, birds and small animals as well as deer and elk were at hand. Beached whales and sea lions were also a favorite food for the coastal Ohlone.

Ohlones were excellent basket makers. There are only about 12 of their original baskets remaining. Some that have been preserved were taken away as souvenirs. A few are in museums in Russia and France and at the Smithsonian in Washington, D. C. A few others are kept in local collections.

Rediscovering the Peninsula appears in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal. For more information on this or related topics, visit the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City.