Pepperdine University Archaeological Survey and Excavation Collection
Scope and Content
The collection includes the artifacts uncovered during the excavation believed to be from the 13th century and related to Chumash Native Americans, the first inhabitants of Malibu, California. The collection also includes memoranda, correspondence, and notes regarding an excavation led by UCLA Archaeologist John Beaton and his team during the summer of 1970, of what would become the site for Pepperdine University's campus in Malibu, California. A later accession added two cartons of soil from Winter Canyon that was transferred back to Pepperdine University from UCLA Fowler Museum in 1977.
Dates
- Creation: 1970 - 1977
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Restrictions apply. Please contact Pepperdine University's Special Collections and University Archives.
Full Extent
10 Linear Feet (9 cartons, 1 half-hollinger box, and 2 flat boxes.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Before Pepperdine University existed, the Chumash Native Americans inhabited what is modern day Malibu. Their invention and use of the plank canoe (tomol), their beautifully crafted baskets, tools and bead making, and their customs/beliefs are what make the Chumash unique.The Chumash are still present and thriving today in Southern California. In 1970, UCLA Archaeologist John Beaton and his team surveyed the site that would become Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. They excavated a rock shelter at Winter Canyon that uncovered 597 artifacts which were catalogued and returned to Pepperdine in 1977. Soil that was taken from Winter Canyon was also returned to Pepperdine in 1977. The collection includes memoranda, correspondence, notes regarding the excavation, the artifacts discovered and the soil taken during excavation. The discovered artifacts are believe to be from the 13th century and related to the Chumash, the first inhabitants of Malibu.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Archaeologist John M. Beaton and his crew uncovered 597 artifacts. They returned the artifacts to Pepperdine University in August, 1971. The artifacts remained in the Provost's office for a short time before they were transferred to the Natural Science Division. On March 25, 2013, the artifacts were transferred to Pepperdine Libraries. In 2022, Pepperdine Libraries received 2 cartons of soil from Winter Canyon that had been stored in the Natural Science Division.
Processing Information note
The collection was initially arranged and described by Katie Richardson in July, 2013. Brendan Morris continued processing the collection in 2021. Lucy Perrin continued processing the collection in 2023.
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Antiquities
- Archaeological assemblages
- Excavations (Archaeology) -- United States
- Universities and colleges -- California -- History
Uniform Title
- Title
- The Finding Aid of the Pepperdine University Archaeological Survey and Excavation Collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Katie Richardson, updated by Brendan Morris, updated by Lucy Perrin 2023
- Date
- July 2013, October 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Pepperdine University, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu 90263-4786 USA
(310) 506-4323
specialcollections@pepperdine.edu