Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Natural Oil & Gas Seeps in California
Native Americans living in California used the asphaltum from natural oil seeps to caulk their canoes, to hold together hunting weapons and baskets, and to make walnut-shell "Huutch Uish" dice. These uses of asphaltum are shown in the photographs and drawings below.
This 23-foot canoe is made of wooden planks held together with dowels and plant fibers and caulked with asphaltum. The canoe was built in 1914 by Fernando Librado, a 110-year-old Chumash man.
Photo courtesy of the San Diego Museum of Man.
This basket hopper was made in prehistoric times and found near Chico, California. The basket is about 14 inches across and affixed to a stone mortar (center) with asphaltum. This design allowed a large quantity of seeds to be ground at one time.
Photo by J. Spriggs. From Onshore Oil and Gas Seeps in California.
This is a Maidu mortar and brush for preparing acorn-meal. The brush is made of soap-root fibers glued together with asphaltum and laced with string.
Photo by J. Spriggs. From Onshore Oil and Gas Seeps in California.
These Yokuts hunting tools are held together and waterproofed with asphaltum.
Asphaltum coats the sinews that hold the point and feathers to the shaft of the arrow (at left and middle). The asphaltum protects the sinews from water and from wear-and-tear. The arrow is a special skip-bomb arrow used for shooting birds and animals in the water. The ring below the point prevents the arrow from diving underwater and makes it skim along the surface at the level of the prey. The ring is made of tule reeds held in place with asphaltum.
The knife (right) is made of a chipped stone blade set into a wooden handle with asphaltum.
Drawing by J. Spriggs from a photo by J. Garcia. From Onshore Oil and Gas Seeps in California.
These are walnut-shell dice made by the Yokuts and used for gambling. Black walnut shells are filled with asphaltum and decorated with abalone shell chips or beads. The walnut shells become polished with use.
Photo by J. Spriggs, from Onshore Oil and Gas Seeps in California.
Yokuts women throw the dice on a woven tray, or tiwon, in a game called Huutch Uish. Four players take turns throwing the dice, and the player with the highest roll wins.
Drawing by J. Spriggs from a photo by Frank Latta. From Onshore Oil and Gas Seeps in California.
