The Archaeology of Ethnogenesis: Race and Sexuality in Colonial San Francisco

Investigations at El Presidio de San Francisco have found that colonial households there did not incorporate Native Californian material culture or dietary resources into their domestic routines, instead maintaining firm distinctions from local indigenous populations.

“Investigations at El Presidio de San Francisco in Alta California have found that colonial households there did not incorporate Native Californian material culture or dietary resources into their domestic routines, instead maintaining firm distinctions from local indigenous populations (Voss 2005, 2008).”

Within the colonial settlement itself, archaeological evidence suggests that Native Californian men did not live in the main quadrangle, where most colonial families resided, but instead were probably housed in work camps north and east of the main quadrangle.

“Within the colonial settlement itself, archaeological evidence suggests that Native Californian men did not live in the main quadrangle, where most colonial families resided, but instead were probably housed in work camps north and east of the main quadrangle (Voss 2008:159163).”

Californio ethnogenesis was a complex, multistaged process.

“Californio ethnogenesis was a complex, multistaged process (Voss 2008:113-115).”

Over time, the number of adult male Native Californians working at El Presidio de San Francisco increased dramatically, from 5-20 workers in the 1780s to 60-70 workers in the 1790s to as many as 100 workers during the 1800-10s.

“Over time, the number of adult male Native Californians working at El Presidio de San Francisco increased dramatically, from 5-20 workers in the 1780s to 60-70 workers in the 1790s to as many as 100 workers during the 1800-10s (Voss 2008:77-83).”

Formal spatial analysis of El Presidio de San Francisco's main quadrangle reveals significant changes in spatial partitioning and enclosure in colonial architecture.

“Formal spatial analysis of El Presidio de San Francisco's main quadrangle reveals significant changes in spatial partitioning and enclosure in colonial architecture (Voss 2008:173-202).”

Almost no Native Californian artifacts have been found within the expanded quadrangle, although they are common in the extramural zones of the settlement.

“This interpretation is supported by the artifactual evidence: almost no Native Californian artifacts have been found within the expanded quadrangle, although they are common in the extramural zones of the settlement (Voss 2008:159-163).”