Rediscovering the Ceramic History of the Alta California Frontier

摘要

BEFORE THE ARRIVAL of the Spanish in what was known as Alta California (Upper California) in 1769, ceramics were largely unknown to the aboriginal occupants of the region north of the Los Angeles basin through the San Francisco area (fig. 1). Alta California came under Spanish control as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain as the province of Las Californias, encompassing an area that included what is now the state of California and other states to the east. The territory came under control of the Mexican government in 1821 and remained so until 1848, when the United States took possession. For the most part, much of the area remained populated by the Native Indian peoples.