Esselen tribe Little Sur River

the area first occupied esselen american indians followed local food sources seasonally, living near coast in winter, harvested rich stocks of mussels, abalone , other sea life. in summer , fall move inland harvest acorns gathered black oak, canyon live oak , tanbark oak, on upper slopes in areas outside current camp s location. large boulder dozen or more deep mortar bowls worn it, known bedrock mortar, located in apple tree camp on southwest slope of devil s peak, north of camp pico blanco. holes hollowed out indians used grind acorns flour. other mortar rocks have been found within boy scout camp @ campsites 3 , 7, , upstream campsite 12, while fourth found on large rock in river, above river, between campsites 3 , 4.

pico blanco, splits north , south forks of river, sacred in native traditions of rumsien , esselen, revered mountain sacred place life originated. spanish mission system led virtual destruction of indian population. estimates pre-contact populations of native groups in california have varied substantially. alfred l. kroeber suggests 1770 population esselen of 500. sherburne f. cook raises estimate 750. more recent calculation (based on baptism records , density) numbered 1,185–1,285.