Adapting to Life Alone on the Island: Chapter 9

Stone projectile points for spears and arrows. Found on San Nicolas Island in cache from 1800s. Courtesy of Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles.

Karana decides she does not want to live in the village by herself so she burns all the houses to the ground. She finds a large rock on a headland about a mile and a half from Coral Cove and sets up camp there. From her rocky resting spot, she will be able to watch the ocean and the cove for the returning ship.

Karana realizes she must protect herself from the wild dogs that killed her brother. Although she has a club, she knows she needs a bow, arrows, and a spear. Because tribal custom forbids women from making weapons, Karana looks for spearheads at the village, in the canoes by the cliffs, and in the black chest left by the otter hunters.

The chest is buried in beach sand but Karana is able to dig open the lid. She does not find any spearheads, but she does find bead necklaces and bracelets, and she tries them on. Karana then remembers the fight that cost many villager lives, and she throws the bead jewelry into the sea.

Karana makes her own spearhead, bow, and arrows. Then she practices with them.

Winter and spring pass.

Fact Check: Tools and Weapons

Did the Lone Woman make tools and hunting weapons? 

What do we know?
The Lone Woman had tools and other artifacts with her when she was found in 1853. It is not known if she made her own or used tools and weapons left behind by others. 

What is the evidence?
Primary source: In his notes recounting the first interaction with the Lone Woman, George Nidever describes the items (tools and other artifacts) she had at her camp. 

Voices from the Field

Dr. Jon Erlandson, Professor of Anthropology, University of Oregon, describes his 2009 discovery of a cache of artifacts on San Nicolas Island. 

Lisa Thomas, US Navy archeologist, San Nicolas Island, describes some of the artifacts found.

Dr. Sara Schwebel, Professor of English, University of South Carolina and editor of Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader’s Edition (University of California Press, 2016). Dr. Schwebel discusses women making weapons. 

Photos & Multimedia

Video: The Lone Woman's Treasure Boxes? (3:12)  Learn about a significant recent discovery of artifacts on San Nicolas Island. 
Video: Treasures Revealed (3:27)  Learn about the contents of the redwood boxes recently found on San Nicolas Island.
Video: The Redwood Box Cache from San Nicolas Island, CA (10:08)
Photo: The West Box in the laboratory, as archeologists get ready to study its contents. Courtesy of Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles.
Photo: The West Box contained over 150 artifacts. How many can you identify? Courtesy of Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles.
Photo: The East Box contained 38 artifacts. Do you see any you can identify? Courtesy of Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles.

Teacher Resources

Writing Prompts and Lesson Plans