Page 26 - Historical Study of Yerba Buena Island, Treasure Island and Their Buildings

1.2 Early History of Y erba Buena Island

1.2.1 Prehistory and Early Mexican Control, Pre-1835

The first people to inhabit Verba Buena Island were American Indians. The earliest descriptions
of Y erba Buena Island depict it as an Indian fishing village with ceremonial huts and cremation
pits located in the area of the island's east cove area. The tribe was identified in early newspaper
accounts as the Tuchayunes who were referred to as hostile by the earliest settlers. (Ref. V,
Arbor Day). Their dress and tools were similar to the Mission Dolores Indians shown in the
accompanying drawings. (Ref. U).

The native people at Y erba Buena Island belonged to the Costanoan language family which
included eight separate and distinct languages. Based on linguistic evidence, the Costanoans
moved into the San Francisco Bay area about 500 AD. The Costanoans occupied the San
Francisco peninsula south to the Carmel and Sur Rivers, and also the eastern side of the Bay
from Carquinez Strait south to the lower Salinas River. In 1770, the Costanoans were comprised
of approximately 50 politically autonomous tribelets. The boundaries of tribelets were defined
by geographic boundaries Each tribelet had one or more permanent villages and a series of
seasonal camps. Tribelets in what is now San Mateo and San Francisco counties spoke the
Ramaytush language. Tribelets on the east side of the Bay spoke Chochenyo. (Ref. VV)

FIGURE 4: California Indians. Circa 1806.
Note: These painted and feathered California Indians were drawn at San Jose de Guadalupe mission
in 1806 by Wilhelm von Teleman, a German artist with a Russian exploring expedition ..

September 1, 1995 Historical Study ofYerba Buena Island, 1-3
Treasure Island, and their Buildings