Qasil, California facts for kids

Qasil was an old village where the Chumash people lived a long time ago. The Chumash are a group of Native American people. This village was in Santa Barbara County, in the state of California, United States.

A Spanish explorer named Juan Crespí saw an old, empty village near a place called Refugio in 1769. It seems people moved back into the village by 1776. They lived there until they were asked to join the Spanish missions. The village was located on the Gaviota Coast, which is a beautiful part of the coast. It was close to the ocean, just a bit east of Refugio State Beach.

A Hub for Trade

Qasil was likely a very important place for trading goods. It might have been a port where people from nearby Santa Cruz Island could trade with the Chumash on the mainland.

The village was also connected to the Santa Ynez Valley by a trail. This trail probably helped people carry items for trading between the coast and inland areas.

Some discoveries suggest that Qasil was a center for building boats. Parts of traditional Chumash boats, called tomols, have been found at the site of Qasil.

The Village's End

People lived in Qasil until at least 1796. At that time, about 142 people were reported to be living there.

Soon after, the villagers were encouraged to move to the local Christian missions. This meant they left their homes and land.

What Does Qasil Mean?

The name 'Qasil' means 'beautiful' in the local Chumashan language. This specific language was known as Dos Pueblos.