Marking the Sacred: Reading between the abraded lines of Mission San Miguel the Arcángel.

Summary

The Californian Spanish colonial community of Mission San Miguel the Arcángel consisted primarily of Salinan, Tulare native populations and included neophyte Indians from previously established Missions of San Luis Obispo and San Antonio. Within the Mission Church examples of 19th century "graffiti" can be found etched throughout the sanctified interior. Researchers have suggested that specific sections of these stylized markings are analogous to California Indian rock art with parallels being drawn from regional archaeological sites. The present research works to broaden previous studies by relating spatial positions of proposed neophyte etchings within San Miguel to Catholic mandates which directed the use of sacred space. Spatial and liturgical organization of neophytes within the mission church was defined by many factors including; age, gender, musical aptitude, and level of religious training. By tradition and edict access to Catholic sacred space was linked to neophyte identity and status. Associated to this, proposed neophyte etching within the church of Mission San Miguel are found located in pronounced form in areas of access corresponding to prominent positions within the church community. This observation offers many compelling perspectives related to the continuance and conflation of indigenous traditions and the formation of sacred space.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• The Intersection of Sacredness and Archaeology   •
• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage