Abstract

Looking for Prehistoric Pathways on Santa Catalina Island
Track: Conservation
Authors: Karimah Richardson, Corrie Neighbors

Santa Catalina Island off the Coast of Los Angeles County, was once inhabited by the Gabrielino/Tongva people. Currently it is the only Southern Channel Island open to the public and has much tourist activity. As a result the prehistoric pathways are now roads, hiking trails, or have been paved over. Using the spatial data available the goal is to use the least cost path analysis tool in GIS to evaluate the landscape for the proposed pathways to better conserve and preserve cultural sites.