History Indigenous thumb|left|Pictographs in the Burro Flats Painted Cave in Simi Valley Ventura County was historically inhabited by the Chumash people, who also settled much of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, with their presence dating back 10,000–12,000 years.Johnson, John R. 1997. Chumash Indians in Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Simi Valley, CA: Simi Valley Historical Society. . Page 6.Starr, Kevin. 2007. California: A History. Modern Library Chronicles 23. New York City, NY: Random House Digital, Inc. . Page 13. The Chumash were hunter-gatherers, fishermen, and also traders with the Mojave, Yokuts, and Tongva Indians.Lynne McCall & Perry Rosalind (ed.). 1991. The Chumash People: Materials for Teachers and Students. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. San Luis Obispo, CA: EZ Nature Books. . Page 31. The Chumash are also known for their rock paintings and for their great basketry. Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks has several reconstructed Chumash houses ('apa) and there are several Chumash pictographs in the county, including the Burro Flats Painted Cave in Simi Valley. The plank canoe, called a tomol in Chumash, was important to their way of life. Canoe launching points on the mainland for trade with the Chumash of the Channel Islands were located at the mouth of the Ventura River, Mugu Lagoon and Point Hueneme. This has led to speculations among archeologists of whether the Chumash could have had a pre-historic contact with Polynesians. According to diachronic linguistics, certain words such as tomolo'o (canoe) could be related to Polynesian languages. The dialect of the Chumash language that was spoken in Ventura County was Ventureño.
history indigenous thumb|left|pictographs in the burro flats painted cave in simi valley ventura county was historically inhabited by the chumash people who also settled much of santa barbara and san luis obispo counties with their presence dating back 10000–12000 yearsjohnson john r 1997 chumash indians in simi valley a journey through time simi valley ca simi valley historical society  page 6starr kevin 2007 california a history modern library chronicles 23 new york city ny random house digital inc  page 13 the chumash were hunter-gatherers fishermen and also traders with the mojave yokuts and tongva indianslynne mccall & perry rosalind (ed) 1991 the chumash people materials for teachers and students santa barbara museum of natural history san luis obispo ca ez nature books  page 31 the chumash are also known for their rock paintings and for their great basketry chumash indian museum in thousand oaks has several reconstructed chumash houses ('apa) and there are several chumash pictographs in the county including the burro flats painted cave in simi valley the plank canoe called a tomol in chumash was important to their way of life canoe launching points on the mainland for trade with the chumash of the channel islands were located at the mouth of the ventura river mugu lagoon and point hueneme this has led to speculations among archeologists of whether the chumash could have had a pre-historic contact with polynesians according to diachronic linguistics certain words such as tomolo'o (canoe) could be related to polynesian languages the dialect of the chumash language that was spoken in ventura county was ventureño