The term “Costanoan” refers to a group of Native American tribes that historically inhabited the central coast of California, particularly around the San Francisco Peninsula, the coastal areas of the San Francisco Bay, and the region extending down to Monterey. The name is derived from the Spanish word “Costano,” meaning “coastal.” The Costanoan people, also known as the Ohlone, shared similar languages and cultures, and they lived in small, semi-nomadic communities, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering for their subsistence. Today, the legacy of the Costanoan tribes is recognized in various cultural and historical contexts.
