Boat-based foraging and discontinuous prehistoric red abalone exploitation along the California coast

► Red abalone shell middens are common in prehistoric south and central California. ► In Monterey County, California, these features are only 950 years old. ► Ecological relationships account only for the nature not the timing of the record. ► Boat-based foraging increased access to subtidal mollusks and sea otters. ► Population pressure and increased social value of abalone shells catalyzed late boat use in central California.