The Mattole lived along the Mattole River in Northern California just below the Bear River people, south of Eel River. Their principle food source was the acorn, and salmon was also very important in their diet. They also took sea-lions, gathered molluscs and fished in the sea, but these sources were not as important to them as the first two.

The main type of house for the Mattole, as well as the Sinkyone, Wailaki, Nongatl and Bear River was round, with a hip roof and a single ridge-pole. The Mattole also built a lean-to of redwood or fir slabs or bark. The floor was dug out to about a 2 foot depth, and the center firepit might have a drying rack near it. Two or more families might live in the same house. They used hides with fur for bedding, or rabbit pelt blankets, and mats made of tule, rush or the inner bark of trees.

Baskets of the area were twined, and the Mattole had a cylindrical fish creel which resembled a quail trap used by the Wailaki. The people of this area used dugout canoes and log rafts to travel on the river. (Heizer: 1978)

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California Native American Language Map