Extreme Archaeology: the Resiilts of Investigations at High Elevation Regions in the Northwest
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Extreme Archaeology: The Resiilts of Investigations at High Elevation Regions in the Northwest. by Rudy Reimer BA, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C. 1997 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFLMENT OF TKE REQUIREhdENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Archaeology @Rudy Reimer 2000 Simon Fraser University August 2ûûû Ail Rights Rese~ved.This work may not be reproduced in whole in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. uisitions and Acquisitions et '3B' iographic Senrices senfices bibfkgraphiques The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accord6 une licence non exclusive licence aliowiag the exclusive mettant A la National Liiof Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, lom, distribute or seli reproduire, prêter, distriiuer ou copies of ibis thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous papa or electronic formats. la finme de microfiche/fbn, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts hmit Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwjse de ceîie-ci ne doivent être imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Review of ethnographie and ment archaeological studies suggest that past human use ofhigh elevation subalpine and alpine environments in northwestem North America was more intense than is currently believed. Archaeological survey high in coastai and interior mountain ranges resulted in iocating 21 archaeological sites ranging in age between 7,500-1,500 BP. Lithic analysis of materiai hmthese sites indicates that technological strategies used at high elevations were affkcted by raw materid availability, type and group mobility. The technological orientations of high elevation sites in coastal areas differed hmthose in the interior. Site distribution patterns at subalpine elevations indicate a focus on ridgelines and cirque basins. These areas were ideal for use as resowce procurement base camps behveen sumrner and fall. Data hmother archaeologicai studies throughout the Northwest indicate similar technological orientations and settlement strategies for high elevation areas. Fluctuations in the use of high elevation resources are believed to have contributed to the development of Northwest culhues by 1) affecting regional settlement patterns, 2) controlling the availability of lithic, faunal and floral resources and 3) contri'buthg to strong ideological ties to mountainous areas. This Thesis is Micated ta the Aaccstm of the Sqiiamisb and Similkameen Native Peoples. 1wish ta thank my inmediate family Bemice John, Rudy Reimei. (Sn.), hie John, Rose Reimer, Elanor Rekfor their support and trust in my abilities to nin away into the mountains without notice. Th* to my extended family the Squamish Nation, especially Donna Billy, Chris Billy, Richard Billy (Sn.), Anne BiUy, Richard Billy (Jr.), Chief Ian Campbell, Tony Moody, Chief Gibby Jacob, the late Chief Joe Mathias, Shirley Toman, Donna Mdy,Ed Moody, Aaron Nelson Moody (Splash), Sonny Lewis, the late Chuck Billy, and Joy McCailough. To Dixon Terbasket and the Similkameen people Tor allowing me and my crew to survey in your territory. This work represents a part of our past thaC I hope can be us& to help in the ducation of native peoples. Thanks to those who dard accompany me into the rnountains on various occasions during this research, Georùie Howe, Cameron Smith, Brain Pegg, Chris Jordan, Jennifer White, Jason Nesbitt and Ara Sodennan. Thanks to Stan Copp and his family Rena, Adrian, Tristian and the ferrets. Thanks to fdlow grad students Farid Rahemtulla, Zan Frank, Terry Spurgeon, Rob Short land, Mike Brand, Tom Arnold, ThChristensen, for encouraging discussions about archaeology while attending SFU. Thanks to my supervisory cornmittee Dr. Knut Fladmark and Dr. Roy Carlson fot their editorial comrnents, putting up with my questions, letters for financial research support, ideas, and having the time and understandimg for the need for this research. Also thanks to other SFU Archaeology faculty, Phi1 Hobler, Erle Nelson, Cathy D'andrea, Jon Driver, Jack Nance, and Dave Builey. Finally, thanks to the staff in the Archaeology Department, Andrew Barton, Lori White, Linda Pnybyla, Shannon Wood, Ann Sullivan, Robyn Banerjee, Chql Takabashi and Bah Winter for making every day life up on the hiIl easier, it would have been much more difficult to complete this thesis without these people. Specid appreciation to the mearchers of mountains far and wide, especially IB. Benedict, Greg Burtchard, Btiau Vivian, Bob Mierendorf and Cathie Hickson. Thanks also to those at Parks Canada, Archaeology, Marty Magne, Jack Porter, Rod Hietzmann and Gynne Langemam. To others in archaeoIogicai consulting, Arnoud Stryd, Richard BrolIy, Marianne Berkey, Bob Muir, Jim St&rd, Duncan McLearan, Jeff Bailey, Milce Rousseau, Peter Merchant, Rick Howard, Sandi Witt, Karen Preclde, Mary and Rick Quido, Coiin Grier, and Diana Alexander, working for you was both profitable and always enjoyable. To other people outside of archaeology, thanks to Man Hobler, Hugh Ackroyd, Brandin Schultz, James Gray and Chisiha Nick at hialdiPark. My stays in the park chalets were fabulous. Thanks to the peuple at the Arcbaeology Branch for accepting my reports, site foms and answering my inqhduring their busy scheddes. Thanks To AU. Table of Contents ... Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................ v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ...x List of Figures ................................................................................................................. xi11 1.O INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 PREVIOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN MOUNT AiNûUS AREAS .......5 2.0 PREVIQUSARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES IN MOUNTAMOUSAREAS ............................... 5 2.1 THEMRTHWEST COAST............................................................................................. 9 2.1 .1 Southem Cascades ..............................................................................................10 2.1.2 Mount Rainer ...................................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 U.S.A Northem Cascades ................................................................................... 14 2.1.4 Olvm~icRange ...................................................................................................15 2.1.5 Canadian North Cascades................................................................................... 16 2.1.6 Sauamish/GaribaIdi............................................................................................ 16 2.1.7 Vancouver Island ................................................................................................ 17 2.2 Sm-ARCTIC .............................................................................................................. 18 2.2.1 Edziza Range ... ................................................................................................... 18 2.2.2 S~atziziPlateau .................................................................................................. 19 2.2.3 Tatsenshini Park ................................................................................................. 19 2.2.4 Yukon ................................................................................................................. 20 2.2.5 Northwest Territories ......................................................................................... 21 2.3 THEPLATEAU ............................................................................................................ 21 2.3.1 South Columbia Plateau ..................................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Cathedra1 Provincial Park ........................................*..........................................23 2.3.3 Kootenavs ........................................................................................................... 24 2.3.4 Lillooet Region ................................................................................................... 24 2.3.5 Cavoosh Raqe................................................................................................... 25 2.3.6 Cornwall Hills ....................................................................................................26 2.3.7 Umer Hat Creek ................................................................................................. 26 2.3.8 Potato Mountain .................................................................................................27 2.3.9 Rainbow Ran~e.................................................................................................