MID-HOLOCENE CULTURAL OCCUPATION OF BARKLEY SOUND, WEST VANCOUVER ISLAND by Jan Sumpter, Denis St. Claire, and Stella Peters

Archaeological investigations in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island are currently making significant contributions to our understanding of mid-Holocene lifeways ··and towards establishing a regional chronology. Building on previous archaeological site inven~ories (Haggarty and Inglis 1985; Mackie 1986; St. Claire 1975;), and excavation programs (McMillan and St. Claire 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996; McMillan 1999; Sumpter, Fedje, and Sieber 1997) in the sound, exploratory testing and/or excavation work in two Nuu-chah-nulth group territories (Tseshaht and Huu-ay-aht) during t 2000 thru 2002 have yielded an archaeological record pre-dating 5,000 calibrated years before present

(CYBP). Evidence for an "early" igure 1 Barkley Sound showing the three mid-Holocene s1tes cultural occupation of Barkley.Sound is now present at three sites. The reader should note that "early" (predominance of stone, particularly 5,000-year-old cultural components, is used here in a relative sense. In chipped stone) reveals strong plus the 4 , 800-year-old basal other areas on the Northwest Coast the similarities to those Charles and Ch'uumat'a component, are positioned term usually means an age greater than Locarno Beach culture-like materials on elevated landforms adjacent to late 5,000 years (Carlson 1996). Such sites from the lowest levels (3-4 m amht) at pre-contact/contact villages. The · have been unknown on the west coast nearby Ch' uumat' a (DfSi 4) along "early" component/elevation of Vancouver Island until now. western Barkley Sound. correlation fits well with the proposed Research on a raised ridge landform Archaeological investigations at Holocene sea-level history for the (-10m above mean high tide [amht]) Kiix7in National Historic Site, near region (Friele 1991 ; Hutchinson 1992; positioned behind a large village Barnfield, in 2002 produced additional Friele and Hutchinson 1993) that midden at Ts' ishaa (DfSi 16) on information to support the "early" suggests a maximum sea-level rise Benson Island (Pacific Rim National human occupation of Barkley Sound. reached 3-4 metres above present Park) in central Barkley Sound during AMS radiocarbon dating results for a during -6,000 to 4,800 CYBP. 2000 and 200 I uncovered a cultural single charcoal sample recovered from As researchers in Nuu-chah-nulth component dating 5,310 to 4,840 CYBP a raised sand landform ( -5 m amht) at cultural history, we are excited by these (McMillan 2001; McMillan and St. the west end of Kiix7in village (DeSh "early" results and the potential for Claire 2001). An older date obtained 1) reported a date ranging 5,320 to future exploratory work that will from the site, 5,920 to 5,640 CYBP, 5,050 CYBP. The sample, collected contribute to our understanding came from charcoal within a clay matrix from the base of a 2-m-thick shell cultural development in Barkley shortly below the base of the lowest midden deposit with the use of a soil Sound. shell Jaye'r. However, as there was no probe, is contemporary with the early associated cultural material, it cannot deposit at Ts'ishaa. References be absolutely certain that the oldest Kiix7in and Ts'ishaa now represent Carlson, Roy L. 1996 Introduction to date refers to a cultural event the oldest radiocarbon dated cultural Early Human Occupation in British (McMillan 2001). Preliminary analysis sites in traditional Nuu-chah-nulth Columbia. In Early Human of the earliest Ts' ishaa lithic items territory. Interestingly, the two pre- Occupation in British Columbia, edited by Roy L. Carlson and Luke

10 The Midden 34/4 Dalfa Bona, pp. 3-10. UBC Press, 1996 The Toquaht Archaeological Vancouver. Project: Report on the 1996 Field Season. Unpublished report submitted Friele, Pierre A. 1991 Holocene Relative to the British Columbia Heritage Trust Sea-Level Change on the Central West and Archaeology Branch, Victoria, and Coast of Vancouver Island, British the Toquaht Band, Ucluelet Columbia. Unpublished MSc thesis, Department of Geography, SFU, 2001 Excavation At Ts'ishaa: Report of Burnaby. the Tseshaht Archaeological Project, 2000. Manuscript on file, Cultural t Friele, Pierre A. and Ian Hutchinson Resource Services Unit, Parks Canada 1993 Holocene Sea-Level Change on THE MIDDEN needs a Agency, Victoria. J the Central West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Canadian St. Claire, Denis E. 1975 Report on the volunteer to manage Journal of Earth Sciences, 30:832-840. Archaeological Survey of the Barkley Sound Area. Report on file, subscriptions. The: Haggarty, James C. and Richard I. Inglis Archaeology Branch, Victoria. 1985 Historical Resources Sites position involves Survey and Assessment Pacific Rim Sumpter, Ian D., Daryl F. Fedje, and National Park. Unpublished report on Fred K. Sieber Jr. 1997 1995/96 maintaining the · file, Parks Canada, Calgary. Archaeological Resource Management Programme: Pacific Rim National Hutchinson, Ian 1992 Holocene Sea subscription list; Park. Report on file, Cultural Level Cfzange in the Pacific Northwest: Resource Services, Parks Canada A Catalogue of Radiocarbon Dates handling subscription Agency, Victoria. and An Atlas of Regional Sea-Level Curves. Institute of Quaternary correspondence, and Research, Occasional Paper No. 1, lan Sumpter, Cultural Resource SFU, Burnaby. Services, Park Canada Agency mailing THE MIDDEN to (Victoria), holds a BA in archaeology Mackie, Alexander 1986 A Closer Look from Simon Fraser University and subscribers and at Coastal Survey Results. The has been practising archaeology in Midden 18(1):3-5. Nuu-chah-nulth territory since 1986. ASBC members McMillan, Alan D. 1999 Since the Time of the Transformers: The Ancient If you are interested Heritage of the Nuu-chah-nulth, Denis St. Claire, of Coast Heritage Consultants Cultural Resource Ditidaht, and Makah. UBC Press, in volunteering on Services (Victoria), possesses a Vancouver. double BA degree in anthropology/ THE MIDDEN editorial 2001 The Early Component at Ts'ishaa, history and a teaching degree from an Outer Coast Site on Western the University of Victoria, and has committee please Vancouver Island. Paper presented at been directing archaeological the BC Archaeology Forum, SFU, surveys and excavations in the Barkley Sound area since 1973. contact Heather Burnaby. McMillan, Alan D. and Denis E. St. Myles, Editor, for Claire 1991 The Toquaht Huu-ay-aht Band councillor Stella Archaeological Project: Report on the Peters has participated in more information. 1991 Field Season. Unpublished archaeological surveys since 1984. report submitted to the British Columbia Heritage Trust and Archaeology Branch, Victoria, and the Phone 604.274.4294 Toquaht Band, Ucluelet. 1992 The Toquaht Archaeological or e-mail Project: Report on the 1992 Field Season. Unpublished report submitted heathermyles@ shaw.ca r to the British Columbia Heritage Trust and Archaeology Branch, Victoria, and .I ttie Toquaht Band, Ucluelet. 1994 The Toquaht Archaeological Project: Report on the 1994 Field Season. Unpublished report submitted to the British Columbia Heritage Trust and Archaeology Branch, Victoria, and the Toquaht Band, Ucluelet.

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