Archaeological Site Testing Activities at 45Ca400, Makah Indian Reservation, Washington
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE TESTING ACTIVITIES AT 45CA400, MAKAH INDIAN RESERVATION, WASHINGTON by GARY C. WESSEN, Ph.D. Makah Tribal Historic Preservation Office Makah Cultural and Research Center Neah Bay, Washington 98357 December 2006 Abstract A small scale test excavation of the archaeological site 45CA400 demonstrates that this is an important cultural resource that appears to be eligible for listing with the National Register of Historic Places. The portion of the site that we tested has at least eleven major cultural strata representing three distinct cultural components. The earlier prehistoric component - - represented by at least 10 of the lower strata - - contains evidence of cultural activities that occurred prior to approximately 2,900 years B. P. and began sometime between 3,200 and 3,800 years B. P. The earlier prehistoric component is represented by shell midden deposits that are rich in marine shell, fish, bird, and mammal bones, charcoal, fire-cracked rocks, and artifacts of stone, bone, and shell. Seasonal indicators suggest multi-season, or possibly even year round, occupation. The later prehistoric component at 45CA400 began sometime around, or after, 2,900 years ago. We are uncertain of its duration, but think it unlikely that it extended into the relatively recent past. The later prehistoric component is represented by the uppermost cultural stratum, a deposit that is rich in chipped stone but contains only very limited quantities of bone and shell. Finally, the uppermost cultural stratum also contains historic materials that appear to date to the early or mid 20th Century. The location of this site, its contents, and its antiquity all argue that the earlier prehistoric component may be associated with a previous, higher than modern, sea level stand. Thus, 45CA400 may also contain important information about sea level history, environmental change, and their effects on the prehistoric Makah People. The cover picture is a view of the lower Wa’atch River Valley and the Pacific Ocean beyond it. The 45CA400 site area is located along the southern valley wall near the center of this image; its approximate location is indicated by a small blue dot. The view is to the west. i ii Acknowledgments The program of studies undertaken at 45CA400 has benefited from the support and assistance of many people. First, we acknowledge the support of Makah Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Janine Bowechop and the Makah Cultural and Research Center’s Board of Trustees. The effort received considerable encouragement, material support, and financial assistance from Bob Steelquist and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Rebekah Monette and Glenn Johnson of the Makah Tribal Historic Preservation Office assisted the effort in numerous practical ways before, during, and after the fieldwork. David Huelsbeck of Pacific Lutheran University and Jeff Mauger of Peninsula College played important roles in arranging their institution’s participation in the field school and were important players during the work. Olympic National Park archaeologists Dave Conca and Kim Kwarsick helped investigate the site area prior to the field school. David Herda of the Tribe’s Real Estate Department assisted in recording the site’s location. Chet Knaus allowed us to use his property to access the site area. The field crew included: Pacific Lutheran University students Catherine Beard, Sang Han, Jeff Horton, Nicole Holmes, Stefanie Midlock, John Rowell, and Justin Sobania, Peninsula College students Pete Steelquist, Gail Roemer, Raena Young, and Sherri Anderson, Rebekah Monette, Glenn Johnson, Bob Steelquist, and Phoebe Anderson. Much of the post-fieldwork analysis for this study was conducted by students from Pacific Lutheran University. David Huelsbeck oversaw Stefanie Midlock’s analysis of the 1/4 inch mesh fish bone samples and Jeni Morris’ analysis of the mammal bone samples. Huelsbeck also conducted the analysis of the 1/8 inch mesh fish bone samples. Gary Wessen and Huelsbeck oversaw Jeff Horton’s analysis of the chipped stone debitage. Wessen also designed and conducted the analysis of shellfish remains with considerable assistance from Pacific Lutheran University’s Anthropology Club. The bird bones were identified Rebecca Wigen of Pacific Identifications. All other analyses and interpretations in this report are the work of the author. Graphics in this report were prepared by Gloria Gould-Wessen and Dave Herda. Text editing, formatting, and other report preparation support was provided by Gloria Gould-Wessen. Last, but not least, we would like to acknowledge the contribution of Paul Parker who noticed this site, correctly understood what it was, and alerted the Makah Cultural and Research Center. Without Paul, we wouldn’t even know that the site was there. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1 2.0 BACKGROUND...........................................................................................................2 2.1 The Study Area..............................................................................................................2 2.2 Environmental Setting ....................................................................................................2 2.2.1 The Modern Environment..............................................................................................2 2.2.2 Past Environments .........................................................................................................6 2.3 Cultural Setting...............................................................................................................8 2.3.1 History...........................................................................................................................8 2.3.2 Ethnography...................................................................................................................9 2.3.3 Archaeology .................................................................................................................11 2.3.3.1 Makah Indian Reservation Archaeology......................................................................11 2.3.3.2 Previous Archaeology at 45CA400..............................................................................12 3.0 RESEARCH DESIGN .................................................................................................15 3.1 Research Goal...............................................................................................................15 3.2 Research Methods........................................................................................................17 4.0 FIELD WORK AND FIELD FINDINGS...................................................................19 4.1 Field Work....................................................................................................................19 4.2 Depositional Structure .................................................................................................22 4.3 Site Chronology............................................................................................................29 5.0 THE ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL MATERIALS....................................................32 5.1 Artifacts .......................................................................................................................32 5.1.1 Historic Artifacts .........................................................................................................33 5.1.2 Prehistoric Artifacts.....................................................................................................34 5.1.2.1 Chipped Stone Artifacts ..............................................................................................34 5.1.2.1.1 Debitage........................................................................................................................37 5.1.2.1.2 Formed Tools...............................................................................................................41 5.1.2.2 Other Stone Artifacts...................................................................................................44 5.1.2.3 Bone, Antler, and Tooth Artifacts...............................................................................46 5.1.2.4 Shell Artifacts...............................................................................................................48 5.2 Fire-Cracked Rocks......................................................................................................49 iv 5.3 Faunal Remains ............................................................................................................50 5.3.1 Marine Shell .................................................................................................................51 5.3.2 Fish Bones....................................................................................................................55 5.3.3 Mammal Bones ............................................................................................................58 5.3.4 Bird Bones....................................................................................................................61 5.4 A Possible Reptile Bone?.............................................................................................64 6.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................65 6.1 Interpreting the Excavated