Journal article
Prehistoric ethnicity on the Northwest Coast of North America: An evaluation of style in basketry and lithics
Journal of anthropological archaeology, Vol.8(2), pp.101-130
06/01/1989
Abstract
Resulting from the recent excavation of waterlogged (“wet”) sites on the Northwest Coast of North America, prehistoric basketry and cordage artifacts have become much more common. Since these artifacts have several unique diagnostic attributes, they become particularly useful as a new dimension for considering the meaning of Northwest Coast archaeological phase definitions. At the Hoko River wet/dry site, Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, we find a lithic component in the living areas (dry portion) which best “fits” the Locarno Beach Phase. This 2200–3000 B.P. fishing camp represents a westerly extension of this lithic artifact assemblage, typically found at this time period in the Gulf of Georgia. The abundant Hoko River perishable artifact assemblage found in the wet offshore areas demonstrates a distinctive style when compared to those from the classic and contemporary Locarno component from the Musqueam Northeast wet site (DhRt4) on the Fraser Delta. Therefore, what do the Locarno characteristics observed from lithic artifacts at Hoko River actually represent? From computer-assisted economic models of cultural evolution for the Hoko region, we propose that many groups of the southern Northwest Coast evolved through similar
economic stages or plateaus (best characterized by stone and bone artifact styles), yet retained distinct ethnic styles (best characterized by their basketry and cordage). Developing southern Northwest Coast groups may have passed through similar
economic plateaus that have become considered cultural
phases or types, while the basketry and cordage artifacts may best represent continuity of cultural ethnicity through these
economic plateaus.
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Details
- Title
- Prehistoric ethnicity on the Northwest Coast of North America: An evaluation of style in basketry and lithics
- Creators
- Dale R Croes - Washington State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of anthropological archaeology, Vol.8(2), pp.101-130
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Identifiers
- 99901083736401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article