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Dale R . Croes
DALE ROSS CROES: I received my B.A. in anthropology from the University of Washington (UW) and my M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology at Washington State University (WSU), staying in-State for economy. I did my Ph.D. dissertation research on basketry and cordage artifacts from the Ozette Village wet site, a Makah Indian site that was covered by a massive mudslide 300 years ago and preserved through waterlogging--often referred to as the Pompeii of North America (my updated Ozette Basketry dissertation is now published, with beautiful pen & ink basketry illustrations, in Amazon (2019) and updated and illustrated Cordage and Knots on the Northwest Coast in Amazon (2021)). I conducted post-doctoral research with the Makah Tribal Nation at the 3,000 year old Hoko River wet site, preserving hundreds of baskets, fishhooks, and other perishables (in Amazon 1995), and the Hoko Rockshelter shell midden, the largest such habitation rockshelter on the Northwest Coast (in Amazon 2005). I directed the first-ever archaeological excavations at the National Historic Landmark wet site of Sunken Village, Portland, OR, with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indians (2009). And I co-directed excavations of the Mud Bay/Qwu?gwes wet and dry site with the Squaxin Island Tribe near Olympia Washington (2013).
I recently completed a summary of all this work, 50 years of working on waterlogged/wet archaeological sites and ancient basketry, with Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker, summarizing, in first person, his 50 years of cultural training in Salishan basketry and canoe carving (in Amazon 2018). This complete history, a synergy of science and culture, is in our new Memoir 15 of the Journal for Northwest Anthropology (JONA). In this memoir we highlight our work together analyzing and replicating the 2,000 year old Biderbost wet site basketry housed at the UW Burke Museum. We call our new approach Generationally-Linked Archaeology and proudly announce that this well illustrated memoir is now available on Amazon and Generationally-Linked Archaeology is explained in articles in this Academia.edu page.
In large part from Ed Carriere’s work in replicating archaeological baskets from northwest museums, he recently was awarded one of four national Community Spirit Awards (2022) from the Native American-based First Peoples Fund program. To see short video explaining why I nominated Ed, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc_-gNV0Uz0 . Ed also was given a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 2023 National Heritage Fellowship (see Ed receiving the award and his speech at the National Archives in Washington DC (16 minutes into program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxf3pgZ2oEI&t=8s . On the science side, Ed and I received the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 2023 Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis.
These national awards demonstrate that the synergy of Culture and Science produces much more than either one separately.
Supervisors: Richard D. Daugherty
I recently completed a summary of all this work, 50 years of working on waterlogged/wet archaeological sites and ancient basketry, with Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker, summarizing, in first person, his 50 years of cultural training in Salishan basketry and canoe carving (in Amazon 2018). This complete history, a synergy of science and culture, is in our new Memoir 15 of the Journal for Northwest Anthropology (JONA). In this memoir we highlight our work together analyzing and replicating the 2,000 year old Biderbost wet site basketry housed at the UW Burke Museum. We call our new approach Generationally-Linked Archaeology and proudly announce that this well illustrated memoir is now available on Amazon and Generationally-Linked Archaeology is explained in articles in this Academia.edu page.
In large part from Ed Carriere’s work in replicating archaeological baskets from northwest museums, he recently was awarded one of four national Community Spirit Awards (2022) from the Native American-based First Peoples Fund program. To see short video explaining why I nominated Ed, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc_-gNV0Uz0 . Ed also was given a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) 2023 National Heritage Fellowship (see Ed receiving the award and his speech at the National Archives in Washington DC (16 minutes into program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxf3pgZ2oEI&t=8s . On the science side, Ed and I received the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 2023 Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis.
These national awards demonstrate that the synergy of Culture and Science produces much more than either one separately.
Supervisors: Richard D. Daugherty
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Croes, Dale R. with Rhonda Foster and Larry Ross (Editors)
2013 Qwu?gwes—The Qwu?gwes Archaeological Site and Fish Trap (45TN240) and Tested Homestead (45TN396), Eleven-Year South Puget Sound Community College Summer Field School Investigation with the Squaxin Island Tribe—Final Report.
See more information below under Books.
Ed and Dale visited museums with ancient basketry from Northwest Coast wet sites and Ed was able to make slight "code-shifts" in understanding over 225 generations of his Coast Salish ancestors--learning and working with 225 generations of grandparents. From observing ancient Salish Sea basketry dating to 4,500, 3,000, 2000 and 1,000 years old, he was able to make bands of weaves from these dates in creating his Archaeology Basketry, representing 225 generations of his ancestors in one basket
Ed and Dale visited museums with ancient basketry from Northwest Coast wet sites and Ed was able to make slight "code-shifts" in understanding over 225 generations of his Coast Salish ancestors--learning and working with 225 generations of grandparents. From observing ancient Salish Sea basketry dating to 4,500, 3,000, 2000 and 1,000 years old, he was able to make bands of weaves from these dates in creating his Archaeology Basketry, representing 225 generations of his ancestors in one basket.
Their book, Re-Awakening Ancient Salish Sea Basketry, is available on Amazon
The Use of Ancient Basketry (and Cordage) from Wet/Waterlogged Sites
On the Northwest Coast to Show Cultural Ancestry
Poster By
Dale R. Croes, Ph.D., Washington State University, and Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker
Through four decades of basketry and cordage research, I have tested style similarities in specific regions of the Northwest Coast. In recent work with Salishan Master Basketmaker Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder, we have coined our approach as Generationally-Linked Archaeology. Working from as far back as possible (deep time) I have tested degrees of similarity of basketry and cordage attributes (modes) and types from all available wet sites. The tests demonstrate relatively stable cultural styles through time, especially with Ed’s work (Salishan region) in contrast to those from the outside (Wakashan/Makah) West Coast sites for at least 3,000 years. Together we have replicated ancient wet site museum basketry as old as 4,500 years, where Ed has learned from over 200 generations of his grandparents, compiling layers of weaves from 4,500, 3,000, 2,000 and 1,000 year old styles in one basket he calls an Archaeology Basket—analogous to a Salishan 4+ millennia history book. In July 2022, Carriere was awarded the Community Spirit Award by the First Peoples Fund, at the 2023 Society for American Archaeology the 2023 Ed and I recieved the Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis through our work with Generationally-Linked Archaeology from the Society for American Archaeology, and Ed recieved the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship in Wa. DC (16 minutes into program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxf3pgZ2oEI&t=8s all in large part from Ed's work with Northwest archaeological basketry and our joint Generationally-Linked Archaeology approach. We have been recognized by Native, Science and Arts Communities.
In July 2022, Carriere was awarded the Community Spirit Award by the First Peoples Fund, and in February 2023, Carriere received the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship, both in large part from his work with Northwest archaeological basketry. On the Science side, Ed Carriere and I were awarded the March 2023 Society for American Archaeology (SAA) Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis, based on our Generationally-Linked Archaeological approach and demonstrating the synergy of culture and science produces more conjointly. Because of these awards, our publisher, Northwest Anthropology, LLC, has issued a hard cover version of our book, now available on their Storefront, or Amazon.
The following are PowerPoint slides (Slide 1, 2, 3, 4,……) with captions as presented at the 76th Northwest Anthropological Conference held from April 12th to 15th, 2023, in Spokane, Washington.
This is just the 15 page paper in the Special JONA volume #7.
This article is 12 pages long, from page 69-83 with the volume Table of Contents, List of Author Abstracts, Introduction by Journal Editors, and About the Authors sections.
Ed Carriere and I wanted to share this radio interview with you and others at FPF. Please share around. Here is a short blurb I sent to supporters of our efforts:
Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker, and I were recently interview by KUOW (U of W) radio. Ed has a strong voice and great sense of humor. It is 12.5 minute long interview; hope you enjoy it like Ed did!: https://kuow.org/stories/what-s-in-a-weave-native-basketmaker-and-archeologist-explore-the-stories-baskets-tell?fbclid=IwAR1YSKddmRqA8Wko7gbBQPzwPrwIkxctlOLmJaEwUYzeYkZqt8eKHnlVS4Q
"What's in a weave? Native basketmaker and archeologist explore the stories baskets tell"
Thanks and best to all, Dale and Ed
This is the paper read at the Northwest Anthropological Conference in 2022 and is part of a Proceedings Special Publication, #6, of the Journal of Northwest Anthropology.
We shall examine six propositions that represent our synthesis of current hypotheses about the nature and rate of economic changes thought to be crucial to the development of Northwest Coast societies. At the outset we should note that we do not discount Fladmark's (1975) argument for the possible importance of the early (5000 BP) stabilization of anadromous · fish populations (if, in fact, this did occur), but we do not agree that this phenomenon represents a necessary and/or sufficient cause of economic changes on the Northwest Coast. For each proposition it is possible to cite works presenting related ideas, although not always stated as hypotheses by the original authors:
I. Population growth and regional population circumscription occurred by 4000-3000 BP and depleted resource bases (Schalk 1977; Ames 1979, 1981; Matson 1983).
2. Resource depletion (lowered economic efficiency) required the intensification of resource use in late spring, summer, and fall, and the storage of greater amounts of resources for use in winter and early spring (Schalk 1977, Matson 1983).
3. Intensified resource use and increased storage permitted higher human population carrying capacities (continued population growth) and increased the sedentism of social groupings (Schalk 1977, Ames 1981, Matson 1983).
4. Maintenance of higher population levels depended primarily on the use of anadromous fish resources (Fladmark 1975, Schalk 1977).
5. Efficient use of anadromous fish required centralized authority (social ranking) for the organization of labor and/or the redistribution of resources (Suttles 1968, Fladmark 1975, Schalk 1977, Ames 1981).
6. Resource depletion required resource management. and resource ownership facilitated such management while creating differential access to resources and the accumulation and expenditure of wealth to retain rights to manage the use of resource areas (Matson 1983, Richardson 1982, Easton n.d.).
From this research, the well-documented CULTURAL PHASES (TYPES)-Pebble Tool, Old Cordilleran, St. Mungo, Locarno Beach, Marpole, and Gulf of Georgia-appear to be better termed ECONOMIC STAGES (OR PLATEAUS) that are underlain by (a) early exponential population growth, (b) eventual territorial circumscription (about 4,000 BP), and (c) critical resource stresses. Thus, the regionwide horizontal trends seen in these economic stages or plateaus may reflect a widespread pattern and resulting shift in subsistence solutions, not cultural style or population shifts.
Croes, Dale R. with Rhonda Foster and Larry Ross (Editors)
2013 Qwu?gwes—The Qwu?gwes Archaeological Site and Fish Trap (45TN240) and Tested Homestead (45TN396), Eleven-Year South Puget Sound Community College Summer Field School Investigation with the Squaxin Island Tribe—Final Report.
See more information below under Books.
Ed and Dale visited museums with ancient basketry from Northwest Coast wet sites and Ed was able to make slight "code-shifts" in understanding over 225 generations of his Coast Salish ancestors--learning and working with 225 generations of grandparents. From observing ancient Salish Sea basketry dating to 4,500, 3,000, 2000 and 1,000 years old, he was able to make bands of weaves from these dates in creating his Archaeology Basketry, representing 225 generations of his ancestors in one basket
Ed and Dale visited museums with ancient basketry from Northwest Coast wet sites and Ed was able to make slight "code-shifts" in understanding over 225 generations of his Coast Salish ancestors--learning and working with 225 generations of grandparents. From observing ancient Salish Sea basketry dating to 4,500, 3,000, 2000 and 1,000 years old, he was able to make bands of weaves from these dates in creating his Archaeology Basketry, representing 225 generations of his ancestors in one basket.
Their book, Re-Awakening Ancient Salish Sea Basketry, is available on Amazon
The Use of Ancient Basketry (and Cordage) from Wet/Waterlogged Sites
On the Northwest Coast to Show Cultural Ancestry
Poster By
Dale R. Croes, Ph.D., Washington State University, and Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker
Through four decades of basketry and cordage research, I have tested style similarities in specific regions of the Northwest Coast. In recent work with Salishan Master Basketmaker Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder, we have coined our approach as Generationally-Linked Archaeology. Working from as far back as possible (deep time) I have tested degrees of similarity of basketry and cordage attributes (modes) and types from all available wet sites. The tests demonstrate relatively stable cultural styles through time, especially with Ed’s work (Salishan region) in contrast to those from the outside (Wakashan/Makah) West Coast sites for at least 3,000 years. Together we have replicated ancient wet site museum basketry as old as 4,500 years, where Ed has learned from over 200 generations of his grandparents, compiling layers of weaves from 4,500, 3,000, 2,000 and 1,000 year old styles in one basket he calls an Archaeology Basket—analogous to a Salishan 4+ millennia history book. In July 2022, Carriere was awarded the Community Spirit Award by the First Peoples Fund, at the 2023 Society for American Archaeology the 2023 Ed and I recieved the Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis through our work with Generationally-Linked Archaeology from the Society for American Archaeology, and Ed recieved the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship in Wa. DC (16 minutes into program): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxf3pgZ2oEI&t=8s all in large part from Ed's work with Northwest archaeological basketry and our joint Generationally-Linked Archaeology approach. We have been recognized by Native, Science and Arts Communities.
In July 2022, Carriere was awarded the Community Spirit Award by the First Peoples Fund, and in February 2023, Carriere received the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship, both in large part from his work with Northwest archaeological basketry. On the Science side, Ed Carriere and I were awarded the March 2023 Society for American Archaeology (SAA) Award for Excellence in Archaeological Analysis, based on our Generationally-Linked Archaeological approach and demonstrating the synergy of culture and science produces more conjointly. Because of these awards, our publisher, Northwest Anthropology, LLC, has issued a hard cover version of our book, now available on their Storefront, or Amazon.
The following are PowerPoint slides (Slide 1, 2, 3, 4,……) with captions as presented at the 76th Northwest Anthropological Conference held from April 12th to 15th, 2023, in Spokane, Washington.
This is just the 15 page paper in the Special JONA volume #7.
This article is 12 pages long, from page 69-83 with the volume Table of Contents, List of Author Abstracts, Introduction by Journal Editors, and About the Authors sections.
Ed Carriere and I wanted to share this radio interview with you and others at FPF. Please share around. Here is a short blurb I sent to supporters of our efforts:
Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker, and I were recently interview by KUOW (U of W) radio. Ed has a strong voice and great sense of humor. It is 12.5 minute long interview; hope you enjoy it like Ed did!: https://kuow.org/stories/what-s-in-a-weave-native-basketmaker-and-archeologist-explore-the-stories-baskets-tell?fbclid=IwAR1YSKddmRqA8Wko7gbBQPzwPrwIkxctlOLmJaEwUYzeYkZqt8eKHnlVS4Q
"What's in a weave? Native basketmaker and archeologist explore the stories baskets tell"
Thanks and best to all, Dale and Ed
This is the paper read at the Northwest Anthropological Conference in 2022 and is part of a Proceedings Special Publication, #6, of the Journal of Northwest Anthropology.
We shall examine six propositions that represent our synthesis of current hypotheses about the nature and rate of economic changes thought to be crucial to the development of Northwest Coast societies. At the outset we should note that we do not discount Fladmark's (1975) argument for the possible importance of the early (5000 BP) stabilization of anadromous · fish populations (if, in fact, this did occur), but we do not agree that this phenomenon represents a necessary and/or sufficient cause of economic changes on the Northwest Coast. For each proposition it is possible to cite works presenting related ideas, although not always stated as hypotheses by the original authors:
I. Population growth and regional population circumscription occurred by 4000-3000 BP and depleted resource bases (Schalk 1977; Ames 1979, 1981; Matson 1983).
2. Resource depletion (lowered economic efficiency) required the intensification of resource use in late spring, summer, and fall, and the storage of greater amounts of resources for use in winter and early spring (Schalk 1977, Matson 1983).
3. Intensified resource use and increased storage permitted higher human population carrying capacities (continued population growth) and increased the sedentism of social groupings (Schalk 1977, Ames 1981, Matson 1983).
4. Maintenance of higher population levels depended primarily on the use of anadromous fish resources (Fladmark 1975, Schalk 1977).
5. Efficient use of anadromous fish required centralized authority (social ranking) for the organization of labor and/or the redistribution of resources (Suttles 1968, Fladmark 1975, Schalk 1977, Ames 1981).
6. Resource depletion required resource management. and resource ownership facilitated such management while creating differential access to resources and the accumulation and expenditure of wealth to retain rights to manage the use of resource areas (Matson 1983, Richardson 1982, Easton n.d.).
From this research, the well-documented CULTURAL PHASES (TYPES)-Pebble Tool, Old Cordilleran, St. Mungo, Locarno Beach, Marpole, and Gulf of Georgia-appear to be better termed ECONOMIC STAGES (OR PLATEAUS) that are underlain by (a) early exponential population growth, (b) eventual territorial circumscription (about 4,000 BP), and (c) critical resource stresses. Thus, the regionwide horizontal trends seen in these economic stages or plateaus may reflect a widespread pattern and resulting shift in subsistence solutions, not cultural style or population shifts.
The digital image links at this site for the Rockshelter (45CA21) shell midden (~900 years old; Late Period) include: Introduction to the Rockshelter, Digital Excavation, Harris Matrix, Shell Midden Profile Drawings and Stratograms, and Camp Life Images.
For the Hoko Wet and Dry Site (45CA213; ~3,000 years old—Locarno Beach Phase) digital links include: Wet/Dry Site Artifacts, Wet Site Stratigraphy, and Dry Site Stratigraphy.
Therefore, a comprehensive coverage of the digital image data for both of these National Register of Historic Places sites, representing 3,000 years of preserved heritage on the Northwest Coast of North America.
Also the first and second final volume of the The Hoko River Archaeological Site Complex are available through Washington State University Press (1-800-354-7360), and entitled The Hoko River Archaeological Site Complex, the Wet/Dry Site (45CA213), 3,000 – 1,700 B.P. (1995) and The Rockshelter (45CA21), 1,000 – 100 B.P. (2005) and posted as books here in Academia.edu.
As an add-on data base we wanted to make this HOKO RIVER SITE COMPLEX DIGITAL IMAGE ARCHIVE available in Academia.edu. You may find it helpful for research and to help in classes as an example of a virtual excavation of a shell midden. The software is certainly aging, but at least we have much more of these important Northwest Coast sites documented in this manner. Any input appreciated
In terms of Croes and Kucra's paper referenced: Entering the American Continent: The Chehalis River Hypothesis 2017 (https://www.academia.edu/40393271/Entering_the_American_Continent_The_Chehalis_River_Hypothesis) Alan's thought provoking paper involves our paper as follows:
--Croes and Kucera (2017) are the most recent proponents of the hypothesis that Clovis technology entered the interior of the continent from the Pacific Northwest just south of the receding Cordilleran ice sheet. (page 130)
--Croes and Kucera (2017) hypothesize that populations migrating south along the North Pacific coast encountered nothing but the Cordilleran ice sheet to the east for almost 2000 km until arriving below the ice sheet in the Puget Lowland in modern-day northwest Washington state. (p. 136)
--The occurrence of scattered fluted Clovis points in the Puget Lowland area (Croes et al. 2008) demonstrates that this area represents the first deglaciated interior continental setting south of the Cordilleran ice sheet accessible to human populations. (p. 136)
--Conclusion
As presented here, people practicing a Clovis lifeway and utilizing a unique fluting technology most likely entered North America below the ice sheets from the Puget Lowland in northwest modern-day Washington state. (p. 139, see map Fig. 2)
Comparatively speaking, few systematic archaeological investigations have occurred in this part of the Pacific Northwest, so this paper should be considered a preliminary but much needed synthesis of over 4500 square miles of sheltered "inside" areas between the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. The chipped stone projectile point sequence we will present covers the known sequence of lithic traditions in the study area, ranging from the Clovis period (approximately 11,000 BP) through to the time of European colonization.
Squaxin Island Tribe 1% Charitable Fund awarded us $500 (during a casino downturn in 1% profits) to help us begin exploring and testing what we call the Chehalis River Hypothesis, proposing that First Peoples came down the glaciated Pacific Coast and entered the continent up the Chehalis drainage, whose main source was the Black Lake Spillway, in Squaxin traditional territories.
We wanted to report to the Squaxin community that we got the first date back from the mammoth leg bone, and it appears to be about 18,300 years old! This would be at glacial maximum in our region. Seattle would have been under a mile of ice and Kamilche under several hundred feet!. The date shows that mammoth populations existed, and probably thrived, in areas just south of the glacial front.
The oldest human-involved archaeological sites in our region so far date to about 14,500 years ago (Manis Mastodon site in Sequim for one, with a spear in the rib of a mastodon).
First Peoples being here 18,000 years ago remains doubtful, although, as glaciers began melting, we would expect people along the Northwest Coast in refugiums by 16,000 years ago. They may have reached the Chehalis drainage below the ice flow about that time, coming through our region as well and into the entire American continent. The American continent is sometimes called the Second Earth since, in this science story, no humans had yet reached this other side of the world.
I acknowledged my mentors Chair Dr. Richard Daugherty and Dr. John and Bryony Coles, in the statement.
To get the award I had to be a member of SAA, so I had to go under my name with Ed. They indicate we will both get the award.
The award shows that our synergy of culture and science produces more than either one does on it's own.
The “brother” to basketry, we have just published a 40-year update on ancient CORDAGE and KNOTS on the Northwest Coast of North America, with a focus on the 2000+ examples from the Ozette Village wet site. As one of the most common artifacts from Pacific Northwest wet (and shell midden) sites, cordage and knots play a key part in the dynamic Maritime Societies for over 10,000 years along the coast and riverways.
The flyer shows (in counterclockwise direction) 1. 3-strand, twisted cedar limb Ozette whale harpoon rope with a running noose knot on end, 2. Daryl Fedje, Director, holding a spruce and grass 3-strand braid string/thread dating to 10,700-years-old from a southern Haida Gwaii, B.C. wet site, 3. Makah Museum replica of the ancient Ozette house (in their museum) showing cedar limb 1-strand withes tying the house wall boards, slung between double pairs of poles, 4. 3-strand twisted cedar limb collar on a 700 year old Sunken Village wet site wooden wedge near Portland, OR, and 5. Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder and Master Basket/Cordage Maker, shows how he stores his split cedar root in cordage loops for later use (these are common in ancient wet sites too).
Please check it out at the publisher’s (JONA) web site: https://www.northwestanthropology.com/publications and Amazon;
And see review in "The B.C. Review": https://thebcreview.ca/2022/07/20/1528-laforet-croes-cordage/
Over three centuries ago, a large mudslide covered a section of the Makah village of Ozette. In a waterlogged condition, thousands of wood and fiber artifacts were preserved. Working in equal partnership with the Makah Indian Nation, Washington State University (WSU) archaeologists excavated a section of this site; I was the WSU graduate student who undertook the study of hundreds of ancient basketry items.To make sure I understood the Ozette baskets, the tribe had me work directly with Makah Master Basketmakers at the Neah Bay school,resultingin this unique synergy of cultural and scientific analysis and synthesis.
• First, my study here defines the diverse Ozette basketry attributes (modes) and statistically compares them to ancient basketry from all known Northwest Coast wet sites.
• Second, I combine culturally important basketry attributes, as learned from Makah basketmakers, into basketry types which also are compared to types found at other wet sites; the results clearly indicate a continuity of basketry cultural styles in three regions of the Northwest Coast for 2,000 to 3,000 years.
• And third, I combined the Ozette basketry types into functional sets; they are ideal for this purpose, since they are recovered in their original position in an ancient household and contain original contents. I computer mapped positions of baskets, hats and mats in Ozette House demonstrating the location of different family units and reflecting the status and activities of household members.
My three-level analysis of basketr y from Ozette Village and other Northwest Coast wet sites demonstrates a prominent role for basketry artifacts in our region's archaeological research.
Re-Awakening Ancient Salish Sea Basketry: Fifty Years of Basketry Studies in Culture and Science is a unique look at basketry from the Northwest Coast of North America. This particular story of Northwest basketry is told through the eyes of two men who have spent the last 50 years of their lives exploring the art and technology of basketry, one culturally and one scientifically. Using the “life story” approach, the authors touch upon a number of topics spanning the period from 5,000 years ago to the present day.
Re-Awakening Ancient Salish Sea Basketry, however, is more than a story about basketry. It is a story about how the authors serendipitously came together to begin a collaboration that would result in new knowledge that neither could have obtained on their own. Through this collaboration, Dr. Dale Croes and Mr. Ed Carriere have developed an approach that can help a community connect to its past, to its roots, through an archaeological object—in this case basketry. By demonstrating how objects such as basketry are connected to ancestral communities, the authors help link the past to the present, strengthening cultural identity, not unlike the way Native language, storytelling, and traditional foods also strengthen Indigenous communities.
The authors call their approach Generationally-Linked Archaeology, which uses certain qualities and attributes of artifacts to connect with contemporary peoples. As described in this memoir, materials, weaving techniques, and forms used in ancient basketry found around the Salish Sea are either identical to or are similar to basketry used historically or even today. While people may have always believed that they were descended from these early people, there is something strengthening, even spiritual, about seeing something tangible of that connection. Thus, Generationally-Linked Archaeology becomes one more tool that Indigenous communities have available to maintain and perpetuate their Indigenous identity.
The beginning and ongoing development of Generationally-Linked Archaeology is a result of the collaboration between Ed and Dale, each of whom has a vastly different perspective, one cultural and one scientific. The cultural perspective comes from Ed, Suquamish Elder and Master Basketmaker, one of the only Salish Sea basketmakers who learned and continues to emphasize the old style of cedar limb and root basketry; the kind found at archaeological sites across the region and representing thousands of years of occupation. The scientific perspective comes from Dale, a professional archaeologist who has excavated many Northwest Coast waterlogged sites (or wet sites) and has focused on ancient basketry as an artifact type capable of contributing knowledge from the past.
“Generationally-Linked Archaeology,” an article highlighting Ed and Dale’s collaborative efforts, was published as the lead-off article in the SAA Archaeological Record November 2018 issue. The work between “Dale Croes and colleagues proposes nothing less than a new paradigm for collaborative partnerships between indigenous groups and archaeologists.” –Anna Marie Prentiss, SAA Archaeological Record, Editor’s Corner, November 2018
The first overall goal of this volume is to demonstrate how the combined wet- and dry-site data greatly enhance our perspective of cultures in the region 2,500 to 3,000 years ago. The second major goal is to test the "fit" of this data to conclusions reached through computer simulation modeling concerning this critical period of Northwest Coast cultural development-the Locarno Beach phase or cultural type (Mitchell 1971, Carlson 1983, Matson 1981, 1983, Matson and Coupland 1995:154-183).
Archaeological research at the Hoko River Site Complex, northwestern Washington State, focuses on deriving archaeological and environmental data needed to construct and test computer economic decision-making simulation models, in a sense to touch on the cultural process known to be occurring through the big family known as Kee-chuckh who owned this region exclusively and possibly through the entire site occupation (this ethnographic data is further elaborated in the Conclusion chapter 6 below). Though this volume reviews the economic decision-making simulation modeling approach and results (reported in detail elsewhere (Croes and Hackenberger 1985, 1988, Croes 1992b)), it more specifically reports the mass of data accumulated from the unique Hoko Rockshelter site (45CA21), that has been used to test these and other models of the Northwest Coast past. Since the amount of data collected from the overall site complex is large, this represents the second volume, with the first reporting the early Hoko River wet/dry site (45CA213; Croes 1995), and this volume focuses on the chronologically later Hoko Rockshelter site (45CA21).
The research and excavation strategies for the overall site complex were outlined in the first volume (Croes 1995), however these strategies will also be summarized here with specific reference to the Hoko Rockshelter.
Situated approximately 30 km (19 mi) east of the northwestern tip of continental United States on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, the overall site complex comprises two quite distinct Northwest Coast archaeological sites located where the river enters the western edges of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Figure 1.1). This marine environment represents the eastern extent of the Pacific Ocean influence, at the transition with the Strait habitat.
The site complex contains two temporally separated major site areas: (1) an upriver waterlogged (wet) site and adjoining (dry) campsite area (45CA213), dating 3000--1700 BP (reported, Croes 1995); and, the focus here, (2) a river mouth living area within a large rockshelter (45CA21), occupied from ca. 1000--100 BP (Figure 1.2).
Archaeological excavations from both sites reveal quite different kinds of ancient remains and data, which were useful in unique ways for testing the results of the computer simulations of economic evolution through time. The Hoko River wet site provides excellent preservation of perishable artifacts, allowing a much more complete understanding of procurement and processing equipment, such as fishing gear, butchering tools, and transporting equipment (i.e., pack baskets), as well as sensitive styles of basketry for intra-site comparisons and good preservation of faunal and floral remains reflecting resource uses (see Croes and Blinman 1980, Croes 1995).
The Hoko Rockshelter site provides a classic shell midden site within a large rockshelter "container," with over 3.5 vertical meters and over 1,429 distinct stratigraphic layers representing several types of depositional features associated with occupations from the historic period back to approximately 1000 BP. Using a Harris-Winchester matrix, a 3-D time sequence of layers representing 18 activity episodes is distinguished and defined (Stucki 1997, below). Within this geoarchaeological framework, the abundant shell midden vertebrate and invertebrate faunal remains provide the base data for studying subsistence change through time, providing abundant data for testing the evolution of economics as predicted in the simulation models (Wigen and Stucki 1988, below).
To properly build a regional model, the overall site context, including both the regional environment and association of other archaeological sites, had to be carefully understood and evaluated. Therefore, besides archaeological data recovery and analysis, a team of botanists, fisheries zoologists, invertebrate zoologists, and site surveyors conducted regional evaluations and reconstructions of key resources and cultural settings for incorporation into the overall model building. In addition to the Hoko River team's data recovery efforts, a considerable amount of previously completed regional environmental research was compiled for the model building (cf. Croes and Hackenberger 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, Croes 1992b, 1995).
Further, and complementing the economic modeling and testing, the Hoko site complex provides opportunities to examine several related research areas. As part of the research process several levels of cultural studies have been examined, and in particular (1) stylistic comparisons of artifacts from both sites with those from other Northwest Coast wet and shellmidden sites and (2) functional analyses of discrete artifact use, site spacial use, and subsistence and depositional configurations. Both areas contribute to the understanding of the cultural setting into which the cultural evolution of economic processes could be considered.
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), through its Field Course in Archaeology (Anthropology 280), carried out archaeological data recovery excavations of the
Qwu?gwes site (45TN240), an ancient shell midden and intertidal wet site on Mud Bay, lower Eld Inlet, Washington, U.S.A. [ Also see video posted here: Qwu?gwes Archaeological Wet Site (45TN240) Public Media Clips (1999-2009), above]. An associated fish trap complex was mapped by SPSCC Computer Aided Design (CAD) classes. An historic homestead was also tested (45TN396). This work occurred during eleven, 8-week summer field classes between 1999 and 2009. The program was coordinated with the Squaxin Island Tribe, whose ancestry and traditional territory include the Qwu?gwes Food Processing Site/Camp. An equal partnership was pursued in which both archaeological and tribal participants were involved in the permit application process, field and research strategies, and public presentations (tribal museum exhibits, conferences, and publications). The effort was part of the college educational training program, involving numerous students, faculty members, tribal members, and the public. This report contains information on the objectives, background, setting, research goals and methods, and findings.
Objectives and Background
The educational objectives of eleven South Puget Sound Community College field schools and the resulting follow-up research in classes provided a great deal of (a) training for hundreds of students, often culminating in preliminary research and paper presentations, with several students beginning successful professional careers in archaeology; (b) professional research and publications by faculty and professional researchers, Squaxin Island Tribe co-managers, museum staff and Elders; and (c) frequent public visitations and educational presentations, including annual regional newspaper and Seattle television news coverage, encouraged largely through the generous hosting by property owners Karen and Ralph Munro. This report represents the research, academic papers, publications, and conference symposia presentations by students, faculty, and Tribal members and the ongoing synthesis of this unique and first-ever extensive site excavation in south Puget Sound. The results of this educationally-based endeavor provide this first archaeological glimpse of the rich and ancient heritage of the Squaxin Island Tribe Peoples.
Significantly the Qwu?gwes Archaeological Project includes a waterlogged/wet preserved section containing examples of ancient wood and fiber material culture, including basketry, nets, cordage, wooden fish traps, and abundant woodchips and basketry construction debitage. The site also contains a distinct record of shellfish and fisheries used in this southern region of Puget Sound.
Research Goals and Methods
This project has always been an educational training effort, not a rescue excavation. Less than 2.3% (35 cubic meters) of the site has been excavated during the past 11 summer seasons of investigation. The 55, 1x1 meter units excavated and analyzed clearly revealed examples of three site use areas: (1) a seasonally used shelter/Habitation Area; (2) a shellfish and other Food Processing Area where large quantities of butter clams, Olympia oysters, and other shellfish were processed and dried for storage/trade; and (3) an inter-tidal discard Wet Site Shell Midden area containing preserved wood and fiber artifacts in its lower half. The three areas of the site are referred to throughout this document by the titles in italics above.
Evidence indicates a disastrous earthquake took place at the Qwu?gwes location approximately 1000 to 1100 years ago, when the area dropped 3 m (9 ft.), creating a drowned forest due to the flow of Puget Sound into what is now Mud Bay and establishing a new shoreline. Following erosion of the drowned forest along this shore, the site became seasonally occupied as a food processing camp between ca. 700 and 150 14C yr B.P. A second earthquake approximately 400 years ago appears to have been less dramatic, resulting in a gradual subsidence, and affecting the shellfish use at the site during this period.
Findings
This study describes and compares 173,317 cataloged elements of cultural remains that are the result of human activity, or artifacts that are classified into three categories: debris, debitage and discrete artifacts.
Debris, the most abundant artifact category (94% of all cultural remains), includes the by-products of food consumption and processing, and the fauna, flora, and thermally altered rocks (TAR). Sampled from Qwu?gwes excavations were 109,759 valved specimens of invertebrate shellfish fauna (the most concentrated food debris at the site), 20,658 specimens of fish, mammal, and bird vertebrate fauna, 3,759 elements of mainly nuts (especially acorns) and seed macroflora, and 28,397 thermally altered rock (TAR), a cultural debris by-product of the active shellfish processing (steaming ovens) at this camp.
In September of 2006 and 2007 the first systematic testing and recording of this waterlogged wetland site finally happened as a cooperative U.S. and Tribal and international archaeological effort. The mapping of 60 acorn leaching pits and well-preserved basketry in 2006 caught the interest of Japanese researchers working with similar wet sites from ancient Jomon Japan, and they offered and sponsored the extended field work in 2007. With combined limited resources, and the typically resulting abundant wood and fiber artifacts from well-preserved wet sites, we felt it important to promptly report this initial and exciting first look at one of the most significant wetland sites on the Northwest Coast of North America, and fortunately we can share this comprehensive work with an international audience through the Journal of Wetland Archaeology.
Sunken Village (35MU4) represents the largest known acorn leaching pit site in North America. During the low waters of September 2007, the international team of Japanese, U.S. and Tribal archaeologists mapped over 110 hemlock bough lined pits containing remnants of numerous waterlogged acorns, as well as basketry fragments, wooden wedges and abundant wood and fiber debitage. We estimate that, if all pits recorded were used, over 2.5 million acorns could be leached in a season at this site.
One fragile and ancient diamond-plaited soft flat bag recovered has drawn attention from regional basketry experts in the desert west of the U.S.A. Great Basin, through Jomon period wet site specialists in Japan. This distinct basketry type is recorded for up to 9,000 years in cave sites in the state of Nevada, U.S.A through Klamath and Puget Sound Native American modern collects in Northwestern U.S.A. In Japan these diamond-plaited soft bags are seen associated with acorn pit waterlogged sites from 7,000 years ago through Ainu modern collections. We have used cladistic analyses to associate ancient Northwest Coast basketry through over 2,800 museum baskets collections, and plan to expand that sample into the contact and ancient U.S.A. Great Basin and Japanese Jomon basketry. We hope this will demonstrate the first concrete evidence of a broad Pacific and very ancient cultural sharing, where ideas moved rapidly throughout the North Pacific Basin, as demonstrated through the use of acorn pit processing/storage, and with the sharing of distinct styles of basketry around at least the North Pacific.
The Sunken Village report is set up in six synthetic sections, starting with the above Section 1 general introduction, forward and listing of the contributors that made this examination possible on a very limited budget. Section 2 introduces the physical setting of this pivotal location, at the junction of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, and how this unique location contributes to the cultural importance of this historic Chinookan trade center on the Northwest Coast of North America. The historic developments in the Sunken Village area are discussed, affecting the archaeological wet site and originally revealing its uniqueness through over fifty years of vandalism and collecting. The archaeological sequence setting is set forth as well. Section 3 outlines the 2006 and 2007 first systematic archaeological investigations of the Sunken Village NHL wet site, followed by the overall geoarchaeological interpretation of the wet site from test excavations, ground penetrating radar and deep-coring. Section 4 considers the floral and faunal remains, and especially the focus of the site use, the leaching of millions of acorns in pits. Section 5 details the rich wood, fiber, lithic and bone artifacts, especially the sensitive basketry artifacts. And Section 6 synthesizes the array of data considered and summarizes the ecological, artifactual, and functional context of this newly investigated and much better understood local, regional and Pacific-wide bridging wet archaeological site.
Croes, Dale R., John L. Fagan and Maureen Newman Zehendner
2009. Sunken Village, Sauvie Island, Oregon, USA, the 2006-2007 Investigations of National Historic Landmark Site 35MU4. Journal of Wetland Archaeology Special Edition 9, 1-216.
This link no longer exists so we wanted to publish the Sunken Village data appendices here.
In 1970 a winter storm eroded parts of the coastal Indian village of Ozette at Cape Alava, Washington, to reveal many of its artifacts. This village was occupied between 2,000 and 300 years ago. Reports of erosion drew people to see the site, and some, unfortunately, began to plunder it. In order to preserve and protect this endangered example of the Makah’s rich heritage, the Makah Tribe and Washington State University (WSU) began a full archaeological investigation of the ancient houses that had been encased in a mudslide about 300 years ago.
Archaeologists from WSU, led by Richard Daugherty, discovered basketry and wooden artifacts that had been buried in part of the village by a 1700 mudslide—probably after an earthquake event. Using hydraulic excavation techniques, the wet site’s preserved basketry was carefully removed, revealing stylistic evidence that could be used to interpret culture change in the region (fig. 8.1). As more West Coast archaeological sites were discovered and excavated in this same manner, new examples of basketry and cordage were found that could be compared with the Ozette material to better comprehend the continuity or change in Northwest cultures over thousands of years (Croes 1976, 1977, 1995).
Hundreds of basketry items were found in houses throughout the Ozette village. Fifty-six basket types were recorded, including fourteen decorative flat bag types (fig. 8.2) and one cradle type (Croes 2001); eight mat types, including two tumplines, categorized as flat woven basketry; and seven hat types. overall there were 697 basketry items and another 406 fragments studied (Croes 1977). Clearly Ozette was producing distinctive art and industrious amounts and kinds of basketry that had yet to be seen in ancient sites.
been recorded from the site. Different preservation techniques, initially solutions of white glue/water and presently polyethylene glycol (carbowax) , have been utilized to preserve these artifacts. The Hoko River Site has an average C-14 calculation of 2500 years B.P. The perishable artifacts from this early site demonstrate: (1) a sophisticated fishing technology, and (2) a distinct similarity in basketry technology between this early site and recent basketry in the Nootka/Makah area. This similarity is not noted between Hoko River basketry and any other site in the 2500-3000 years B.P. time period.
"why dig 'em" at all, or what kinds of information might one expect to obtain from further excavation of such sites, is posed. This resume sum marizes the responses to these questions as given by the authors of the papers and by the symposium discussants. This synthesis of data concerning wet site excavations should provide some of the basic information necessary for further development of Northwest Coast wet site studies, and for similar studies in other areas.
Northwest Coast for the last 2,000 to 3,000 years, potentially indicating techno-cultural continuity in these regions. Third, a functional classification of the basketry items from Ozette Village and other sites is considered. The Ozette basketry artifacts are ideal for this purpose, since they generally are recovered in their original position in a prehistoric household and contain original contents. The arrangement of the basketry objects in Ozette House I indicate the location of different family units. Functional categories of basketry in each family area reflect the status and activities of the household members. Comparisons of basketry functional categories from each Northwest Coast wet site demonstrate site-use differences. Major village
sites, fishing stations, and shellfish gathering areas are separated in cluster analysis since they produce different frequencies of basketry categories. The three-level analysis of basketry from Ozette Village and other Northwest Coast wet sites demonstrates a special analytic value for basketry artifacts in Northwest Coast prehistory research.
Paper Abstract: Using computer simulation techniques, 9,000 years of economic patterns have been modeled concerning the southern Northwest Coast of North America. In preliminary efforts to consider new aspects affecting decision-making by prehistoric Northwest Coast groups, the emphasis on division of labor, increased consideration of prestige and ownership, and the role of plant foods in the overall diet have been added to the programming. The early results provide interesting hypotheses involving the influence of these added modeling criteria. For example, plant food use probably decreased in emphasis through time.
Incised mudstone concretions are limey claystones which the Natives of Lopez Island had incised line-designs on for some unknow purpose. These incised designs do show some patterns and therefore inferences can be suggested as to some of the content. These inferences are based on comparative studies between techniques found among present day Northwest Coast groups and between patterns found in local archaeological sites.
The early migrants into South America either brought these domestic animals along with them or domesticated them in South America. The dog appears to have been already domesticated and accompanied the early hunters and gatherers who first entered South America. The dog was almost certainly domesticated some time before man ever migrated across the Bering Straits. The domestic dog and man undoubtedly spread together over the Americas.
The Andean cameloids or their progenitors were in South America long before man ever came onto the continent. For this reason the tamed llama and alpaca had to be domesticated independently in South America sometime between man's arrival there and the conquest. Archaeological evidence suggests that the domestication took place after the beginning of intensive sedentary agriculture. The center of domestication appears to be the Peruvian Andes.
The third domesticated animal species in South America is the Guinea Pig. These rodents or their progenitors were also a native of South America long before man's arrival and therefore was domesticated there independently. Their center of domestication was in Peru
and corresponds with that of the llama and alpacas.
being of a symbolic nature, had attempted to define his relationship with this spotted cat. This paper is an attempt to show how the Mayan felt towards the jaguar and used his symbol in their culture.
As an animal the jaguar was continually present to the peoples of Middle America. People in this area undoubtedly often came into contact with this mysterious cat of the forest. They saw the jaguar in their surrounding territory and could hear the cry of this great cat at night. This cry is deep and hoarse in tone, and consists of the sound pu pu, often repeated. The jaguar is basically yellow-gold with rosette-like spots. It is powerfully built, with a large head. A big male has a mouth wide enough to encase a humans' head. The jaguar sometimes attains a length of nine feet, of which the tail comprises some two and a half feet and a large male can weigh up to 400 lbs. This cat usually avoids man and rarely purposely attacks him unless wounded, trapped, or pressed by hunger. It is a skillful climber and preys basically upon deer and small mammals and sometimes upon fish. It has has developed a fond love of water.
the Pleistocene. Almost all evidence of his presence indicates an
arrival no earlier than 40,000 yrs. B.P. and probably later than
35, 000 B.P. From about 11,500 B.P. to 9,000 B.P. there are some definite direct associations between man and the late Pleistocene animals. These animals were mainly large terrestrial herbivores hunted by man until their extinction. This period occurred at the end of the Pleistocene ice age. The discovery of human artifacts directly associated with large Pleistocene herbivores in kill-sites illustrates man's utilization of these
animals in his diet. The Purpose of this paper is not to stipulate
the belief that early man was primarily a big-game-hunter, since
there are some indications that he was not, but most evidence of
early man in Middle .America was indicated by kill-sites where large
Pleistocene animals were slaughtered.
The large Pleistocene animals generally associated with man both stratigraphically and directly (through artifact association) are mammoths , mastodons, camels, horses, and bison. One thing Ithink should be pointed out now is that all these animals, though
extinct in many parts of the world, do have directly related ancestors
still surviving in the present world. The present day related late
Pleistocene-type animals are elephants, modem horses, modern camels
(in both the New and Old World), and cattle (even buffalo in the New
World). For this reason they really have not expired from existence,World). For this reason they really have not expired from existence, but have, for some unanswered reason, become extinct in certain areas while some close relatives have generally survived. It is also possible importance that these related pleistocene type animals, that have survived, have almost all become closeiy associated, if not completely controlled by man through different degrees of domestication. The simple fact that certain breeds have been able to live with man may very well be the reason for their survival.
WSU Graduate School paper, 1973, done for Linguistic Anthropology class (Anth. 555) in class taught by Dr. James A. Goss
Here's how I describe this work in the original MA Thesis:
INTRODUCTION
The aims of this study are; first, to describe what has been found in the realm of baskets at the 0zette Site (45 CA 24), Cape Alava, Washington; second, to establish a foundation for predicting what should be expected in future excavations of baskets from this time period at 0zette; and third, to establish control of these data so that the 0zette baskets can be compared with both historic and prehistoric baskets in this area and elsewhere. This study will later be expanded to include the other forms of basketry--hats, mats, and cradles--and the cordage and knots at 0zette.
The baskets from 0zette were excavated from beneath a massive mudslide which, in prehistoric time (estimated to be about 500 years ago), covered a section of an occupied Indian village. The cultural material of this village closely resembles the historic materials of the Makah and Southern Nootkan groups. Almost all vegetal artifacts were preserved in a waterlogged environment under the mudslide. At present the area covered by the slide is being excavated and exposed from the seaward edge toward the center. The first longhouse encountered is nearly excavated. All the baskets in this house have not yet been recovered, but a large enough sample is available so that a basic study such as this can be accomplished. The collection of baskets used for this paper numbers 112 specimens [much higher for the 1977, 2019 Ph.D. dissertation]. The collection surely will be several times this size when excavations have been completed.
The universe for this study is from the first buried house excavated at Ozette (house B70 in the excavation series). This house is similar to the long shed roof structures of historic Makah, Nootka, and other coastal peoples. It is 66 feet long and about 36 feet wide, or approximately 2,375 square feet in area. Baskets in the house were generally
found around the inside wall, along the bench-bed platform area where most of the household activities took place. Baskets found outside the house were generally broken, discarded ones. This analysis differs from previous studies of basketry in terms of the analytic techniques used. Nonetheless, the various attributes of baskets and the terminology used to describe them are standard and have been developed and used in studies of basketry over the past 70 years.
The best way to view the overall history of PNWAS activities is to review our PNWAS News Bulletins scanned and compiled in this Academia.edu "Talks" link by year: 1985-2020.
The best way to view the overall history of PNWAS activities is to review our PNWAS News Bulletins scanned and compiled in this Academia.edu "Talks" link by year: 1985-2020.
The best way to view the overall history of PNWAS activities is to review our PNWAS News Bulletins scanned and compiled in this Academia.edu "Talks" link by year: 1985-2020.
The Washington Archaeological Research Center was established in 1972 at Washington State University as a contract clearinghouse, mainly for Federal and State funded archaeological field projects, with the goal of assigning field projects throughout the state through a Scientific Committee with archaeologists at the six four-year universities and colleges. The founder of this phase of WARC’s operations was Dr. Richard D. Daugherty, Director, and most field projects were coordinated by his Assistant Harvey Rice. In 1980 the WARC Administrative Board, the Graduate Deans at the six four-year Washington colleges, and the Scientific Committee, felt each institution should be allowed to take their own directions as archaeological field contract programs, and decided to keep the general framework of WARC intact, to coordinate and maintain, with the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), the State’s site records, contract/research reports library, and facilitate communications and coordination of general records-based research at the six WARC institution. Dr. Dale R. Croes was assigned Acting Director (a 1/2-time position) and he recruited Steven Hackenberger as his able Assistant Director. This revised structure continued to bring together the WARC Administrative Board, the Scientific Committee and the establishment of a broad Advisory Council representing private contract archaeologists; professional archaeologists from Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada; Native American Representatives; Federal/State agencies; and Archaeological/Historical Societies. In many ways it was an effort to work together, using our limited resources, to promote archaeological interests (especially digitizing, standardizing and updating our paper-based archaeological site forms)—a coordinating of our discipline, in a form of communitarianism, based on the idea that those involved in archaeology were essentially cooperative (“good”) people who wanted to work together for our common goals. These experiments in communitarianism were not uncommon in our region as reflected in our State’ history.
The Washington Archaeological Research Center was established in 1972 at Washington State University as a contract clearinghouse, mainly for Federal and State funded archaeological field projects, with the goal of assigning field projects throughout the state through a Scientific Committee with archaeologists at the six four-year universities and colleges. The founder of this phase of WARC’s operations was Dr. Richard D. Daugherty, Director, and most field projects were coordinated by his Assistant Harvey Rice. In 1980 the WARC Administrative Board, the Graduate Deans at the six four-year Washington colleges, and the Scientific Committee, felt each institution should be allowed to take their own directions as archaeological field contract programs, and decided to keep the general framework of WARC intact, to coordinate and maintain, with the State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), the State’s site records, contract/research reports library, and facilitate communications and coordination of general records-based research at the six WARC institution. Dr. Dale R. Croes was assigned Acting Director (a 1/2-time position) and he recruited Steven Hackenberger as his able Assistant Director. This revised structure continued to bring together the WARC Administrative Board, the Scientific Committee and the establishment of a broad Advisory Council representing private contract archaeologists; professional archaeologists from Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia, Canada; Native American Representatives; Federal/State agencies; and Archaeological/Historical Societies. In many ways it was an effort to work together, using our limited resources, to promote archaeological interests (especially digitizing, standardizing and updating our paper-based archaeological site forms)—a coordinating of our discipline, in a form of communitarianism, based on the idea that those involved in archaeology were essentially cooperative (“good”) people who wanted to work together for our common goals.