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Article
Building a Landscape History and Occupational Chronology at Čḯxwicən, a Coastal Village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington State, U.S.A
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
  • Sarah K. Campbell, Western Washington University
  • Sarah L. Sterling
  • Dennis E. Lewarch
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Keywords
  • Klallam,
  • Geoarchaeolgical analysis,
  • Port Angeles
Abstract

Geoarchaeological analysis at Čḯxwicən, an ancestral Klallam village near Port Angeles in northwestern Washington State, U.S.A., highlights the resilience of coastal foragers and their connection to place. Ancestral Klallam peoples occupied ever-changing beach and spit landforms growing within the shelter of Ediz Hook on the Strait of Juan de Fuca (SJDF) for 2700 years. Geoarchaeological methods were employed to define seven chronostratigraphic zones that chronologically structure the cultural deposits and allow them to be correlated to a sequence of beach development and to markers for tsunami that overtopped the site. Initial habitation prior to 1750 BP utilized a narrow beach against the bluff, then expanded with the prograding beach ridges, which grew north to create a lagoon. Stabilization of beach ridges after 1300 and 1000 BP was followed in each case by construction of a plank house, one of which was occupied for 800 years, and the other for 500 years. Inundation of the site, as indicated by erosional channels, backwash deposits, and structural collapse, occurred five times, and can be correlated with documented Cascadia Subduction Zone plate boundary megathrust earthquake events. The resilience of the households, who re-occupied the houses soon after the events, is striking, particularly the rebuilding of one house after it collapsed around 600BP.

DOI
10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.10.005
Subjects - Topical (LCSH)
Archaeological geology--Washington (State)--Port Angeles; Excavations (Archaeological)--Washington (State)--Port Angeles; Clallam Indians--Washington (State)--Port Angeles; Human ecology--Tse-whit-zen Village Site (Wash.); Taphonomy--Tse-whit-zen Village Site (Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Tse-whit-zen Village Site (Wash.)--Environmental conditions
Genre/Form
articles
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Sarah K. Campbell, Sarah L. Sterling and Dennis E. Lewarch. "Building a Landscape History and Occupational Chronology at Čḯxwicən, a Coastal Village on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington State, U.S.A" Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports Vol. 23 (2019) p. 1104 - 1130
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sarah-campbell/59/