45KI167

Projectiles, Tools and Knives

Plus a Little Bit of Pre-History from The Enumclaw Plateau

Western Washington State

Ethno History

The Native American Indian groups inhabiting the area of present day King County were first encountered by Euro-American explorers beginning in the late 18th century and by traders in the first half of the 19th century. The major tribal groups associated with King County have been known since historic times as the Snoqualmie, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Skykomish, and possibly the Suquamish. All of these groups are closely
related both culturally and linguistically. In ethnographic literature they are known as belonging to the Southern Puget Sound branch of the Coast Salish. Linguistically, these tribal groups are known as Lushootseed speaking peoples.

Although there are traditional locations at which groups erected villages, hunted, fished, and gathered food and resources, certain territories may have been in common use or their usage changed with developments in intertribal relations. Tribal or extended family bands occupied winter villages, seasonal camps, and territories according to their individual needs as well as their fortunes in intertribal relations, alliances and wars.

Although exact population figures are unknown, there were an estimated several thousand persons in the area in late prehistoric times. It is believed that Euro-American-spread epidemics in the late 18th and early
19th centuries were responsible for depopulating Puget Sound by as much as 80% of its indigenous peoples. Attacks by seagoing Tlingits and Haidas from southeast Alaska, which occurred as late as the Historic Period,
further reduced and disrupted the local tribal groups. Historic accounts of occasionally brutal intertribal warfare among Puget Sound groups up to the Historic Period may also have been a factor in local population decline.

The Snoqualmie were known to have had major villages at or near Fall City, Tolt (Carnation), North Bend, and other sites along the Snoqualmie River from the Cascade Crest to an area north of Duvall. In historic times they
also lived on the eastern shore of Lake Sammamish.

The Duwamish are reported to have had villages along Black River and Cedar River near Renton, along the valley of the Duwamish, at its mouth and immediately southeast of Pioneer Square in Seattle. Related groups
extended up along Shilshole, Salmon, and Union Bays. The Lower White (now Green) River and shorelines of Lake Washington were also traditional village sites or areas of influence. Several accounts place closely related bands on Lake Sammamish and the Sammamish River. The Duwamish were also known to have used sites at Alki Point (West Seattle) and at several points farther south on the Puget Sound shoreline.

The Puyallup-Nisqually are said to have had large villages in and around the present City of Tacoma, but usedsites on Vashon-Maury Islands and along the southern Puget Sound shoreline of King County.

	ENUMCLAW PLATEAU
Burgundy and Red Jasper Leaf or Pre-form Projectiles

Several bands of the Muckleshoot lived at sites along the upper White and Green Rivers and on the Enumclaw Plateau. The Muckleshoot were believed to have had close cultural and linguistic ties through intermarriage with
Sahaptin-speaking Yakamas and Klickitats of eastern Washington.

It was noted The Stevens Pass area of King County was once the hunting territory of the Skykomish who lived downstream, with a village in the Sultan Creek area of Snohomish County. The small number of Skykomish are believed to be largely absorbed into other groups, possibly the Tulalip, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie.

Puyallup families were known to have made extensive use of sites around Quartermaster Harbor on Vashon and Maury Islands, especially in the Late Historic Period. Summer villages are believed to
have been located at several sites in the islands including Tahlequah and Manzanita on Maury Island and between Burton and Portage on Vashon Island.

All of the major Native American groups erected split cedar houses or longhouses for their more permanent villages. Old Man House (part of a Suquamish Village near Poulsbo), reportedly the largest longhouse on Puget Sound, was nearly 700 feet long and housed as many as several hundred people. Seasonal camps were constructed of woven mats and poles. Several varieties of finely crafted cedar dugout canoes were used for transportation, and they were extensively used by the earliest pioneers. Stone working and woodworking technologies were well developed before the widespread use of smelted metals most of which were introduced by Euro-American trade in historic times. In King County, Indian groups harvested the incredible runs of salmon which have been documented by the early settlers. Other dietary items included shellfish, waterfowl, large and small mammals, roots, herbs, and berries. Among the Duwamish and other groups, cultivation of the Hudson’s Bay potato had begun before the arrival of the settlers. Many of the clearings later occupied by the County’s first pioneers were apparently naturally occurring prairies which were occasionally burned off by the Indians to increase the berry harvest and hunting of small game. Trade was routinely conducted across the mountain passes, especially in late summer.

Most King County Indian groups had some form of contact, trade, cultural affinity or blood relationship to tribes across the Cascade Mountains. Trails and trade routes across the Cascades are known to exist, NACHES PASS was a common route taken by the plateau Indians, and lithic material from Eastern Washington is known from a number of sites around the plateau and Puget Sound region.

The Yakama followed these trans-Cascades trails to secure supplies of various natural resources available in the region of Rainier Park as well as to enter the country of their friendly Northwest Coast neighbors and share their food resources. For example, they fished for red salmon in the Cowlitz River. According to one of Smith's Muckleshoot informants, the Yakama also journeyed westward through Naches Pass into Muckleshoot territory to catch and dry fish. On occasion, coastal groups passed east of the Cascades to secure local foods. For example, the Muckleshoot traveled through Naches Pass to Yakama country to obtain things they could not obtain in their own territory, including certain roots, berries, and other products.

The Wilkes expedition did make the first recorded trip over Naches Pass, following an Indian trail around the northern flank of Mount Rainier. This was done by Lieutenant Robert E. Johnson in command of a contingent of six members of the expedition. They were allowed eighty days for the trip across the mountains to Fort Colville, Fort Okanogan, and other posts east of the mountains, but they did it in less time, "leaving Nisqually on May 19, and returning on July 15, a total of fifty-seven days." (Meany, 1909, 76).

	The First Recorded Trip Through Naches Pass
Yellow and Red Jasper Scrapers

Overall, the lifestyle of most Indian Groups in the King County area was characterized by a natural abundance of food and raw materials. Finely crafted baskets, mats, and woven blankets were in wide use and were also
made for trade. Much of the remaining material culture of local Indian groups is now in museums, with many of the earliest collections located in other counties or states.

With the influx of American settlers beginning in the early 1850s, pressures increased on the U.S. government to solve the problem of land tenure for the new arrivals. THE REBELLION "INDIAN WARS OF 1854-1856"

The solution, following the federal policies used to acquire territories across the continent, was to negotiate treaties ceding Indian lands to the Federal government in exchange for limited reservation parcels, some services, and compensation. The DONATION LAND ACT, was created.

The Puyallup, Muckleshoot, and Suquamish eventually acquired reservation lands within their traditional areas of influence. The Snoqualmie and Duwamish were to be relocated, out of the County, to reservation lands,
which essentially were overstrained by the numbers of people involved and sometimes inhospitable to their traditional ways of life. Some Tribal members refused to leave their traditional homes in King County. Others
left the reservation after a short while, and subsequently found work in pioneer farming and logging operations. The Snoqualmie and Duwamish have not as yet acquired their own reservations, despite their inclusion as
signatories to the Point Elliot Treaty.

Reference: OVERVIEW OF KING COUNTY PREHISTORY TO EARLY HISTORY
Historical Paper No. 3

PREHISTORY OF THE ENUMCLAW

PLATEAU

LOCATION AND CULTURAL ASSESSMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ON THE ENUMCLAW PLATEAU IN THE SOUTHERN PUGET LOWLAND

An Abstract by: Gerald C. Hedlund

Nineteen prehistoric sites have been located, investigated and/or tested on the Enumclaw Plateau. Most of these sites reflect an "Inland" adaptation and are located back from major streams on higher ground. The larger sites also appear to have been developed on local "prairies" that were deliberately maintained open areas. Most of the artifacts found were chipped stone since organic materials were not preserved. Significant numbers of ground and polished stone were found at only two sites. Evidence of house structures has been found at one site.

The Enumclaw Plateau is a portion of the Southern Puget Lowland terminating on the west approximately 15 km east of Puget Sound (25 km east of Tacoma), and bounded on the east by the foothills of the Cascade Range. Its relatively flat surface is underlain by glacial drift, which was further covered and leveled by the massive Osceola mudflow from Mt. Rainier (35 km to the southeast) some 4900 years ago (Hedlund 1974:77). Average elevation of the region is around 180 m above sea level, and its total area is about 100 km²• The plateau is drained by three sizeable rivers--the Green, along the northern edge, the Puyallup to the southwest, and the White, which bisects the area.

Nineteen prehistoric archaeological sites have been located and investigated on the Enumclaw plateau . Six of the 19 sites have been excavated and/or surface collected in a systematic manner. The other 13 sites have been visited, investigated and their collections observed and examined. Nine of the sites are located on higher ground with good drainage, of which eight are located some distance from streams or lakes. Five of the possible habitation sites, of a total of 10 sites on river or creek banks, may have been subject to flooding (the Pheasant Farm Site, 45KI33, the Boise Creek Site, 45KI70, the Cooper's Corner Site, 45KI71, the Noble Site, 45KI64, and the Mahler Park Site, 45KI13). The Flaming Geyser petroglyphs Site (45KI40), a probable non-habitation site, would also have been subject to flooding.

Sites located away from streams and on better drained ground would appear to have been more generalized in activity and more permanently occupied, while sites closer to streams, such as the Pheasant Farm, Boise Creek, Noble and Mahler Park sites, may have been specifically fishing sites. Sites located at some distance from streams, such as the Jokumsen, Pedersen, Maris and Connell's prairie sites, show more evidence of habitation, i.e., have more artifacts, have a greater depth of deposit and cover greater areas. The Jokumsen, Schodde-Anderson, Imhof, and Pedersen sites are examples of such extensive non-specific use sites. The Cooper's Corner Site, on the other hand, covers a large area over which cultural material is relatively abundant and is located on a small creek.

Smith (194e:31) classifies the prehistoric and early historic native inhabitants of the Enumclaw Plateau as having a specific "Inland" cultural adaptation. Gibbs (1877) uses a similar term, while Bryan (1963:91) referred to this type of adaptation as a "Trans-Cascadian" culture. The "Inland" or "Trans-Canadian" terms refer to a generalized adaptation to the area between the Pacific ()cean or Puget Sound and the Cascade Range. People with this adaptation had a generalized system of food getting. Most of the larger sites located on the Enumclaw Plateau appear to have been situated on so-called "natural prairies," or cleared areas in the coast forest type vegetation pattern that normally grows in this region. However, it can easily be demonstrated that there are no "natural prairie" conditions on the Enumclaw Plateau. The "prairies" were human caused, or kept open by deliberate burning on a regular basis, perhaps as often as twice a year (Norton, Boyd, and Hunn). Some of the Connell's prairie sites were certain to have been located in such cleared areas. Other sites, such as the Cumberland Sod Farm, Maris, Pedersen Jokumsen, Bohn, Muckleshoot and Cooper's Corner, may also have been open areas at times. It appears that such "prairies" may have changed location and expanded or contracted, due to natural fires and/or burning by humans.

These "prairies" were conducive to supporting plants and animals not normally found in the area which the prehistoric inhabitants used in their diets. It is probable that the deliberate burning of these "prairies" to keep them open contributed to the presence of such vegetation as oak trees, hazel bushes, and collectible roots like the camas. Grasses, from which seed could be gathered, would also have grown in open areas, as would various kinds of berries, such as blackberries.

Cultural materials found consist mainly of chipped stone. The majority of the worked stone is of cryptocrystalline silicate, with basalt and other volcanic materials also common. Obsidian is found on some 0 f the sites and has been identified as coming from sources in Central Oregon. Cobble-core choppers and edge ground cobbles are common to most of the sites, but only two sites yielded a significant number (two or more) of ground and polished tools. Mauls were found on only one site. Organic material is not generally preserved on any of the sites, and artifacts of bone or wood have not been identified in any significant number. House pits and other structural remains have been identified at the Jokumsen Site. One house pit is approximately Ie m by 6 m and oval in shape. Further house evidence is suggested by an alignment of five post molds over a distance of approximately 12 meters. The potential for further archaeological research in the area appears to be promising. There are remains of relatively large undisturbed sites with considerable cultural evidence, and others will probably be discovered. One site with excellent potential is the Cooper's Corner Site mentioned above. Bisected by a small creek, one part of this site is badly disturbed by the construction of farm buildings. On the other side of the creek however, there has been little disturbance other than plowing. Another place with good potential is the Noble Site, which was investigated by Green River Community College during the summer of 1988. Although this site is quite extensive, it is presently owned by people not especially open to archaeology. The White River Bank Site is another relatively undisturbed location that should be preserved or excavated. Other locations that should be investigated further are the Jokumsen, Schodde-Anderson and the Bohn sites.

The site least disturbed by Euro-American cultural activity is the Mahler Park Site. It consists of three known locations adjacent to Newaukum creek~ suggesting temporary fishing camp functions. One location of about 15 m maximum extent was logged, but otherwise the site appears to be undisturbed. Cultural deposition appears to be surficial. The most disturbed site in the area is the Boise Creek Site, with several modern houses built on it. The Tacoma Water pipe Site is also badly disturbed by a pipeline ditch and by road cuts. Another site, that at Southwood Elementary School, has been destroyed by grading to level a play area and by artifact collecting by students and their parents. Near Buckley, the Maris Site has been badly disturbed by plowing and digging for numerous artifacts to a depth of .5 m. This large and important site would be very difficult to excavate systematically because of the disturbances.

In summary, the Enumclaw Plateau shows a substantial number of prehistoric sites, nineteen of which are listed here. The largest sites are generally found on ridges or slightly elevated areas with good drainage. Most of the larger sites were probably built on "prairies" which were kept open by periodic burning. Artifacts found are generally made of chipped cryptocrystalline silicate or basalt. While edge ground cobbles and cobble-core choppers are common to most sites, ground and polished tools are sparse on all but two locations. Mauls occurred on only one of the sites.

All of the sites were disturbed by Euro-American cultural activity, including the building of structures, plowing, logging, road building, ditch digging and collecting artifacts. Nevertheless, there are several sites which should be preserved as archaeological resources and others that should be investigated further before they are completely destroyed.

Pictures of Site 45KI67 Before the Internet

The following maps are a collection representing the Donation Claim of Allen Porter , Now called Porters Prairie

Nov 1st 1853 1st Donation Claim on the Westside of the White River

	NORTH
WEST		EAST>>Cascade Mountains
	SOUTH

NORTH

WEST

EAST, SE.>>Cascade Mountains

Looking East ,South East

SOUTH

Old Timers Hand Drawn Map Copy of Allen Porters Donation Claim ~ 1872

Picture of a Survey Map Late 1877

Early 1900's Donation Claim has been Subdivided

Late 1960's Land divisions

Barron Industries was the beginning

of Sod Cultivation

Topo. Overview of the Land

Here is a current view of Porters Prairie

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF ALLEN PORTER

"ALLEN PORTER" WAGON TRAVELS ITS LAST MILE

INDIAN REBELLION DOC No.9 March 7th 1856

"A RACE FOR LIFE"

Part 1

"A RACE FOR LIFE"

Part 2

"A RACE FOR LIFE"

Part 3

ARCHAEOLOGY LOST or PRESERVED

THE CULTURAL ASSESSMENT

For 100 years this land was being used as a dairy, The more recent 20 years this site was tilled and groomed for the production of Sod.

Annually 3/4 to 1 inches of soil was removed. This equates to roughly 20" of soil removed. Also represents every layer of habitation gone! All ended up in a rock pile or part of the farms road and eventually ended up in someone's backyard.

The next few pictures represents the last pieces of archaeology saved from the Sod Farm site.

NORTH

WEST

EAST>>Cascade Mtns.

SOUTH

INTERACTIVE MAP

CLICK ON a section of the map and see the artifact found.
NOTE: JUST Run your cursor over the map and when it changes you found a picture

Cataloged Site

The Archaeological Time Frame
Generalized outline of cultural sequences has been suggested which may provide a simple framework
for understanding the County’s archaeological resources. Three major time periods may be defined as follows

(bp indicates "before present"):

Late Period < Historic: 250 bp
Prehistoric: 2500-250 bp
Middle Period < Prehistoric: 4500-2500 bp
Early Period < Prehistoric: 8000-4500 bp

These artifacts were disturbed and surface found so I can't date.

I can say they are no older than 5600 b.p.