National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Mount Rainier National Park Cascade Mountain...

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Mount Rainier National Park

Cascade Mountain Land-UseCascade Mountain Land-Use8500 years of Life on Mount Rainier8500 years of Life on Mount Rainier

(Takhoma)(Takhoma)



Mountains too cold, dark, and remote for Mountains too cold, dark, and remote for prehistoric people?prehistoric people?



Prehistoric Site Distribution Patterns Suggest:Prehistoric Site Distribution Patterns Suggest:1) Mountains were used repeatedly, &1) Mountains were used repeatedly, &

2) Use was patterned2) Use was patterned



So what’s going on?So what’s going on? Using Mount Rainier as a model we’ll discussUsing Mount Rainier as a model we’ll discuss

The place of humans in mountain landscapesThe place of humans in mountain landscapes– Why prehistoric people used high-elevation places like Why prehistoric people used high-elevation places like

Mount RainierMount Rainier

– How long people have used the Mountain & how that use How long people have used the Mountain & how that use changed over timechanged over time

Mount Rainier ArchaeologyMount Rainier Archaeology– Why Takhoma is a particularly good place to study the past Why Takhoma is a particularly good place to study the past

– What the archaeological record looks likeWhat the archaeological record looks like




The place of humans in mountain landscapesThe place of humans in mountain landscapes– Why prehistoric people used TakhomaWhy prehistoric people used Takhoma– How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use

changed over ca. 8,500 years changed over ca. 8,500 years

Mount Rainier ArchaeologyMount Rainier Archaeology– Why this is a particularly good place to study the past Why this is a particularly good place to study the past – What the archaeological record looks likeWhat the archaeological record looks like



Think of mountain settings as neighborhoods Think of mountain settings as neighborhoods rather than remote placesrather than remote places



Subalpine Settings are Resource RichSubalpine Settings are Resource Rich



Ecological Succession:Ecological Succession:

• Is an orderly process of community development Is an orderly process of community development involving predictable change in species structure involving predictable change in species structure through time; thatthrough time; that

in stable, wet environmentsin stable, wet environments like the like the

Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest

• Succession culminates in a roughly stable Succession culminates in a roughly stable ecosystem dominated by trees with little edible ecosystem dominated by trees with little edible biomass.biomass.



Dense Forests: Dense Forests: BADBAD

Meadows: GOODMeadows: GOOD



Prehistoric Site LocationsPrehistoric Site Locations& the Subalpine Ecozone& the Subalpine Ecozone




The place of humans in mountain landscapesThe place of humans in mountain landscapes– Why prehistoric people used TahomaWhy prehistoric people used Tahoma

– How long people have used the Mountain & and how How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use changed over ca. 8,500 years that use changed over ca. 8,500 years

Mount Rainier ArchaeologyMount Rainier Archaeology– Why this is a particularly good place to study the past Why this is a particularly good place to study the past

– What the archaeological record looks likeWhat the archaeological record looks like



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WarmerWarmer CoolerCooler



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Vashon StadeVashon Stade

Sumas StadeSumas Stade

Garda StadeGarda Stade



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Everson Everson InterglacialInterglacial



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Hypsithermal Hypsithermal IntervalInterval



The Sunrise ProfileThe Sunrise Profile

Mt. Rainier C, 2300 years BPMt. Rainier C, 2300 years BP

St. Helen’s P, 2500-3000 years BPSt. Helen’s P, 2500-3000 years BP

Modern Ground SurfaceModern Ground Surface

St. Helen’s Y, 3400 years BPSt. Helen’s Y, 3400 years BP

Buried Soil (Paleosol)Buried Soil (Paleosol)

Mt. Rainier F, 5000 years BPMt. Rainier F, 5000 years BP

Osceola Lahar Splash, 5500 years BPOsceola Lahar Splash, 5500 years BP

Burned PaleosolBurned Paleosol

Mt. Mazama, 6800 years BPMt. Mazama, 6800 years BP

Burned Paleosol. 7700 years BPBurned Paleosol. 7700 years BP

Mt. Rainier R, 9000 years BPMt. Rainier R, 9000 years BP

Glacial TillGlacial Till



Pre-Mazama Artifact Pre-Mazama Artifact in situin situ



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First humans enter North AmericaFirst humans enter North America

Earliest human habitats on Mount RainierEarliest human habitats on Mount RainierOldest known archaeological site on Mount RainerOldest known archaeological site on Mount Rainer

Increase in mountain subsistence use coincident Increase in mountain subsistence use coincident with development of lowland villageswith development of lowland villages



• Use changed population increasedUse changed population increased– First use by small, very mobile hunting and First use by small, very mobile hunting and

gathering groupsgathering groups– Then as task-specific collectors linked to Then as task-specific collectors linked to

permanent fishing villages about 3,500 years agopermanent fishing villages about 3,500 years ago– Modern tribes date only to the AD 1800sModern tribes date only to the AD 1800s

• So on Mount Rainier,So on Mount Rainier,– People used subalpine habitats because they were People used subalpine habitats because they were

seasonally productive neighborhoods, seasonally productive neighborhoods, andand– They’ve done so for about 8,500 yearsThey’ve done so for about 8,500 years




The place of humans in mountain landscapesThe place of humans in mountain landscapes– Why prehistoric people used TakhomaWhy prehistoric people used Takhoma– How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use


Mount Rainier ArchaeologyMount Rainier Archaeology– Why Takhoma is a particularly good place to study the past Why Takhoma is a particularly good place to study the past – What the archaeological record looks likeWhat the archaeological record looks like



Huge subalpine habitatHuge subalpine habitat



Grand ParkGrand ParkSlide Mountain RidgeSlide Mountain Ridge

Mist ParkMist ParkCowlitz ParkCowlitz Park

Broadly distributed around the mountainBroadly distributed around the mountain



Stratified Deposits, Artifacts & TimeStratified Deposits, Artifacts & Time



Cowlitz ParkCowlitz Park Paradise MeadowsParadise Meadows

Grand ParkGrand Park

Buck LakeBuck Lake

Broadly distributed around the mountainBroadly distributed around the mountain




The place of humans in mountain landscapesThe place of humans in mountain landscapes– Why prehistoric people used TahomaWhy prehistoric people used Tahoma– How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use How long people have used the Mountain & and how that use


Mount Rainier ArchaeologyMount Rainier Archaeology– Why this is a particularly good place to study the past Why this is a particularly good place to study the past – What the archaeological record looks like on TakhomaWhat the archaeological record looks like on Takhoma



At Mount Rainier,At Mount Rainier,

Archaeological Information Comes Archaeological Information Comes Mostly From:Mostly From:

• Reported FindsReported Finds

• Construction & Maintenance ProjectsConstruction & Maintenance Projects

• SurveySurveyandand

• ExcavationExcavation



Reported FindsReported Finds



FS2003-08, Naches FS2003-08, Naches Peak CabinPeak Cabin



Construction & Maintenance ProjectsConstruction & Maintenance Projects



Paradise Camp/Paradise Visitor CenterParadise Camp/Paradise Visitor Center



& & ExcavationExcavation

Prehistoric Prehistoric Site Site

SurveySurvey



Spray Spray Park Park Survey Survey AreaArea

Buck Buck Lake SiteLake Site

Fryingpan & Fryingpan & Berkeley Berkeley RocksheltersRockshelters



Upper Spray ParkUpper Spray Park



Survey Crew at FS2003-01Survey Crew at FS2003-01



FS2003-01 ArtifactsFS2003-01 Artifacts



FS2003-03 Talus PitFS2003-03 Talus Pit



FS2003-05 Eastern Spray ParkFS2003-05 Eastern Spray Park



FS2003-05 Stone Tool RemainsFS2003-05 Stone Tool Remains



FS2003-09 Found in SeptemberFS2003-09 Found in September



Ben Diaz & FS2003-09 Dart PointBen Diaz & FS2003-09 Dart Point



FS2003-09 Dart Point & Lithic DebitageFS2003-09 Dart Point & Lithic Debitage



FS2003-11 ca. 1930 Tent Platform FS2003-11 ca. 1930 Tent Platform



Fryingpan Rockshelter Fryingpan Rockshelter FS1963-01FS1963-01



Fryingpan Rockshelter ExcavationFryingpan Rockshelter Excavation



FS1986-02 in Berkeley ParkFS1986-02 in Berkeley Park



1300 Year Old Hearth at Berkeley Rockshelter1300 Year Old Hearth at Berkeley Rockshelter



Buck Lake facing NE: A high Buck Lake facing NE: A high elevation stratified site and natural elevation stratified site and natural cirque lake sediment trapcirque lake sediment trap

N

Buck LakeBuck Lake



Buck Lake Project:Buck Lake Project:1. Archaeological testing1. Archaeological testing2. Lakebed sediment core extraction and analysis2. Lakebed sediment core extraction and analysis



Buck LakeBuck LakeArtifact Artifact

Concentrations Concentrations & Test Units& Test Units

CVS UnitCVS Unit

Excavation UnitExcavation Unit

XX Surface ArtifactSurface Artifact

Lithic ConcentrationLithic Concentration

11

44

22

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55



Post MSH-Y FeaturesPost MSH-Y Features



Locus 4 ArtifactsLocus 4 Artifacts



Pre-Mazama Artifact Pre-Mazama Artifact in situin situ



Pre-Mazama ArtifactPre-Mazama Artifact



Stratigraphic Layers & Lithic Material Density (2008)Stratigraphic Layers & Lithic Material Density (2008)

Liter Liter VolumeVolume

284284 22

350350

33

57157113071307

16001600 3939

2211121112 44

13,16613,166 326326

337337

869869

(3960 BP)(3960 BP)

Furniture Furniture Stone Stone

n = 17,574n = 17,574

! !

!!

S 1S 1

S 2-3S 2-3

S 4S 4

S 5S 5

(7173 BP)(7173 BP)

146146

FeaturesFeatures GastGast ToolsToolsDebitageDebitage

251251

12071207

382382 44 99

12901290 44

16031603

15091509 11

698698

2626

390390 55

11! !

S 7aS 7a

S 7bS 7b

S 9S 9

S 8aS 8a

S 8bS 8b

S 8cS 8c

(3320 BP)(3320 BP)(3310 BP)(3310 BP)

(5220 BP)(5220 BP)(4650 BP)(4650 BP)

44 11

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33 11



• The Mountain’s archaeological record indicates:The Mountain’s archaeological record indicates:

– 8,500 years of seasonal human occupation8,500 years of seasonal human occupation– Possible increased use about 3,500 years ago associated with Possible increased use about 3,500 years ago associated with

development of lowland villagesdevelopment of lowland villages– Primary use of sub-alpine habitatsPrimary use of sub-alpine habitats– Use of sites of different types, includingUse of sites of different types, including

• Relatively large residential places near the tree-line (Buck Lake)Relatively large residential places near the tree-line (Buck Lake)• Smaller, hunting places in subalpine and alpine settings Spray Park, Smaller, hunting places in subalpine and alpine settings Spray Park,

andand• Rock-shelter locations for weather protection when they are dry and Rock-shelter locations for weather protection when they are dry and

provide ready access to the above (Fryingpan and Berkeley provide ready access to the above (Fryingpan and Berkeley Rockshelters)Rockshelters)



AD 1700 to 2008 The Modern Times



The Apocalypse - AD 1700 - 1800sThe Apocalypse - AD 1700 - 1800s



Mount RainierMount Rainier



1850s Traditional Use Areas1850s Traditional Use Areas

NisquallyNisqually

PuyallupPuyallup

MuckleshootMuckleshoot

YakamaYakama Taidnapam Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz)(Upper Cowlitz)



Isaac Stevens and the Treaties of 1854-55Isaac Stevens and the Treaties of 1854-55Treaty of Medicine Creek – 1854Treaty of Medicine Creek – 1854

Treaty of Point Elliot – 1855Treaty of Point Elliot – 1855Treaty with the Yakama -- 1855Treaty with the Yakama -- 1855



NisquallyNisqually

PuyallupPuyallupMuckleshootMuckleshoot

YakamaYakama

CowlitzCowlitz

Squaxin IslandSquaxin Island



Leschi and the Leschi and the Nisqually War of 1856Nisqually War of 1856



Sherman Leschi 2002Sherman Leschi 2002



In compensation for ceding claims to lands on Mount In compensation for ceding claims to lands on Mount Rainier (and elsewhere) Rainier (and elsewhere)

Article 3 of the Treaty of Medicine CreekArticle 3 of the Treaty of Medicine Creek::

provides for: provides for:

The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and The right of taking fish, at all usual and accustomed grounds and stations, is further secured to said Indians in common with all stations, is further secured to said Indians in common with all citizens of the Territory, and of erecting temporary houses for the citizens of the Territory, and of erecting temporary houses for the purpose of curing, together with the privilege of hunting, purpose of curing, together with the privilege of hunting, gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their ;horses on open gathering roots and berries, and pasturing their ;horses on open and unclaimed lands…and unclaimed lands…



Mount Rainier National Park – 1899 to PresentMount Rainier National Park – 1899 to Present



Sluiskin and the last Hunting at Tahoma - 1917Sluiskin and the last Hunting at Tahoma - 1917



Muckleshoot Muckleshoot Huckleberry Huckleberry Collectors Collectors

ca. 1952ca. 1952



• Enhance relationships Enhance relationships between the park and between the park and neighboring Tribesneighboring Tribes

• Deepen our understanding Deepen our understanding of very long-term of very long-term connections with Mount connections with Mount Rainier’s landscapesRainier’s landscapes

The Modern ImperativeThe Modern Imperative



Nisqually Plant Collecting AgreementNisqually Plant Collecting Agreement

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Mount Rainier National Park Cascade Mountain...

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