ARCHAEOLOGY 320
Northwest Archaeology
Section 05
NORTHWEST COAST BONE TOOLS
In this lab we will focus on bone tools from the Northwest Coast, representing occupation in the
St. Mungo (4500-3500 BP), Locarno Beach (3500-2500 BP), Marpole (2500-1500/1100 BP),
and Gulf of Georgia/San Juan (1500/1100 BP to contact with Eurasian traders) phases.
FUNCTIONAL IDENTIFICATION
Using your handouts, determine the functional name (e.g. bipoint) that best describes 4 of the
bone tools displayed at this station. Examine the bone tools closely and note other information
relevant to the artifact’s description (for example: broken, incised, beveled, etc.)
ARTIFACT #
FUNCTIONAL NAME
REMARKS
1.__________
____________________
_____________________________
2.__________
____________________
_____________________________
3.__________
____________________
_____________________________
4.__________
____________________
_____________________________
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AWLS
Ethnographically, awls used for weaving fibers into baskets were often made from mammal
ulnae(lower forelimb bone/ elbow). What about the ulna might make it a good awl?
20th century photos depict weavers using long awls, but the ulna awls archaeologists find in
Northwest sites are often quite short. What’s up with that?
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FISHING AND HUNTING TECHNOLOGY
Bi-points
Archaeologists have suggested that bi-points were inserted on
herring rakes and used in a sweeping motion to literally rake up
large quantities of herring, implying that higher bi-point
frequencies indicate greater emphasis on herring fishing. What
concerns might you have about testing your hypothesis, and what
other evidence would you look for in order to test your
hypothesis?
Harpoon Points
Some harpoon points are unilaterally barbed (barbed on one side), and others are bilaterally
barbed (barbed on two sides). Do you think that these are just different styles, or do they have a
functional difference? Why?
Composite toggling harpoons, like those found in the Locarno Beach phase archaeological sites,
disappear during the Marpole phase but reappear in the Gulf of Georgia phase. What might
account for their disappearance and reappearance? Think of at least two possible reasons.
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Bone points are commonly associated with marine hunting/fishing activities. What advantages
do bone points have over stone points in the marine environment?
QUIZ REVIEW (OPTIONAL)
Test your knowledge in this self-graded review station.
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SHOEBOX
NOTE: YOU ONLY HAVE TO ANALYZE ONE OF THE TWO SHOEBOXES.
Due at the end of the period, or typed and in lecture tomorrow.
You just finished excavating an archaeological site on the Washington coast. You are now back
in the lab sorting the artifacts from the non-artifacts and classifying the artifacts recovered from
the excavation. In one paragraph (1) identify if the objects are artifacts and if so give their (2)
name and (3) describe their identifying attributes (how you know it’s what you said it is)
raw material (e.g. chert, bone), and form of manufacture (e.g. chipping, grinding). In a
second paragraph (1) identify the cultural phase and time period that the artifacts represent
(e.g. St. Mungo, Marpole, and give the dates!) and (2) interpret the site function (e.g.
fishing camp, village).
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