Northwest Coast Tradition

A series of prehistoric groups of the northern California coast, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and southeastern Alaska, with origins in the Fraser River delta and clearly established by 1000 BC. Their subsistence was based on hunting and gathering of riverine and marine food sources (mollusks, salmon, halibut, sea mammals). Characteristics in the archaeological record include bone and slate hunting tools, stone effigy carving, and woodworking tools. Totem poles and elaborately carved long houses are still a cultural feature in the area.

Collection of prehistoric groups whose common economic base was the exploitation of abundant marine and riverine resources. Centred on the Pacific Coast, USA-Canadian border, the cultural area of the tradition stretches from southeastern Alaska to Northern California. Much information comes from ethnographic studies of historic and present-day groups (e.g. Tlingit and Kwakuitl) but characteristics in the archaeological record include bone and slate hunting tools, stone effigy carving, and woodworking tools (totem poles and elaborately carved long houses are still a cultural feature in the area). The origins of the tradition are unclear but movement of peoples from the interior (see Fraser River sites) and an Eskimo or Asian influence from the North are likely components. Firm dates are extremely rare but defining traits seem to have coalesced between 5000 and 1000 be and the tradition was clearly established by ad 1000.5eeTable9, page 552.