ARCH 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Haida Gwaii, Fishing Weir, Microblade Technology
18 Feb 2020
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Document Summary
Very recent underwater exploration suggests possible human occupation near haida. May have discovered ancient fish weirs under 100 metres of water. Not yet sure if these are cultural in origin. Even more recent work in the tidal areas of calvert island (near haida gwaii) revealed preserved footprints 13,000 years old. Demonstrates people were present, although we do not know who they were, or whether they stayed in the area for long. Very large site nearby does not (yet) date this early. Northern coastal sites feature microblade technology, probably brought over from. Maritime culture already fully developed prior to arrival. Northern and southern groups had very similar cultures. No large sites prior to roughly 4500 years ago. Cultures probably not very similar to modern or ethnographic period cultures anywhere on the coast. Cedar trees are not yet present in abundance prior to ~5000 years ago. Cedar is a major component of northwest coast culture.
