Search

In a series of publications, Prentiss et al. (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008) have argued for a very late, abrupt, and brief emergence of large villages and large corporate residences in the mid-Fraser region of British Columbia (~1600-800 cal B.P.) and an even later abrupt emergence of socioeconomic complexity (~1200-800 cal B.P.). They postulate that climatic changes were responsible for both of these events as well as the collapse of the large villages. We question their interpretations on several grounds including: inappropriate methods for dating these developments; data from Keatley Creek indicating a longer developmental trajectory; incomplete interpretation of paleoclimate trends for the region; and internal contradictions in their own climate-driven explanations for changes. The combined evidence of geochronology and paleoecology (some not previously considered) together with archaeological evidence favors an interpretation of earlier emergence of large villages and socioeconomic complexity than suggested by Prentiss et al. (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several unusual wood and plant artifactual remains were recovered from the Keatley Creek site in the Interior of British Columbia. The most important of these is a charred fragment of a coiled basket recovered from a Protohistoric Period ritual structure dated to 250 BP. This is the only archaeological example of coiled basketry from the Interior, and such examples are extremely rare on the Coast also. While it may have served as a cooking or water container, we also suggest that it may have been a prestige item, possibly used in ritual contexts. The other artifacts described include a section of a wooden shaft implement like a bow or hoop frame dated to 1410 BP, and a bifacial stone knife from a storage pit that still retained a bark wrapping probably dating to ca. 1000 BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]