TRANSCRIBER NOTES:
Words contained within underscores, i.e. _a_, are in italics in the
original.
Footnotes have been moved closer to their reference point in the
text.
Additional Transcriber Notes can be found at the end of this
project.
ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS
OF THE
American Museum of Natural
History.
Vol. VI, Part I.
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE YAKIMA VALLEY.
BY
HARLAN I. SMITH.
NEW YORK:
Published by Order of the Trustees.
June, 1910.
ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS
OF THE
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
VOL. VI, PART I.
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE YAKIMA VALLEY.
BY HARLAN I. SMITH.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION 7
GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION 9
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 11
RESOURCES 21
THE SECURING OF FOOD 23
Points Chipped out of Stone 23
Points Rubbed out of Stone 26
Points Rubbed out of Bone 27
Bows 29
Snares 29
Notched Sinkers 30
Grooved Sinkers 30
Shell Heaps 34
Digging Sticks 35
Basketry 35
PREPARATION OF FOOD 36
Mortars 36
Pestles 39
Rollers 47
Fish Knives 50
Fire Making 50
Caches 51
Boiling 51
HABITATIONS 51
Semi-subterranean House Sites 51
Circles of Stones (Summer House Sites) 55
TOOLS USED BY MEN 57
Wedges 57
Hammerstones 58
Celts 62
Hand-Adze 64
Whetstones 65
Drills 66
Scrapers 67
Arrow-shaft Smoothers 69
TOOLS USED BY WOMEN 69
Scrapers Chipped from Stone 69
Scrapers Rubbed from Bone 71
Awls Rubbed from Bone 71
Needles 72
Mat-Pressers 73
PROCESSES OF MANUFACTURE 74
LIFE HISTORIES OF MANUFACTURED OBJECTS 74
WAR 75
Implements used in Warfare 75
Grooved Pebbles, Club-Heads, or Sinkers 75
Stone Clubs 76
'Slave-Killers' 80
War Costume 82
Fortifications 82
Wounds 82
DRESS AND ADORNMENT 83
Skins 83
Matting 84
Ornaments 87
Combs 87
Beads 88
Dentalium Shells 90
Pendants 92
Bracelets 99
A Costumed Human Figure 100
Deformation 105
GAMES, AMUSEMENTS, AND NARCOTICS 105
Games 105
Narcotics 106
ART 117
Paintings 119
Petroglyphs 121
Incised Designs 124
Notches 130
Circle and Dot Designs 130
Pecked Grooves 132
Animal and Human Forms 132
Coast Art 136
METHOD OF BURIAL 138
Burials in Domes of Volcanic Ash 138
Rock-slide Graves 139
Cremation Circles 142
Position of the Body 142
Property with the Dead 142
Horse Sacrifices 143
Diseases 143
CONCLUSION 143
BIBLIOGRAPHY 149
APPENDIX 152
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PLATES.
I. Chipped Points. Fig. 1 (Museum No. 202-8333), length 21 cm.;
Fig. 2 (202-8338); Fig. 3 (202-8334).
II. Chipped Points. Fig. 1 (Museum No. 202-8115), length 3.8 cm.;
Fig. 2 (202-8169 A); Fig. 3 (202-8196 A); Fig. 4 (202-8196 B);
Fig. 5 (202-8142); Fig. 6 (202-8397); Fig. 7 (202-8366); Fig. 8
(202-8363); Fig. 9 (202-8368); Fig. 10 (202-8361); Fig. 11
(202-8359); Fig. 12 (202-8222); Fig. 13 (202-8203): Fig. 14
(202-8360).
III. Quarry near Naches River.
House Site near Naches River.
IV. House Sites near Naches River.
V. Camp Sites near Sentinal Bluffs.
VI. Fort near Rock Creek.
Rock-Slide Grave on Yakima Ridge.
VII. Terraced Rock-Slide on Yakima Ridge.
VIII. Rock-Slide Graves on Yakima Ridge.
IX. Cremation Circle near Mouth of Naches River.
Grave in Dome of Volcanic Ash near Tampico.
X. Opened Grave in Dome of Volcanic Ash near Tampico.
XI. Petroglyphs near Sentinal Bluffs.
XII. Petroglyphs in Selah Canon.
XIII. Petroglyph in Selah Canon.
Petroglyph near Wallula Junction.
XIV. Pictographs at Mouth of Cowiche Creek.
XV. Pictographs at Mouth of Cowiche Creek.
XVI. Pictographs at Mouth of Cowiche Creek.
TEXT FIGURES.
PAGE.
1. Chipped Point made of Chalcedony 24
2. Chipped Point made of Chalcedony 25
3. Chipped Point made of White Chalcedony 25
4. Serrated Chipped Point made of Petrified Wood 25
5. Chipped Point made of Obsidian 26
6. Fragment of a leaf-shaped Point made of Chert 26
7. Point made of Bone 28
8. Point made of Bone 28
9. Scorched Point made of Bone 28
10. Point made of Bone 28
11. Point or Barb made of Bone 28
12. Point or Barb made of Bone 28
13. Net Sinkers made of Pebbles 31
14. Sinker, a Grooved Boulder bearing a Design in Intaglio 31
15. Sinker, a Grooved Boulder bearing a Design in Intaglio 33
16. Sinker, a Perforated Boulder 33
17. Fragment of Basket of Splint Foundation and Bifurcated Stitch 35
18. Fragment of a Mortar made of Stone 35
19. Mortar made of Stone 37
20. Mortar made of Stone 38
21. Pestle made of Stone 40
22. Pestle pecked from Stone 40
23. Pestle pecked from Stone 40
24. Pestle made of Stone 42
25. Pestle made of Stone 42
26. Pestle made of Stone 44
27. Pestle made of Stone 44
28. Pestle made of Stone 44
29. Pestle made of Stone 46
30. Pestle made of Sandstone 46
31. Pestle made of Stone 46
32. Pestle made of Stone 48
33. Pestle made of Stone 48
34. Pestle made of Stone 48
35. Pestle made of Steatite 49
36. Pestle or Roller made of Stone 49
37. Pestle or Roller made of Stone 49
38. Fragment of Hearth of Fire Drill 50
39. Wedge made of Antler 57
40. Hammerstone 59
41. Hammerstone 60
42. Hammerstone made of a Hard, Water-worn Pebble 60
43. Hammerstone 60
44. Hammerstone made of a Close-Grained Yellow Volcanic Pebble 62
45. Celt made of Serpentine 62
46. Hand-Adze made of Stone 64
47. Point for a Drill, chipped from Chalcedony 66
48. Point for a Drill, chipped from Chert 66
49. Scraper chipped from Petrified Wood 68
50. Scraper chipped from Agate 68
51. Scraper chipped from Chalcedony 68
52. Scraper chipped from Chalcedony 68
53. Scraper chipped from a Flat Circular Pebble 70
54. Scraper or Knife chipped from a Pebble 70
55. Scraper or Knife chipped from a Pebble 71
56. Awl made of Bone 72
57. Awl made of Bone 72
58. Spatulate Object made of Bone 72
59_a_. Object made of Steatite, probably a Mat Presser.
_b_. Part of Incised Pictograph on Object shown in _a_ 73
60. Grooved Pebble 76
61. Club-head or Sinker made of Lava 76
62. Club made of Serpentine 77
63. Club made of Serpentine 77
64. Club made of Stone 79
65. Club made of Stone 79
66. Club made of Stone 79
67. Club made of Stone 81
68. Club made of Stone 81
69. War Implement or Slave Killer, made of Friable Stone 81
70. Diagram of Stitch of Fragment of Rush Matting 84
71_a_. Fragment of Matting, made of Twined Rush stitched
together with twisted Cord.
_b_ Diagram of Stitch of _a_ 85
72. Fragment of Open-Twine Matting, made of Rush 87
73. Comb made of Antler 88
74. Beads made of Copper, Glass and Sections of Dentalium Shells 89
75. Bead made of Brass 90
76. Beads made of Shell 90
77. Drilled and Perforated Disk made of Slate 92
78. Pendant made of Copper, Thong and Copper Bead 92
79. Button made of Shell with Attached Bead made of Metal 92
80. Perforated Disk made of Bone 92
81. Pendants made of Slate 93
82. Pendant made of Copper 95
83. Pendant made of Copper 95
84. Pendant made of Brass and Bead made of Copper 95
85. Pendant made of Iron 96
86. Pendant made of Iron 96
87. Pendant or Bead made of an Olivella Shell 96
88. Pendant made of (_Pectunculus_) Shell 96
89. Pendant made of Iridescent Shell 98
90. Pendant made of (_Haliotis_) Shell 98
91. Pendant made of (_Haliotis_) Shell 98
92. Pendant or Nose Ornament, made of (_Haliotis_) Shell 98
93. Pendant made of Shell 99
94. Pendant made of Oyster Shell 99
95. Bracelet made of Copper 100
96. Bracelet made of Iron 100
97. Bone Tube 106
98. Bone Tube bearing Incised Lines, Charred 106
99. Perforated Cylinder made of Steatite 106
100. Tubular Pipe made of Steatite 106
101. Tubular Pipe made of Green Stone with Stem 107
102. Pipe made of Steatite used by the Thompson River Indians
at Spences Bridge in 1895 109
103. Form of the Flange-Shaped Mouth of the Bowl of some
Thompson River Indian Pipes 109
104. Tubular Pipe made of Steatite 112
105. Fragment of a Sculptured Tubular Pipe made of Steatite 112
106. Pipe made of Limestone 112
107. Pipe made of Sandstone 112
108. Pipe made of Bluestone 112
109. Pipe made of Stone 112
110. Pipe made of Soft Sandstone 114
111. Pipe made of Steatite 114
112. Pipe made of Soft Sandstone 114
113. Pipe made of Steatite 116
114_a_. Incised Design on a Fragment of a Wooden Bow.
_b_ Section of Fragment of Bow shown in _a_ 125
115. Incised Design on Bowl of Pipe shown in Fig. 107 126
116. Incised Design on Stone Dish 126
117. Incised Designs on Dentalium Shells 126
118. Incised Designs on Dentalium Shells 126
119. Incised Pendant made of Steatite with Red Paint (Mercury)
in some of the Holes and Lines 127
120. Circle and Dot Design on Whetstone made of Slate 133
121. Costumed Human Figure made of Antler 133
122. Quill-flattener made of Antler 133
123. Fragments of a Figure 133
124. Fragment of a Sculpture with Hoof-like Part 134
125. Sculptured Animal Form made of Lava 134
126. Handle of Digging Stick made of Horn of Rocky Mountain Sheep 135
127. Pipe made of Stone 136
128. Sculptured and Inlaid Pipe made of Steatite with Wooden Stem 137
129. Sketch Map of the Yakima Valley 152
INTRODUCTION.
The following pages contain the results of archaeological investigations
carried on by the writer for the American Museum of Natural History from
May to August, 1903,[1] in the Yakima Valley between Clealum of the
forested eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains and Kennewick, between
the mouths of the Yakima and Snake Rivers in the treeless arid region,
and in the Columbia Valley in the vicinity of Priest Rapids. My
preliminary notes on the archaeology of this region were published in
Science.[2] Definite age cannot be assigned to the archaeological finds,
since here, as to the north, the remains are found at no great depth or
in soil the surface of which is frequently shifted. Some of the graves
are known to be of modern Indians, but many of them antedate the advent
of the white race in this region or at least contain no objects of
European manufacture, such as glass beads or iron knives. On the other
hand, there was found no positive evidence of the great antiquity of any
of the skeletons, artifacts or structures found in the area. The greater
part of the area was formerly inhabited by Sahaptian speaking people,
including the Yakima, Atanum, Topinish, Chamnapum, and Wanapum, while
the northern part of it was occupied by the Piskwans or Winatshmpui of
the Salish linguistic stock.[3]
[1] A brief report of the operations of this expedition appeared in
the American Museum Journal, Vol. IV, No. 1, pp. 12-14, January,
1904. It was slightly revised and appeared in Science N. S. Vol.
XIX, No. 484, pp. 579-580, April 8, 1904, and Records of the Past,
Vol. IV, Part 4, pp. 119-127, April 1905.
[2] N. S. Vol. XXIII, No. 588, p. 551-555, April 6, 1906. Reprinted
in the Seattle Post Intelligencer for March, 1906, the Scientific
American Supplement, Vol. LXII, No. 1602, September 15, 1906, and in
the Washington Magazine, Vol. I, No. 4, June 1906. Abstracted in the
Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, May, 1906.
[3] Mooney, Plate LXXXVIII
Near North Yakima we examined graves in the rock-slides along the Yakima
and Naches Rivers; a site, where material, possibly boulders, suitable
for chipped implements had been dug and broken with pebble hammers, on
the north side of the Naches about one mile above its mouth; pictographs
on the basaltic columns on the south side of the Naches River to the
west of the mouth of Cowiche Creek; petroglyphs pecked into basaltic
columns in Selah Canon; ancient house sites on the north side of the
Naches River near its mouth, and on the north side of the Yakima River
below the mouth of the Naches; remains of human cremations, each
surrounded by a circle of rocks on the point to the northwest of the
junction of the Naches and Yakima Rivers; recent rock-slide graves on
the eastern side of the Yakima River above Union Gap below Old Yakima
(Old Town); the surface along the eastern side of the Yakima River, as
far as the vicinity of Sunnyside; graves in the domes of volcanic ash in
the Ahtanum Valley near Tampico; and rock-slide graves in the Cowiche
Valley.
We then moved our base about thirty miles up the Yakima River to
Ellensburg, Mr. Albert A. Argyle examining the surface along the western
side, en route. From Ellensburg, rock-slide graves and human remains,
surrounded by circles of rocks, as well as a village site upon the
lowland, were examined near the mouth of Cherry Creek. A day spent at
Clealum failed to develop anything of archaeological interest in that
vicinity, except that a human skeleton had been removed in the sinking
of a shaft for a coal mine.
From Ellensburg we went to Fort Simcoe by way of North Yakima and near
the Indian Agency observed circles of rocks, like those around the
cremated human remains near North Yakima, and a circular hole surrounded
by a ridge, the remains of an underground house. Crossing the divide
from Ellensburg and going down to Priest Rapids in the Columbia Valley,
no archaeological remains were observed except chips of stone suitable
for chipped implements which were found on the eastern slope of the
divide near the top and apparently marked the place where material for
such implements, probably float quartz, had been quarried. On the
western side of the Columbia, on the flat between Sentinal Bluffs and
the river at the head of Priest Rapids, considerable material was found.
This was on the surface of the beach opposite the bluffs and on a
village site near the head of Priest Rapids. Graves in the rock-slides,
back from the river about opposite this site, were also examined. Some
modern graves were noticed in a low ridge near the river, a short
distance above the village site. Crossing the Columbia, some material
was found on the surface of the beach and further up, petroglyphs pecked
in the basaltic rocks at the base of Sentinal Bluffs were photographed.
The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. D. W. Owen of
Kennewick for information, for permission to examine his collection, to
make notes and sketches of specimens in it, and for presenting certain
specimens;[4] to Mr. Frank N. McCandless of Tacoma for permission to
study and photograph the specimens[5] in his collection containing part
of the York collection in the Ferry Museum, City Hall, Tacoma; to Mr.
Louis O. Janeck of 415 North 2nd. St., North Yakima for information and
for permission to study and photograph the specimens[6] in his
collection as well as for supplementary information since received from
him; to Hon. Austin Mires of Ellensburg for information and permission
to study and photograph specimens[7] in his collection; to Mrs. O.
Hinman of Ellensburg for permission to photograph specimens[8] in her
collection; to Mrs. J. B. Davidson of Ellensburg for information and
permission to study her collection and to make drawings of specimens[9]
in it, and for the pipe shown in Fig. 106; to Mr. W. H. Spalding of
Ellensburg for permission to photograph specimens[10] in his collection;
to Mrs. Jay Lynch of Fort Simcoe, for information and permission to
photograph specimens[11] in her collection; to Mr. W. Z. York of Old
Yakima for permission to sketch and study specimens[12] in his
collection, and to others credited specifically in the following pages.
The accompanying drawings are by Mr. R. Weber and the photographs are by
the author, unless otherwise credited.
[4] See Figs. 10, 39, 42, 56, 57, 107 and 124.
[5] See Figs. 35, 45, 79, 100 and 113.
[6] See Figs. 19, 20, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34, 46, 58, 60, 61, 63, 64,
65, 66, 67, 69, 81, 108, 109, 120 and 125.
[7] See Figs. 4, 5, 14, 15, 16, 24, 25, 32 and 44.
[8] See Figs. 30, 36 and 116.
[9] See Figs. 8, 47 and 106; see also p. 25.
[10] See Figs. 11 and 59.
[11] See Figs. 73, 119, 127 and 128.
[12] See Figs. 26, 29, 104, 110, 111 and 112.
GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION.
Clealum is situated on the Yakima River, at a point on the Northern
Pacific Railway, 122 miles east of the humid, heavily forested coast at
Puget Sound. Although situated not over 154 miles from Copalis, on the
ocean at the western edge or furthest limit of the temperate humid coast
country, the summers are hot and dry and the winters severe. It is 1909
feet above the sea level and far enough towards the summit of the
Cascade Mountains, that marks the line between the humid coast and the
arid almost treeless interior, to find considerable moisture and many
trees.
Ellensburg is situated near the eastern side of the Yakima River, 25
miles below Clealum, at an altitude of 1512 feet above the sea level and
in the wide somewhat flat Kittitas Valley which was, in former geologic
times, a lake bottom. The river flows rapidly and its low banks at
places are high enough to form gravel bluffs. The surrounding country is
arid and there is no natural forest growth.
Cherry Creek, one of a number of small streams on this side of the
river, flows through the eastern part of this valley, and empties into
the Yakima River about one mile below Thrall on Section 31, Town 17,
North of Range 19 East. Here, the river enters Yakima Canon which cuts
through Umptanum Ridge and the western foothills of Saddle Mountains.
There are some pines in this canon.
Selah Creek flows through Selah Canon from the east and empties into the
Yakima, about one mile above Selah at the northwest corner of Section
16, Town 14, north of Range 19 East. This is in a broad valley below
Yakima Canon. At the time of our visit, however, the lower portion of
this creek was dry. Wenas Creek empties into the Yakima from the west,
nearly opposite Selah.
North Yakima is on the western side of the Yakima River, about two miles
below the mouth of the Naches, which empties into the Yakima from the
west, immediately below where the latter breaks through Yakima Ridge.
This break is called the Gap or the Upper Gap. North Yakima is at an
altitude of 1067 feet above the sea level. The soil of the valley is
made up of a rich volcanic ash and the region is arid and practically
treeless except on the banks of the rivers and creeks or where
irrigation has been successfully practised. The climate in most respects
resembles that of the southern interior of British Columbia, lying to
the north, but in general, there is less vegetation except on irrigated
land.
Cowiche Creek flows from the southwest and empties into the south side
of the Naches, at a point about three miles above its mouth.
Tampico is situated on Section 17, Town 12, north of Range 16 East, on
the north side of Ahtanum Creek, which flows nearly east along the base
of the north side of Rattlesnake Range and empties into the Yakima at
Union Gap or Lower Gap, below Old Yakima.
Fort Simcoe is located in a cluster of live oak trees, on one of the
branches of Simcoe Creek, which flows in an easterly direction and
empties into the Toppenish River, a western feeder of the Yakima. This
place is at an altitude of 937 feet above the sea level and is
surrounded by 'scab' land. Going west from Fort Simcoe, up the slopes of
the Cascade Mountains, a mile or so, one notices timber in the valleys,
and as one proceeds still further up the mountains, the timber becomes
thicker and of greater size. This is the beginning of the forest, which
at the west side of the Cascades becomes so remarkably dense. To the
east of Fort Simcoe, however, no trees are seen, except in the bottoms
along the streams, while on the lower reaches of the Yakima and on the
banks of the Columbia, east of here, there are absolutely no trees.
Kennewick is located on the western side of the Columbia River about six
miles below the mouth of the Yakima. It is opposite Pasco, which is
about three miles above the mouth of Snake River. The place is only 366
feet above the sea level and except where irrigation has been practised,
there are no trees in sight, the vegetation being that typical of the
desert among which are sagebrush, grease-wood and cactus. Lewis and
Clark, when here on their way to the Pacific Coast, October 17,
1805,[13] saw the Indians drying salmon on scaffolds for food and fuel.
Captain Clark said, "I do not think [it] at all improbable that those
people make use of Dried fish as fuel. The number of dead Salmon on the
Shores & floating in the river is incrediable to say ... how far they
have to raft their timber they make their scaffolds of I could not
learn; but there is no timber of any sort except Small willow bushes in
sight in any direction."
[13] Lewis and Clark, III, p. 124.
Sentinal Bluffs is the name given to both sides of the gap where the
Columbia River breaks through Saddle Mountains. It is a short distance
above the head of Priest Rapids. Crab Creek empties into the Columbia
from the east on the north side of these mountains. On the western side
of the river, between the Bluffs and the head of Priest Rapids, there is
a flat place of considerable area, portions of which the Columbia floods
during the winter. Going northwest from here to Ellensburg, the trail
leads up a small valley in which are several springs surrounded by some
small trees. One ascends about 2000 feet to the top of the divide and
then descends perhaps 1000 feet into the Kittitas Valley.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES.
At Clealum, we found no archaeological remains, except a single human
skeleton unearthed in the sinking of a shaft for a coal mine. Here,
however, our examination of the vicinity was limited to one day, and it
is possible that a more thorough search might bring to light
archaeological sites. Specimens from the vicinity of Clealum are unknown
to the writer, although there are a number of collections from the
vicinity of Ellensburg, Priest Rapids, Kennewick and other places lower
down. The abundance of specimens on the surface near Priest Rapids and
Kennewick in proportion to those found near North Yakima and Ellensburg,
suggests that the high parts of the valley were less densely inhabited
and that the mountains were perhaps only occasionally visited. It would
seem possible that the prehistoric people of the Yakima Valley had their
permanent homes on the Columbia, and possibly in the lower parts of the
Yakima region. This is indicated by the remains of underground houses,
some of which are as far up as Ellensburg. These remains are similar to
those found in the Thompson River region, where such houses were
inhabited in the winter. The people of the Yakima area probably seldom
went up to the higher valleys and the mountains, except on hunting
expeditions or to gather berries, roots and wood for their scaffolds,
canoes and other manufactures. If this be correct, it would account for
the scarcity of specimens upon the surface along the higher streams,
since all the hunting parties, berry, root and wood-gathering
expeditions were not likely to leave behind them so much material as
would be lost or discarded in the vicinity of the permanent villages.
Spinden states[14] that in the Nez Perce region to the east of the
Yakima country, permanent villages were not built in the uplands,
although in a few places where camas and kouse were abundant, temporary
summer camps were constructed.
[14] Spinden, p. 178.
In the vicinity of Ellensburg, we found no archaeological specimens
except the chipped point mentioned on page 163, but this may be due in
part to the modern cultivation of the soil and to the fact that the
irrigated crops, such as are grown here, hide so much of the surface of
the ground. A search along portions of the level country west of the
town and even in such places as those where the river cuts the bank,
failed to reveal signs of house or village sites. In Ellensburg, I saw a
summer lodge, made up of a conical framework of poles covered with cloth
and inhabited by an old blind Indian and his wife. East of the city,
near the little stream below the City Reservoir was another summer lodge
made similarly, but among the covering cloths was some matting of native
manufacture. The remains of an underground house, possibly 30 feet in
diameter were seen to the east of the Northern Pacific Railway, between
Ellensburg and Thrall.
On the little bottom land along the western side of Cherry Creek, near
its mouth, at the upper end of Yakima Canon, we found objects which show
that the place had been a camping ground. This is immediately south of
where an east and west road crosses the creek on the farm of Mr. Bull.
On this village site were found the specimens catalogued under numbers
202-8213 to 8222, of which two are shown in Plate II, Fig. 12, and Fig.
52. The opposite side of this stream strikes one of the foothills of the
uplands, the western extension of Saddle Mountains. On the top of this
foothill, which overlooks the above mentioned village site, were a
number of burials marked by circles of rocks.[15] In the rock-slide on
the side of this hill, between these circles and the village site below,
were a number of graves which are described in detail under numbers
99-4326-4332 and 202-8223-8258 on pages 164 to 166. Some of the objects
found, many of which are recent and show contact with the white race,
are shown in Figs. 71a, 72, 74, 78, 80, 82-86, 90, 92, 95, and 96.
[15] See 99-4325, page 163.
On the western side of the Yakima, about opposite the above mentioned
village site, a rock-slide appears at the head of Yakima Canon. In it
are a number of rock-slide graves marked by sticks.
In Selah Canon, on the north side of Selah Creek, about a mile and a
half above where it empties into the Yakima are three groups of
petroglyphs pecked into the vertical surface of the low basaltic cliffs
of the canon wall. Two of these groups (Plate XII) are upon eastern
faces of the rock, while the one shown in Fig. 1, Plate XIII, is upon a
southern exposure. In the rock-slide on the south side of Selah Canon,
about three quarters of a mile above the Yakima or about half way
between these petroglyphs and the Yakima, were found a number of graves,
one of them marked by a much weathered twig. These were the only
archaeological remains seen by us in Selah Canon, although we examined
it for at least two miles from its mouth.
On the north slope of Yakima Ridge, near its base, at a point where the
Moxee Canal and the river road turn and run west along the base of the
ridge or about southeast of the largest ranch there, possibly two miles
northeasterly from the Gap, were a number of scattered graves covered
with rock-slide material. About one quarter of a mile west from here, a
little west of south of the ranch, was a large rock-slide, covering a
short northerly spur of the ridge. This is shown from the southwest in
Plate VII. It is about three quarters of a mile northeast from where the
Yakima River, after flowing through bottom lands, strikes the base of
the Yakima Ridge. In this slide were a large number of shallow parallel
nearly horizontal ditches below each of which is a low ridge or terrace
of the angular slide-rock. Among these terraces, as shown in Fig. 2 of
the plate, were a few pits surrounded by a low ridge, made up of jagged
slide-rock, apparently from out of the pits. It was naturally larger at
the side of the pit towards the bottom of the slide. In none of these
did we find human remains or specimens. Some of them are larger than
similar pits that we found to be rock-slide graves. Their close
resemblance to graves found to have been disturbed, part of their
remains being scattered near by and to other graves, as they appeared
after our excavations, suggests that these pits are the remains of such
rock-slide graves from which the bodies have been removed by the Indians
possibly since the land became the property of the United States
Government. On the other hand, these pits remind us of rifle pits,
though it does not seem probable that they would be built in such a
place for that purpose and there is no local account of the site having
been used for such pits. This rock-slide is particularly interesting
because of the terraces into which most of its surface had been formed.
The character of the rock-slide material is such that one may walk over
these for some little time without noticing them, but once having been
noticed, they always force themselves upon the attention. Standing near
the top of the slide, they remind one of rows of seats in a theatre.
Each terrace begins at the edge of the slide and runs horizontally out
around its convex surface to the opposite side. Some of them are wider
than others. They resemble the more or less horizontal and parallel
terraces formed by horses and cattle while feeding on steep slopes. The
Yakima Ridge has been so terraced by stock in many places and over large
areas. However, there is no vegetation on the rock-slide to entice stock
and the difficulty of walking over the cruelly sharp rocks as well as
the presence of rattlesnakes would seem sufficient to cause both cattle
and horses to pass either below or above it. The outer edge of each
terrace is probably little lower than the inner edge, but viewed from
the slope it seems so, and this suggests that these terraces may have
been entrenchments, though it would seem that they would be useless for
such a purpose since one can easily reach the land above from either
side. Moreover, it would not seem necessary to make parallel
entrenchments down the entire slope. That they were made to facilitate
the carrying of the dead to the rock-slide graves is possible but not
probable. It seems unlikely that they could have been made for the
seating of spectators to overlook games or ceremonies; for the sharpness
of the rocks would make them very uncomfortable.
There is a much higher rock-slide on the east side of a small steep
ravine near where the Yakima River flows close to the base of the ridge,
about a mile northeast of the Naches River or Upper Gap. Near the top of
this slide, possibly three hundred feet above the river, were similar
pits larger than those just described. Two or three of these were
bounded along the edge towards the top of the slide by an unusually wide
terrace. Near the bottom of this slide were graves[16] (Nos. 1 and 2)
which are described in detail on page 153. Grave No. 1 was in the base
of the rock-slide as shown in the figure and was indicated by a cedar
stick projecting from a slight depression in the top of the heap of
rock-slide material covering it. It was on a slight terrace about eighty
feet above the river, and commanded a view over the valley of the Yakima
to the north. The presence of the brass tube shown in Fig. 75 suggests
that this grave is not of great antiquity. Grave No. 2 was in the same
rock-slide about fifty feet down the ravine or to the north, and about
forty feet above the Moxee flume. It was indicated by a hole in a pile
of rock, like an old well. It was found to contain nothing, the remains
having been removed. On the south side of the Yakima Ridge, near the
bridge over the Yakima, at the Upper Gap, rock-slide graves are said to
have been disturbed during the construction of the flume which carries
the waters of the Moxee ditch around the western end of the Yakima
Ridge, and during the gathering of stone on this point for commercial
purposes. Some of these graves are said to have been above the flume.
[16] Sec Fig. 3, Plate VI from the north of west.
Here and there, near the base of the ridge from this point easterly for
about a mile, were found small pits, such as one shown in Fig. 1, Plate
VIII. Apparently, these were rock-slide graves from which the human
remains had been removed, either by the Indians in early times or more
recently by visitors from the neighboring town of North Yakima. Possibly
some of them are old cache holes. One of these graves near the top of a
small rock-slide above the flume contained a human skeleton and is shown
in Fig. 2, Plate VIII. Below these graves, on the narrow flat between
the base of the ridge and the Yakima River at a point about three
quarters of a mile below the Upper Gap at the mouth of the Naches River,
were discovered a number of small pits each surrounded by a low ridge of
earth which were probably the remains of cache holes made by the Indians
during the last twenty years. On this flat, close to the river were two
pits surrounded by a circular ridge which indicated ancient
semi-subterranean house sites, further described on page 51.
It is said, that above the flume at a point about a mile and a half
below the Upper Gap, rock-slide graves, some of which were marked by
pieces of canoes were excavated by school boys. The writer was also
informed by small boys that near the top of the ridge immediately above
here, they frequently found chipped points for arrows but on examination
discovered only chips of stone suitable for such points, the boys either
having mistaken the chips for points or having collected so many of the
points that they were scarce.
On the west side of the Yakima, at the Upper Gap, there is a raised flat
top or terrace that overlooks the mouth of the Naches River to the
southeast. Here were a number of circles made up of angular rocks.
Within each we found the remains of human cremations. Unburned fragments
of the bones of several individuals with shell ornaments were often
present in a single circle.[17]
[17] See p. 142 and Fig. 1, Plate IX.
Continuing westward, along the slope of the ridge, cut along its
southern base by the Naches River, at a point about one and a quarter
miles west of the mouth of the river, a small ravine cuts down from the
top of the ridge. This has formed a little flat through the middle of
which it has again cut down towards the river. East of this ravine on
the flat is a circle of angular rocks such as are found scattered over
the ridge. This circle no doubt marks a house site, the interior having
been cleared of stone and the circle of rocks probably having been used
to hold down the lodge covering.[18] To the west of the ravine, where
the flat is somewhat higher than to the east, there are the remains of
two semi-subterranean houses. Each of these is represented by a pit
surrounded by a ridge of earth, and on the top, are large angular
rocks.[19] At a point where the ridge meets this flat, close to the
western side of the ravine was a slight depression in a small rock-slide
which marked what seemed to be a grave, but which, on excavation,
revealed nothing. Still further westward at a point probably two miles
above the mouth of the Naches River and overlooking the stream at an
altitude of perhaps 250 feet, we found scattered over the ground along
the eastern summit of a deep ravine, the first one west of the house
sites above mentioned, numerous small chips of material suitable for
chipped implements. These became more numerous as we proceeded northward
up the eastern side of the ravine for a distance of about a quarter of a
mile. Here we came upon the small quarry in the volcanic soil, shown in
Fig. 1, Plate III. Immediately to the west of the pit was a pile of
earth, apparently excavated from it.
[18] See p. 15 and Fig. 1, Plate IV.
[19] See p. 52 and Fig. 2, Plate IV.
On the top of this heap of soil and among the broken rock to the south
and east of it, were found several water-worn pebbles, used as hammers
in breaking up the rock, as indicated by the battered condition of their
ends (p. 58). We saw no other water-worn pebbles on the surface of the
ridge, but they were numerous in the gravel of the bottom-lands subject
to the overflow of the rivers. It would seem that these pebbles were
brought up from the river below for use as hammers. Scattered to the
south of the pit were found large fragments of float quartz material
containing small pieces of stone suitable for chipped implements but
made up mainly of stone which was badly disintegrated. Lying on the
slope of the ravine were many small fragments of this same stone which
were clear of flaws.
It would seem that a mass of float quartz much of which was suitable for
chipped implements had been found here. It had been excavated, leaving
the pile of earth and then broken up with the river pebbles which were
left behind with the waste. Probably there were fairly large pieces of
the material, suitable for chipped implements; that were carried away
while small pieces were left lying about a pile of unsuitable material.
In other words, it would seem that these specimens mark a place for the
roughing out of material for chipped implements.[20] On the same side of
the river, on the side of a rather low ridge or table-land overlooking
it, at a point about twelve miles above its mouth, are some rock-slides.
Here it is said that graves have been found. They were probably typical
rock-slide graves. On a point of land perhaps fifty feet above these and
a few hundred feet to the north, Master James McWhirter pointed out a
grave on his farm. It was then surrounded by a ring made up of
water-worn pebbles, apparently brought up from the river. He stated that
an attempt had been made to excavate it which possibly accounts for the
pebbles being in a circle rather than a heap over the grave. This grave
was found to contain a slab of wood, shell ornaments, probably modern,
and an adult skeleton, No. 12 (7), 99-4320, p. 156.
[20] See p. 20.
There are a number of painted pictographs on the vertical faces of the
basaltic columns, facing north on the south side of the Naches River,
immediately to the west of the mouth of Cowiche Creek. These are below
the flume and may be reached from the top of the talus slope which has
been added to by the blasting away of the rock above, during the
construction of the flume. In fact, debris from this blasting has
covered part of the pictographs. Some of the pictures are in red, others
in white and there are combinations of the two colors.[21] Local
merchants have defaced these pictographs with advertisements.
[21] Further described under the subject of art on p. 119 and shown
in Plates XIV-XVI.
In the Cowiche Valley, there are several rock-slide graves, but these
seem to have been rifled. Northeast of the fair grounds at North Yakima,
the remains of an underground house are said to exist. A short distance
east of Tampico, about 18 miles above the mouth of the Ahtanum, on the
north side of the river and east of the road from the north where it
meets the river road and immediately across it from the house of Mr.
Sherman Eglin, was a grave located in a volcanic dome left by the wind,
which Mr. Eglin pointed out to us. The site is about 600 feet north of
the north branch of the Ahtanum and about fifteen feet above the level
of the river. A pile of rocks about eight feet in diameter covered this
grave, No. 25, p. 160. On the land of Mr. A. D. Eglin, between the
above-mentioned grave and Tampico on the north side of the road were
seen the signs of two graves, destroyed by plowing. Near here, an oblong
mound six or eight inches high and ten feet wide by eight feet long,
supposedly covering a grave, marked by a stone on the level at each side
and each end, 12 and 16 feet apart respectively was reported by Mr.
Eglin's son. A little distance further north and up the slope of the
land, were a number of volcanic ash heaps left by the wind. The
surrounding land is what is locally known as "scab land." In some of
these knolls, graves have been found and one which has been explored is
shown in Fig. 2, Plate IX. It is located near the pasture gate, and was
marked by a circle of stones as shown in the figure. On excavating,
nothing was found. It is possible that the remains were entirely
disintegrated. Graves in rock-slides on hill sides, and a village site
near this place were reported by Mr. Eglin's son. Along the north side
of Ahtanum Creek between Ahtanum and Tampico, below the rim rock of the
uplands parallel to the creek are a number of rock-slide graves.
On the western side of Union Gap, through which the Yakima River flows,
below the mouth of Ahtanum Creek, a short distance below Old Yakima, on
a little flat or terrace projecting from the south side of Rattle Snake
Range is a modern Indian cemetery surrounded by a fence. To the east of
Union Gap, on the northwestern slope of Rattle Snake Range, we examined
some rock-slide graves which had been made since the advent of objects
of white manufacture. A mile or so south of Union Gap not far from the
uplands to the east of the river was a ridge of earth extending north
and south nearly parallel with the river road. This, however, I believe
may be the remains of some early irrigation project. On the west side of
the Yakima River about two miles south of Union Gap was seen a summer
lodge made by covering a conical framework with mats.
At Fort Simcoe, immediately south of the Indian agency, on the north
edge of the "scab land," overlooking a small ravine, is a large pit
surrounded by an embankment of earth, the remains of a semi-subterranean
house. Perhaps an eighth of a mile south of this, on higher "scab land"
was a rather low long mound upon which were several piles of stone that
probably marked graves. This mound was lower and more oblong than the
usual dome in which such graves were made. Mrs. Lynch, who pointed these
out has excavated similar piles at this place and found them to mark
graves. We were informed that chipped implements were frequently found
along the Yakima River at a point near Prosser. Above Kennewick, while
digging a flume, a number of graves were discovered, from which Mr.
Sonderman made his collection. Some of these graves contained modern
material (p. 111).
On the surface of the western beach of the Columbia at Kennewick and on
the flat land back of it we found chips of material suitable for making
chipped implements, and a large pebble, probably a net sinker.[22]
These, together with the fact that Mr. D. W. Owen has also frequently
found specimens here, suggest that this place was an ancient camping
ground. That Lewis and Clark saw Indians here and in the vicinity, as
well as that the Indians still camp here on the beach of the river,
sheltered from the wind by the bank and depending upon the river
driftwood for their fuel, strengthens this suggestion. Specimens have
been found on the large island in the Columbia at the mouth of the
Yakima. (See p. 64.) At a point four miles below Kennewick or perhaps a
mile below a point opposite the mouth of the Snake, a grave which
contained material of white manufacture is said to have been discovered
by a man while hauling water up the bank of the Columbia.
[22] See p. 30.
Schoolcraft states[23] that there was an earthwork on the left bank of
the Lower Yakima on the edge of a terrace about fifteen feet high a
short distance from the water. This terrace was banked on either side by
a gully. This consisted of two concentric circles of earth about eighty
yards in diameter by three feet high, with a ditch between. Within were
about twenty "cellars", situated without apparent design, except economy
of room. They were some thirty feet across, and three feet deep. A guide
stated that it was unique and made very long ago by an unknown people.
Outside, but near by, were other "cellars" in no way differing from the
remains of villages of the region. What may be an earthwork near by is
described by Schoolcraft[24] as follows: "The Indians also pointed out,
near by, a low hill or spur, which in form might be supposed to resemble
an inverted canoe, and which he had said was a ship." Schoolcraft
suggests a possible relation of this to the mounds of the Sacramento
Valley and continues:--
"In this connection may also be mentioned a couple of
modern fortifications, erected by the Yakamas upon the
Sunkive fork. They are situated between two small
branches, upon the summits of a narrow ridge some two
hundred yards long, and thirty feet in height, and are
about twenty-five yards apart. The first is a square with
rounded corners, formed by an earthen embankment capped
with stones; the interstices between which served for
loop-holes, and without any ditch. It is about thirty
feet on the sides, and the wall three feet high. The
other is built of adobes, in the form of a rectangle,
twenty by thirty-four feet, the walls three feet high,
and twelve to eighteen inches thick, with loop-holes six
feet apart. Both are commanded within rifle-shot by
neighboring hills. They were erected in 1847 by Skloo, as
a defence against the Cayuse. We did not hear whether
they were successfully maintained, accounts varying
greatly in this respect. In the same neighborhood Captain
M'Clellan's party noticed small piles of stones raised by
the Indians on the edges of the basaltic walls which
enclose these valleys, but were informed that they had no
purpose; they were put up through idleness. Similar piles
are, however, sometimes erected to mark the fork of a
trail. At points on these walls there were also many
graves, generally made in regular form, covered with
loose stones to protect them from the cayotes, and marked
by poles decorated with tin cups, powder-horns, and
articles of dress. During the summer the Indians for the
most part live in the small valleys lying well into the
foot of the mountains. These are, however, uninhabitable
during the winter, and they move further down, or to more
sheltered situations. The mission which, in summer, is
maintained in the A-tá-nam valley, is transferred into
that of the main river."[25]
[23] Schoolcraft, VI. p. 612.
[24] Schoolcraft, VI. p. 613.
[25] Cf. also Bancroft, IV. p. 736; Stevens, pp. 232-3; Gibbs, (a),
pp. 408-9.
After passing the top of the divide, to the left of the trail from
Ellensburg to Priest Rapids, chips and fragments of variegated float
quartz suitable for chipped implements were found. This apparently
marked a place where a fragment of float rock had been broken up, but
fine fragments were hardly numerous enough to indicate that the place
had been a shop site, or at least a large one. The quantity of material
broken up, judging from the amount of refuse, was small. On the western
side of the Columbia, at the base of the basaltic rocks where they meet
the bottom-land, perhaps a mile from the river were rock-slide graves in
the talus slope. At the head of Priest Rapids, the river turns towards
the west and then southward, flowing close to the southern end of this
escarpment. On the flat, at the very head of Priest Rapids, the river,
during high water had washed out the remains of a village or camp site,
where pestles and animal bones were numerous. A short distance above
this, in a low ridge near the river were some modern graves some of
which were marked with sticks at the head and foot. The bodies, judging
from the mounds of earth, were laid full length and many, if not all of
them, judging from the size of the head and foot sticks, were placed
with the feet towards the east. Perhaps a mile above here near the home
of Mr. Britain Everette Craig, several large and deep pits, the sites of
ancient semi-subterranean houses were seen. Above and near his house,
the river had washed out what was apparently a village site, and perhaps
a few graves. Here was found the small fresh water shell heap, shown in
Fig. 1, Plate V, and the pile of flat oval pebbles which probably marked
a cooking place, shown in Fig. 2. On the west beach of the Columbia at
Sentinal Bluffs perhaps another mile further up the river, notched
sinkers and other indications of a camp or fishing ground were found.
On the eastern side of the river near the head of Priest Rapids some
material was found on the surface of the beach where the floods of the
river had uncovered it. A mile or more above here, pecked on the
basaltic columns of Sentinal Bluffs, which may be seen in both figures
of Plate V were a number of petroglyphs, shown in Plate XI and described
on page 121. Those shown in Fig. 1, photographed from the west, are on
the columns to the east of the road, blasted through the rocks at this
point, and perhaps fifteen feet from the river. Those in Fig. 2,
photographed from the north, are to the west of the road on the columns
which rise abruptly from the river. Some specimens and indications of
habitation were found scattered between this point and the mouth of Crab
Creek, the bed of which was dry in most places when we visited it.
RESOURCES.