Research

Northwest Anthropological Conference 2012- Abstracts for Upcoming Talks

Holocene Glacial History of Manatee Valley, Upper Lillooet Provincial Park, Southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia, Canada.

Our understanding of Holocene environmental conditions in the BC Coast Mountains has remained relatively limited compared to other regions of North America; but because alpine glaciers respond sensitively to variations in precipitation and temperature, they are capable of providing a long-term perspective on climate change. This study applied dendrochronologic, lichenometric, and radiometric methods to reconstruct the glacial history of Manatee Valley. Dates from subfossilized trees exposed in glacier forefields during the 2006 and 2007 field seasons compliment the regional chronology, which demonstrates increasingly complex behavior, particularly for mid-Holocene glacier advances. Over past decades much debate has centered on the pithouse structures that are distributed throughout the Lillooet region. Several authors have hypothesized that the population fluctuations of these settlements are related changes in the paleoenvironment, although thus far, most of the supporting evidence has been drawn from pollen records. In this presentation I will talk about how recent work being conducted on the Coast Mountain glacial record, as well as the geobotanical methods being used to reconstruct it, can add to this discussion.

Lindsey E. Koehler

Consultation Success on a Small but Fascinating Project in the Northern Puget Sound Foothills.

In the past five years, habitat enhancement and mitigation projects have become a strong element in the industry of cultural resource management. Often wetland projects by their nature are within areas of high probability for cultural resources. We will be discussing the elements of the recently completed Centennial Trail North End Trailhead Park Project. Ultimately, consultation was the big success on this project but the resources we managed, the landscape they are set in and the methods we used to investigate them are their own compelling story that we will share.

Kelly R. Bush, M.A., Julia M. Rowland, B.A., and Lindsey E. Koehler, M.S.

Fisher Slough Habitat Restoration – Lessons Learned

In the past five years, habitat restoration has become a strong element in the industry of cultural resource management. Salmon habitat restoration projects by their nature are often within areas of high probability for cultural resources. Levee breeches and removals are often part of habitat restoration plans and have proven to be complex cultural features to manage or protect. I will be discussing the elements of the recently completed (2010 and 2011 field seasons) Fisher Slough Freshwater Marsh Restoration Project, including the importance of understanding the taphonomy and the nature and character of these types of features and archaeological material. These results should be considered when planning the initial identification and evaluation on salmon habitat restoration projects, especially those that involve modifications to existing levees.

Kelly R. Bush, M.A.