The Salish Sea: Using Wet and Dry Site Archaeology to Explore the Defining Temporal Characteristics of this Inland Sea

Abstract

Abstract Waterlogged archaeological site exploration in the Salish Sea of North America has greatly expanded our understanding of this region's distinct cultural evolution. Much of this uniqueness involves ancient weaving traditions, in both basketry and blanket weaving equipment. The twelve main wet sites investigated are situated along the entire length of the newly defined Salish Sea, adding never-before-considered cultural historical time-depth complimenting the 2009 application of the Salish Sea name change. This time-depth stimulates the question – why has there been considerable continuity of the Salish Sea cultural tradition, as reflected in wet sites, over this vast area? What exchange-of-ideas and products are reflected in the evolution of non-textile versus textile artefacts throughout the region and beyond? The ancient basketry and blanket-weaving traditions in the Salish Sea appear to distinguish it through time from the Northern and Southern Northwest Coast arts and artefact traditions.