Suquamish archaeologists protect the past for future generations
No two days look the same for Stephanie Trudel and Taylor Harriman, the Suquamish Tribe’s two on-staff archaeologists. Some days involve deep dives into research; others are spent monitoring construction projects in the field.
And then there are surprise assignments, like the one that recently turned Harriman into an internet sleuth.
It all began when someone told him about a Facebook post about a Port Orchard resident who’d found a projectile point in his backyard.
“I didn’t have any other way to contact the person, so I just messaged him through Facebook,” Harriman said. “I said, ‘Hey, I’m not trying to be weird or anything, but I work for the Suquamish Tribe, and I would love to learn more about what you found.’ I had to keep reassuring him that he wasn’t in trouble.”
Eventually, Harriman gained the resident’s trust and learned that the projectile point had been found in the hills above Port Orchard, away from the shoreline where most cultural sites are located.
“Every piece of new information matters and helps strengthen our records,” Harriman said.
Those records, maintained by the tribe’s Archaeology & Historic Preservation Program, help identify, preserve, and protect cultural resources throughout the tribe’s territory. The information collected helps ensure that places tied to Suquamish history, culture, and ancestors are considered before development occurs, protecting the cultural resources. Those records also include interviews conducted by Traditional Heritage Specialist Marilyn Jones.
Any construction project that uses federal or state funding and falls within the tribe’s “Usual and Accustomed” area must be reviewed in consultation with the tribe. In addition, projects within the U&A area that trigger review under Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act also require consultation.
As a result, Trudel and Harriman respond to an average of 2,000 requests each year. As the rate of development increases across Western Washington, that number is expected to grow.
“Ultimately, our role is to protect historic sites and preserve these nonrenewable resources,” said Trudel, who also serves as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, a partially federally funded grant position through the National Park Service that assumes the responsibility for preserving cultural sites on tribal lands.
In the past, archaeologists often excavated sites and removed the artifacts, essentially destroying sites in the process.
“Now, it is about avoiding, mitigating, and minimizing impacts. The best thing to do is not call attention to the area,” she said.
In fact, to protect sites from looting and vandalism, information identifying the exact locations of archaeological sites is exempt from public disclosure under Washington state law.
And what about land that has already been disturbed by underground utilities, roads, or foundations? Does that mean nothing of cultural significance remains to be found?
Both Trudel and Harriman answered with an emphatic “No!”
They shared several stories of artifacts being discovered when existing structures were repaired, replaced, or upgraded.
“People are often surprised to learn that just because a bridge was built 50 years ago, it doesn’t mean the area was properly evaluated for items,” Harriman said.
Trudel and Harriman work to provide thorough and timely consultations, often turning around requests in a matter of days. When they have concerns about the impact of a project, they recommend an outside professional archaeologist be hired to monitor the site during ground-disturbing activities. In those cases, Trudel and Harriman often join field monitoring efforts.
While archaeology focuses on layers from the past, Trudel and Harriman said their work is ultimately about serving future generations by ensuring important history is preserved.
“We are honored to do such important and meaningful work,” Trudel said. “We’re safeguarding things for the future,” Harriman added.
DID YOU KNOW?
Glacial Till
Because there is so much vegetation in the region, it’s highly unlikely that artifacts will be visible on the surface. In fact, when archaeologists survey local areas, they often probe 18-48 inches deep through years of accumulated vegetation before reaching glacial till. Glacial till is the heavily mixed sediment deposited by glaciers at the end of the last ice age and is typically grayish-blue in color. Once they reach that level, they gauge that if nothing was found in the soil above, the area most likely doesn’t contain artifacts.
Shell Middens
Shell middens are a common indicator of village sites and can be several feet deep. Middens often contain shells, animal bones, charcoal fragments, hearth stones, tool fragments, and sometimes even seeds or pollen. They help identify what daily life was like in the villages.
Beachcombing
Living in western Washington provides easy access to miles of shoreline along Puget Sound, making beach walks and beachcombing a popular activity. So, what should you do if you find something on the shore that may be of cultural significance?
“It’s human nature to pick up interesting things,” Trudel said. “But the best thing to do is to leave it in place, take a picture of it, and contact us with details of the location.”
If it is something small and at risk of washing away, it’s OK to pick it up, but if you do, please take a picture of where you found it and contact the Archaeology & Historic Preservation Program. They will advise you on the next steps and will let you know if it is something that the Suquamish Museum may be interested in adding to its collection.
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