The Čḯxʷicən Chronology and Depositional History Project

Overview

Čḯxʷicən (pronounced ch-WHEET-son) is a Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (LEKT) village in Port Angeles, Washington at the base of Ediz Hook on the south shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca that was occupied for the past 2,700 years. In 2004, Larson Anthropological Archaeological Services (LAAS) and LEKT members excavated the site with large open blocks of 1 x 1 m units by finely defined stratigraphic layers. In 2012, Sarah Campbell (Western Washington University), Michael Etnier (Western Washington University), Virginia Butler (Portland State University [PSU]), Kristine Bovy (University of Rhode Island), and Sarah Sterling (PSU) initiated a research project focusing on Čḯxʷicən faunal remains and geo-archaeological records from the 2004 mitigation. As part of project design, we selected to study excavation areas that were linked to two possible plankhouses, to include interior and extramural deposits.

This report describes the data sources and procedures used for contextual analysis. The process of defining chronozones is described, including selection of radiocarbon samples, interpretation of strata, generation of a GIS database of plan maps, and reconstruction of profiles from unit level plan maps. Primary data files generated from the analysis are included.

Support

Funding for this project came largely from the National Science Foundation [Grant Number 1219470].