They were the first Oregonians. It is some present-day Indians' belief that the Creator created their people on the North American continent and that they have always lived here. We know little about these Indians because they did not leave any written record of their lives. Scientists known as archaeologists have learned about these Indians by studying the drawings and objects that they used and left behind. These objects are called artifacts.
Archaeologists use artifacts like puzzle pieces, each one tells part of the story of a past culture.
Used in conjunction with other evidence found in a site, such as bones from animals and other food remains, pollen, and remains of structures, archaeologists can, in theory, reconstruct the site and how the people lived at that time. It is very important that people visiting archaeological sites do not pick up, move, or remove artifacts, as it makes if difficult for an archaeologist to accurately interpret a site when some of the pieces to the puzzle are missing. Some of the most interesting clues about the early people of Oregon are found in rock art. Petroglyphs, or rock carvings, are some of the earliest known forms of written communication of people in the western hemisphere. No one is sure exactly what the figures meant to these early people.