The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-06-20

differed from both the prehistoric
and present culture of the coast to
the west, and even of the southern
interior of British Columbia to the
north of the Dalles to the south.
From the whole series of archeo-
logical explorations, In British CO.
lumbia and Washington, begun in
1897 for the Jesup North Pacific ex.
petition, and continued in 1903 for
the American Museum of Natural
history, we have learned that the
material culture of the prehistoric
and present natives was similar in
each area examined; that the culture
Of the coast is Of one sort, that of the
interior Of southern British Colum-
bia of another; from which that Of
central Washington differs some
what: and that there are several
small culture areas lying adjacent
to these. We find that each culture
apparently developed independently,
or at least more in accord with its
own environment and local tradi-
tion, rather than with any outside
influence, but at various times, es-
pecially in the past, each has been
Influenced by one or more of the
others.
In general the culture Of the
North Pacific coast does not extend
far inland. Northward its limits are
unknown, but southwark it coalesces
with that from the Columbia river
in the region between Seattle and
Shoalwater bay. In the interior we
have plateau culture Of which,
likewise, that part to the north diff
fers somewhat from that to the
south.
Experience in this work empha-
sizes the advisability of conducting
archaeological Investigations in CO.
operation with students of living
tribes. A study of the modern In
dian living in country under in
vestigation usually throws light on
archaeological finds made there, while
an understanding of the antiquities
of region often helps in the study
of the present natives. Besides, in
this way the continuity of the his
torical problem is met by a contin-
uity Of method.
In selecting successive fields of
operation 1t seems best always to
continue explorations in an area so
far distant from one already exam
ined that new conditions will be en-
countered. This will make it prob.
able that new facts will be discov-
e"e'i; possibly a new culture sr.a.
At the same time the new field Of
operation should be near enough
that no culture may intervene. Thus
the boundaries of culture areas may
be determined and new areas dis
covered. This method of continue
ton from past fields Of exploration
allows any experience there gained
to be of service in each new and ad-
jacent field, while the discoveries in
each new region may always lead to
a better understanding of the areas
explored and that perhaps In time
for incorporation in the results to be
published.
It remains to determine the north
ern, eastern and southern limits Of
the general plateau culture, how far
1t may be subdivided into local cul-
ture areas, the interrelation of each
of these, and of each to outside cul-
lures.
But few specimens have been
found in the whole area extending
from the central Arctic regiin to the
Columbia river, and from there
southwark along the coast to the
Santa Barbara islands, thence to the
Pueblo region and eastward as fer
as the mounds of the Mississippi
valley. Literature on the archeol-
ogy of the area is scanty. That
wild region, north to tho Arctic
across all the plains towards the