Generationally Linked Archaeology: A New Line on Ancient Northwest Coast Cordage

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Defining Perishables: The How, What, and Why of Perishables and Their Importance in Understanding the Past" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Ed Carriere, Suquamish Elder (88) and Master Basketmaker, has had a lifetime goal of practicing the art of making early indigenous cordage, nets, and basketry. Teaming up with Dr. Dale Croes (WSU), Ed and Dale have published their “Generationally Linked Archaeology” approach, using ancient cordage and basketry from Salish Sea wet archaeological site collections to statistically link thousands of years of ancient Coast Salish styles to current early Salish styles from Ed’s training (working from deep time up and Ed’s current efforts down). In large part, this led to Ed receiving the national Community Spirit Award in 2022 from the First Peoples Fund, that awards four Indigenous Masters a year: “exceptional artists who have worked selflessly throughout their lives to weave their cultural knowledge and ancestral gifts into their communities.” Through his work with ancient archaeological basketry and cordage dating to as early as 4,500 years ago, he has directly learned from over 200 generation of Salish Sea fiber artists, and presented the teachings of 200+ grandparents to their descendant communities. In this poster presentation, Mr. Carriere will present an overview of his archaeological fiber and perishable artifact replication, research, and demonstrate the making of ancient style cordage and nets.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Defining Perishables: The How, What, and Why of Perishables and Their Importance in Understanding the Past   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36357.0