Housepit 54 at Bridge River: Seventeen Anthropogenic Floors in Time and Space

Summary

The Bridge River Archaeological Project initiated excavations of Housepit 54 in 2012 with the goal of developing an understanding of household history during the period of ca. 1000-1500 years ago. Excavations at Housepit 54 have revealed a remarkable sequence of 17 anthropogenic floors, 16 of which pre-date 1000 years ago and reflect periods of rapid growth and stability. The earliest three floors derive from small (estimated 4-6 m diameter) oval structures followed by a seven floor sequence representing an approximately 6 by 10 meter rectangular house form. The final six floor sequence consists of a much larger (approximately 13 m in diameter) oval structure. Within the floor sequence is evidence for consistency in domestic activities but also some significant variation. Two floors appear to have been engaged in large scale cooking events as might be associated with community feasting. The final floor sequence provides some evidence for change in social relationships that may have included some degree of wealth-based inequality. This poster introduces the ancient floors of Housepit 54, placing them in their temporal and spatial context.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Complex Fisher-Foragers of the Interior Pacific Northwest: The Housepit 54 Project at Bridge River, British Columbia

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 13176