Analyzing Archaeological Materials from Redwood National Park to Investigate Historical Marine Environments
Project ID: P14AC01578
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Washington State University
Fiscal Year: 2014
Initial Funding: $43,508
Total Funding: $43,508
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Interdisciplinary
National Park: Redwood National Park
Principal Investigator: Tushingham, Shannon
Agreement Technical Representative: Peterson, Michael
Abstract: The National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with Washington State University (WSU) will collaborate in the processing and analyses of archeological soils to be collected in 2014 from Site CA-DNO-14 located in Redwood National Park (REDW) The soils from CA-DNO-14 will be processed, analyzed and catalogued; various analytical methods will be used depending on the type and amount of archeological materials recovered A technical report will be written that includes background research, methods, and results from the analyses. The NPS will collaborate in the project by conducting geophysical analyses, assisting with archeological data collection and other aspects, and consulting local Tolowa descendants from CA-DNO-14 and CA-DNO-15. The results will serve to recover scientific and cultural information about the archeological and ethnographic record of CA-DNO-14 and the adjacent marine environment, which will help decipher past climatic conditions and environments over time. This project offers substantial educational benefits and improves public and professional awareness of the importance of the park’s archaeological resources. Information derived from the analyses will add to the cumulative knowledge of the area’s prehistory and serve to improve the understanding of the area’s historic and prehistoric marine environments. This information will be disseminated by WSU and NPS staff through a professional publication, an NPS Science Brief, and through the updated National Register of Historic Places Nominations for CA-DNO-14 and CA-DNO-15.