Posted on 07/31/2005 12:25:25 AM PDT by nickcarraway
CHINOOK --- Construction of Station Camp, an eight-acre waterfront park honoring Lewis and Clark and the Chinook Nation, will resume as planned once archaeological work at the site is completed, the Washington Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.
The Chinook National and the Washington State Historical Society have reached an agreement on the realignment of U.S. Highway 101 east of the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
Highway work was suspended in January when archaeologists discovered a well-preserved impression in the soil of wooden planks, evidence that a Chinook Indian plank house may once have occupied the spot. Archaeologists welcomed the discovery as a chance to learn more about the fur-trading period from the 1790s through the 1820s.
Further evaluation of the archaeological evidence by National Park Service senior archaeologist Dr. Douglas Wilson and Portland State University professor Ken Ames revealed evidence of an early trade site. The site is near a Chinook settlement known as the "Middle Village."
The agreement allows archaeologists to continue excavating the site of the plank house feature to learn more about its architecture and size. National Park Service and Portland State University archaeologists will be on site in August and part of September.
The archaeological site is near Station Camp, generally considered to be one of the most significant locations along the Lewis and Clark Trail.
The Corps of Discovery spent 10 days in 1805 exploring further to the west near present-day Chinook, Ilwaco and Long Beach, traded with local Chinook tribes and eventually voted to determine where to spend the winter of 1805-06 --- what proved to be Fort Clatsop.
After archeological work is done, the Station Camp project and highway realignment will be allowed to resume, according to the agreement.
"The homeland Chinook are pleased to reach this agreement which will benefit the Chinook Nation and the local community. The Station Camp Park will tell the story of the ancient Chinook village, Qiyawaqilxam. It is very important that the story of the first people of the Great River be told," Chinook Tribal Chairman Gary Johnson said. "I believe that the community and the Chinook Nation will benefit from our expanded tribal presence in the cultural landscape of the Lower Columbia."
The Washington State Department of Transportation will release specific information about the highway project schedule in September. Park construction likely will begin in late winter or early next spring, said WSHS Director David Nicandri --- which means it probably will not be complete in time for this fall's 200th anniversary observance.
The park plans include major Chinook elements, such as the outline of the plank house, recognition of the ancient name of the Chinook Village and distinctive artwork and reproductions of Chinook culture including tools and artifacts re-created in bronze and placed throughout the site, Nicandri said.
"The archaeology substantially increased our understanding of the early trade between the Chinook and Euro-American trade ships," Nicandri said. "In fact, it was the recognition of this early contact with the Chinook that resulted in the development of the Chinook Record, which is part of our agreement and includes an assessment and compilation of known Chinook material throughout the world."
Upon completion of the park, WSHS will transfer Station Camp to the National Park Service.
...sorry...I got nothing...
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