The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley Part 11

The club shown in Fig. 65 is made of diabase or allied material and is 338 mm. in length. It is bilaterally symmetrical and the reverse and obverse are alike. The handle is oval in cross section and terminates in a k.n.o.b from which it is separated by a slight groove. In the top of the k.n.o.b is a depression as if there had been a hole pecked through the form, tapering from each side, as in the clubs or slave-killers having lozenge-shaped cross section from the coast there[230] the top broken off and the broken edges rounded, as in the club with lozenge-shaped cross section from Copalis on the coast of Washington.[231] But such is not the case; the notch resembles that of the club shown in Fig. 64, slightly the one shown in Fig. 62, both from this region, and one from Burton on Puget Sound.[232] The blade is paddle-shaped like the large end of an apple seed, lenticular in cross section, with a mid-rib on each side which runs out about 10 mm. from the end of the club.[233] It was found on the surface at Union Gap, below Old Yakima, and is in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[234]

[230] Smith (b), Figs. 175 and 176.

[231] _Ibid._, Fig. 175e.

[232] _Ibid._, Fig. 177b.

[233] First mentioned, Smith, (b), p. 416 and Fig. 177c.

[234] Museum negatives, nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 64. Club made of Stone. From Yakima Reservation. 1/4 nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44500, 6-1, and 44453, 2-2. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 65. Club made of Stone. From the surface at Union Gap below Old Yakima. 1/4 nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 66. Club made of Stone. From the surface at Union Gap below Old Yakima. 1/4 nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)]

The stone club, shown in Fig. 66, was found on the surface at Union Gap, below Old Yakima. It is of a purplish gray lava-like material. The handle is oval in cross section with a k.n.o.b at the end which is somewhat flattened on each side and slopes towards the rounded top like a blunt symmetrical celt. The blade has convex side edges which are nearly flat and about 18 mm. wide. It is thicker in the middle than at the edges and bears a mid-rib of the shape of a railroad embankment with rounded angles, from the handle to the end. On each side of this mid-rib, the surface is nearly flat. The end of the blade is nearly flat. The specimen is in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[235]

[235] Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. First mentioned on p. 416 and figured in Smith, (b), Fig. 177d.

It will be noted that the thin stone clubs found here have no mid-rib.

Clubs made of stone, whale's bone or wood with such mid-ribs are unknown from the coast but are found with median decoration in place of a mid-rib,[236] those of whale's bone being common and a thin club made of copper with a median decoration was found at Spuzzum in the interior of Southern British Columbia.[237]

[236] Smith (b), Figs. 173a, b; 169a; 165a, c-g; 166a, b, d-g; 167a-d; 168a, c, d; 169f and 170a.

[237] _Ibid._, Fig. 172d.

_'Slave-killers.'_ A 'slave-killer' or club, made of friable stone shown in Fig. 67, was found on the surface of Union Gap, below Old Yakima. It is in the collection of Mr. Janeck. The object has a blade which sets out from the handle and resembles in shape the typical 'slave-killer' in that it is lozenge-shaped in cross section with bulging sides and rounded angles. The handle is oval or nearly circular in cross section, and slightly larger at the top where there is no k.n.o.b or perforation as in the typical club of this type.[238] The object is 377 mm. long, 63 mm. wide, and 41 mm. thick.[239] The club or 'slave-killer' made of stone, shown in Fig. 68, was found at Lake Chelan, and is 280 mm. long.

It is owned by Mr. C. G. Ridout of Chelan, Chelan County. The handle terminates in a k.n.o.b, which resembles the form of an animal head. This k.n.o.b is somewhat heart-shaped, the two lobes possibly representing ears, and the lower tip projects beyond the handle of the object. One side, the larger surface, stands at about 45 degrees to the axis of the club and is bisected by a deep incision, on each side of which are two circles, which probably represent eyes. On either edge of this k.n.o.b are thirteen incisions. The handle which is nearly circular in cross section, bears four vertical rows of horizontally arranged incisions and expands suddenly edgewise to form the blade which, however, on its upper and lower surfaces is practically continuous with the handle. The blade is nearly circular in cross section and tapers gradually to a rather blunt point. The object is probably a ceremonial implement.

[238] _Ibid._, Figs. 175, 176 and 177e.

[239] First mentioned _ibid._, p. 418. Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2 and 44500, 6-1.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 67. Club made of Stone. From the surface at Union Gap below Old Yakima. 1/4 nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44500, 6-1. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 68. Club made of Stone. From Lake Chelan. 1/4 nat.

size. (Drawn from a sketch furnished by Mr. C. G. Ridout. Original in his collection.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 69. War implement or Slave Killer, made of Friable Stone. From the Yakima Valley. 1/4 nat. size. (Drawn from photograph 44503, 6-4. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)]

The stone objects considered as pestles and shown in Figs. 32 and 35 may have been used as war clubs. The object made of friable stone, shown in Fig. 69 was mentioned on p. 39 us possibly having been used as a pestle and again on p. 65 as being suitable for use as a whetstone. It seems most likely, however, that it served as an implement of war or as a 'slave-killer.' It is roughly of the shape of a cigar. The upper end is nearly flat and circular. From here the object gradually expands for about half its length and then contracts to a point, being nearly circular in cross section throughout. It is 208 mm. long, 38 mm. in maximum diameter, and 19 mm. in diameter at the top. It was found in the Yakima Valley and is in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[240] The object considered as a hand-adze and shown in Fig. 46, may have been used as a 'slave-killer.'

No objects considered as daggers or knives and made of antler were found by us in this region. Although it will be remembered[241] that several, over 200 mm. in length, were found in the Thompson River region.

[240] Museum negative no. 44503, 6-4.

[241] Smith (d), Fig. 80; (c), p. 423 and Fig. 360.

_War Costume._ The costume indicated on the figure carved in antler, described under the section of dress and adornment, p. 100, referred to in the discussion of art on p. 127, and shown in Fig. 121, may be that of a warrior as is suggested by the similarity of the headdress to the war-bonnet of the tribes of the Plains. That the war-bonnet was used in this region is strongly suggested not only by this headdress but also by those represented in the pictographs and petroglyphs as well as by the wearing of it by the modern Indians of this area. This idea is further strengthened by the fact that the war-bonnet is worn in the Nez Perce region to the east,[242] where it has no doubt been used for a long time, although it may originally have been derived from the Plains. The Nez Perce sometimes wore streamers with these war-bonnets. Spinden states that the early Nez Perce war-bonnets differed from the type used by them to-day, and that exact information about them is difficult to obtain.

[242] Spinden, p. 228.

_Fortifications._ A so-called "Indian fort" is situated near Rock Creek about six miles below Rock Lake. It is about a mile south of the ranch of Mr. Frank Turner (p. 54), and shown in the photographs reproduced in Figs. 1[243] and 2[244], Plate VI. These were taken and presented by Mr.

J. S. Cotton, then in charge of the cooperative range work at the Washington State Experiment Station at Pullman, who furnished from his notebook all our data on this subject. The "fort" is built on a flat knoll of about fifteen feet in height and with precipitous sides. It is in the form of a circle, being enclosed about four fifths of the way around. The wall is built of flat rocks which are tilted in such a manner that they will glance all projectiles into the air. There were numerous arrow chip pings within the "fort." There are many Indian graves supposed to be very old, two pits believed to mark building sites, and a long line of stones in the vicinity (pp. 140, 54, 29).

[243] From the interior.

[244] From the exterior.

_Wounds._ The skull of skeleton No. 99-4318, found in rock-slide grave No. 10 (5) on the north side of the Naches River half a mile above its mouth, showed where the right side of the orbit had been pierced in such a way that the malar bone was partly severed and repair had taken place, leaving a large anterior lateral projection on the malar bone. One rib had two articular surfaces at the anterior end.

DRESS AND ADORNMENT.

_Skins._ Tanned skin and skin bearing hair of animals, including the deer, and feathers of the woodp.e.c.k.e.r have been found in the graves and were evidently portions of garments or of pouches; but graves containing these materials are apparently more modern than some of the others. No skins of birds were found by us in this whole region. The sc.r.a.pers mentioned on page 69 and the hammers as well possibly as the grooved stones mentioned on pages 30 and 75 may have contributed to the making of clothing: the former for sc.r.a.ping skins, the latter for beating and softening them.

Skin (202-8223), resembling buckskin or leather in its decomposed condition, was found in grave No. 31 (2) (99-4326), in the rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, immediately below Ellensburg. That this grave may not be as ancient as some of the artifacts here described is suggested by the fact that a small piece of a wooden post, not completely decayed, was found projecting from the rock-slide above the grave, and by the presence of four more posts, one at each corner of the grave, extending down from the level of the rock-slide, the upper parts apparently being entirely decomposed. The remains of matting which had been wrapped around the body, gla.s.s beads (202-8225) and three bracelets made of iron (202-8226), one of which is shown in Fig. 96, also suggest that this grave was modern, although it must be remembered that in this dry climate, wooden posts, matting and iron resist decomposition for a long time. The form of the garment or other object made up of this skin has not been identified, but pieces of the skin are joined in some places by over-casting with skin thread; in others, with a double skin thong and still in others with some sort of vegetable fibre. A piece of deer skin (202-8230) with the hair on was found in grave No. 37 (4) (99-4328), in the same rock-slide. Here again, the presence of sticks about three feet long, decayed at the tops and arranged in three rows of matting made of reeds (202-8229 and 202-8230, Figs. 71-72), and of beads apparently made of factory-rolled copper, suggest that the entire contents of this grave are modern.

Fragments of skin of a small mammal, with the hair on, which had been st.i.tched along one edge with what appears to be twisted vegetable fibre made into a cord of two strings (202-8231), was found in grave No. 34 (5) (99-4329) in the same rock-slide. Here again were found evidences suggesting the grave to be modern. These consisted of decayed posts cut off at the surface of the slide. Among the other objects in the grave were matting (202-8232), beads (202-8233, Fig. 74), made of what is apparently factory-rolled copper, coa.r.s.e string and thong, some of which is wound at the ends and pieces of coa.r.s.e twisted plant fibre upon which some of the beads were strung, two ornaments (202-8234, Fig. 91) made of haliotis sh.e.l.l, two pendants made of what appears to be factory-rolled copper (202-8235), four bracelets apparently made of similar copper (202-8236, Fig. 95), a square pendant (202-8238, Fig.

78), a disk (202-8239, Fig. 83), both of which seem to be made of factory-rolled copper and a piece of iron (202-8242). Among the rocks above the grave were found a copper ornament (202-8244), a bra.s.s pendant (202-8245, Fig. 84), with thong and copper bead, and a copper pendant (202-8246, Fig. 82).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 70 (202-8391). Diagram of St.i.tch of Fragment of Rush Matting. From near the skin on skeleton in grave No. 38 (1) of an adult in a rock-slide on the east side of the escarpment near the head of Priest Rapids. 1/2 nat. size.]

_Matting._ Fragments of matting of vegetable fibre sewed or twined with cords made of plant material were found; but only in recent graves. Such graves contained objects introduced into the region since the advent of the whites. These fabrics were probably modern but were in no way affected by the coming of the white man or the materials secured from him, being simply found in these modern graves a.s.sociated with artifacts made from material secured from the white man. In the old graves they have probably long since decayed. Spindle-whorls were not found. Fig. 70 ill.u.s.trates the st.i.tch of a piece of matting (202-8391) of a well known type consisting of a single strand warp of rushes pierced at intervals by the weft which is a two-strand string. It is similar to that commonly found in the Thompson River region.[245] This specimen was found in grave No. 38 (1) (99-4333) in a rock-slide on the west side of the Columbia River, near the head of Priest Rapids. The grave was probably modern as is suggested by stakes nearly six feet long which projected about three feet above the surface of the rock-slide and a roll of birch bark[246] (202-8392). The vegetable fibre used in sewing these stalks was probably the same as that used by the present Indians as was thought to be the case in the Thompson River region.[247] Spinden does not mention this simple type of sewed mat as found in the Nez Perce area.[248] Fig. 71 shows a piece of matting (202-8229) of a new type consisting of two strands of what seem to be small stalks of tule, twisted loosely and pierced at each half turn by a cord. The cord is a two-strand string, the vegetable fibre of the individual strands not seeming to be twisted. The interstices are wide. It was found under the pelvis of a skeleton of a youth (99-4228) in a recent grave, No. 33 (4), in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, below Ellensburg. This piece of matting, so far as I am aware, is the first specimen of a new type collected and figured. It was first brought to the attention of students in 1906 through correspondence when Professor Otis T. Mason stated that he had never seen an example, a picture or a description of just that technique. It was shown at the annual exhibition of the New York Academy of Sciences, in December of the same year, but reference to the type was first published in November 1908 by Spinden.[249] In the Thompson River region this type has not been found. Mr. James Teit informs me that he asked all the old Thompson Indian women of the vicinity of Spences Bridge about this type of matting, submitting a model of it to them which I sent him. They all stated that they never saw that particular type made in the Thompson River region and if ever made there it must have been before the memory of those now living. The only pierced matting made there as far as they have ever known is the tule tent mat,[250] but the strands of this were not twisted, being like those shown in Fig. 70. They had a weave similar to this and the same in general effect in the common mat used for beds and on which to sit, known as the floor mat, but the strands were woven and not st.i.tched.[251] Certain rush bags of the Quinault and the Makah resemble this type of matting but the rushes are not pierced.

[245] Teit (a), Fig. 131c.

[246] _Cf._ Smith (d), Fig. 117.

[247] Smith (c), p. 423, Teit (a), p. 188.

[248] Spinden, p. 195.

[249] Spinden, p. 195.

[250] Teit (a), Fig. 131c.

[251] Teit (a), Fig. 131d.