Peopling and Early Cultures of the Pacific Northwest

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Abstract
In past discussions and speculations concerning the early peopling of the New World, the hypothesized migration corridor between ghe Cordilleran and Laurentian ice sheets figured prominently. By contrast with this muchmooted route east of the Rocky Mountains, little consideration was given to possible routes west of the Rockies. Such alternatives are examined. Attempts are made to document several early population movements with reference to available cultural and chronometric data. The once glaciated areas of the Pacific Northwest represent an ideal natural laboratory for tracing population expansions during early postglacial time [Pleistocene and Holocene periods are discussed.] Recent findings in British Columbia [Canada] are of special importance. Newly available data have shed much light on the settlement of the Pacific Northwest in early postglacial time. The generalized sequence and pattern of events are presented schematically. Although many gaps remain to be filled and more accurate chronometric data may alter the reconstruction somewhat it seems likely that on the whole the current model will stand. The data on hand raise a number of important problems for future research.