Hidden Falls in an important Archaic and Pacific Period (9,500–1800 BC) site in southern Alaska related to the northern Northwest Culture area. It represents one of the earliest site of southern Alaska with evidence of use of marine resources.
The site of Hidden Falls is located on the Barnof Island on an elevated position facing the sea.
Stone Tools and Techniques at Hidden Falls
The first evidence of occupation at Hidden Falls dates to the Archaic period (ca 10,500–4,400 BC) and is recognizable by the typical microblade technique and cobble stone tools, such as scrapers choppers, and gravers. This stone tool tradition is believed to have reached North America from Siberia and became widespread in Alaska after 9800 BC. A series of radiocarbon dates fix the stone assemblage of Hidden Falls to 9500 BC.
In the following period (Early Pacific, 4400–1800 BC), microblades disappear at Hidden Falls and a different type of stone tools such as grounding stones, and small adzes is present, along with decorative artifacts like pendants, shell and serpentine beads and labrets.
To the Early and Middle Pacific period date also a series of postholes that define a circular depression, probably the remains of a structure, rebuilt multiple times by its temporary inhabitants.
Subsistence and Lifestyle at Hidden Falls
The site of Hidden Falls was accessible only by boat and its inhabitants mainly relied on marine resources. Diet reconstruction is difficult because of poor preservation due to the nature of the soil, however recovered artifacts help to reconstruct the subsistence system and life style of these early inhabitants of the Northwest Coast.
Parts of two toggling harpoons and some barbed bone points suggest that sea mammal hunting was practiced. This probably included mainly seals and sea otters. Remains of whales have been documented, but it is more probably that inhabitants of Hidden Falls benefited from occasional beached whales than direct hunting.
Other marine resources utilized were mollusks, shellfish, and fish such as cod, herring, halibut and salmon. The latter was one of the main food resource of many Northwest Coast populations in later times, as well as a source of religious beliefs.
Sources
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Northwest Coast, and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Ames Kenneth M. and Herbert D.G. Maschner, 1999, Peoples of the Northwest Coast. Their Archaeology and Prehistory, Thames and Hudson, London
Moss, Madonna L., 1998, Northern Northwest Coast Regional Overview, Arctic Anthropology, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 88-111