The Archaeology of the Yakima ValleySmith, Harlan Ingersoll
History
The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley
Smith, Harlan Ingersoll
Yakima River Valley (Wash.) -- Antiquities
Grave No. 13. Cremation circle, similar to several of the
others on the terrace northwest of the mouth of the
Naches River. This consisted of a ring of angular rocks
among which were no river pebbles, resembling a small
underground house site, 8 feet in diameter outside, 6
feet in diameter at the top of the rocks, 4-1/2 feet in
diameter inside, both east-west and north-south. It is
widest and built of largest stones on the side towards
the lower part of the terrace, suggesting that the ring
had slid down but the nearly level terrace would argue
against this idea. This grave was like a rock-slide
grave, filled with soil, but on a gently sloping terrace
instead of a steep slide. Photograph no. 44495, 5-8, from
the south shows a telegraph pole to left and a flume
across the Yakima River to the right. See also graves No.
14 and 15. Child bones, found two feet deep in volcanic
ash, were decayed and discarded. The tibiae were about
2-1/2 inches long.
* * * * *
Grave No. 14. This cremation circle was situated on the
terrace about 100 feet above the Naches River and about
250 yards north of the two bridges near its mouth. Plate
IX, Fig. 1 (photograph no. 44493, 5-6) shows this from
the east with telegraph poles beyond. The stone circle
measured 6 feet north and south inside (16 outside) by 7
feet east and west inside (14 outside). Our excavation
here was 6 by 5 by 4 feet deep. Fragments of charred
human bones, and some that seemed not to be charred, of
six or seven individuals were found from about 1 foot
deep down to 4 feet deep. Most of these were pieces of
skulls, but pieces of many other bones were found. The
bones which were most burned, were those found nearest
the surface. Much charcoal was seen. A layer of ashes
about 6 inches in thickness was found in the center. In
the northwest part of the hole a skeleton was found lying
on the left side flexed, the face east, and the head
north. This may have been buried after the others. The
bones were very much decomposed and the skull was broken
into small pieces. Numbers 202-8172 to 202-8174 were
found in this grave.
202-8172. A shell ornament found on the east side of the
skull.
202-8173. Two dentalium shells found on the west side of
the skull. Dentalium shells were found in all parts of
the excavation but were most numerous in the northeastern
parts.
202-8174. A shell ornament.
* * * * *
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