Time Frames

Archaeology consists of surveying, mapping, photography, and excavation. This science can help to explain past human cultures, behavior, diversity and time lines.

Recent archeological research indicates that the Secwepemc people have lived in the Interior of British Columbia for over 4,000 years. These people were hunters, fisherman, and food gatherers who lived half of the year in pit house villages along the lakes and rivers of their territory. The arrival of the Europeans in British Columbia forced dramatic changes to the Secwepemc people's lifestyle. Today the descendants of these people still live in communities throughout the Interior of British Columbia.

The earliest evidence of the Secwepemc culture occurs at about four thousand years ago when the climatic conditions now existing on the Interior Plateau became established. At this time, people were living in pit house dwelling during the winter months. The houses were large, perhaps housing an extended family. The cooking and storage pits were located inside these pit houses.

The stone points found from this period are large stemmed points with wide necks, and were to tip hunting spears. They were made from a local rock which does not lend itself to flaking. This gives them a crude appearance and indicates that trade networks in stone had not yet become established, however, the presence of a few coastal items suggests some limited trade with outside groups. Split cobble tools were used as scrapers, and a well-developed bone and antler tool industry is present during this early Secwepemc phase. Fishing was done by harpoon and spear.

Starting at about 2400 years ago a significant change occurred in the Secwepemc culture. The winter lodges became smaller in size which suggests there was a change in social organization to single family dwellings. The cooking and storage pits were moved out of the pit houses. This time period also had evidence of extensive trade networks of stone being established. With the introduction of good quality stone came an abundance of beautifully-crafted stone tools and the development of new stone chipping techniques. Stone was still used to tip hunting spears, but the point style changed to include barbed points with corner and basal notching. Chipped stone knives, scrapers, and drills also came into use at this time. With this new technology they developed various and sophisticated fishing techniques which included sink and dip nets.

The major change which occurred around twelve hundred years ago was the introduction of the bow and arrow. The adoption of this new hunting technique made a significant impact on the Secwepemc people's lives. The arrow heads were side-notched points and a greater variety of chipped stone tools were used. A great assortment of ground stone objects accompanied the increased trade in stone suitable for grinding and polishing. The ever present bone and antler items were now being decorated with incised lines and dots. Pit houses constructed at this time were very large, which could accommodate more than one family, suggested that the social structure shifted once again.

About two hundred years ago, European trade goods began to make their appearance in the Secwepemc material possessions, and the lives of the Secwepemc people were changed forever.

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