Soldiers, Pioneers & Indian People

Our Services and Facilities Enhancement Project awaits an archaeological review from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. From the historical view, the Museum grounds, and before that the U.S. Army's Fort Walla Walla, were part of the the homeland of the tribes, particularly the Cayuse people. As we learned during the research phase of a Lewis & Clark-related exhibit, the Cayuse spoke a language different from virtually all the other groups in the region. In the aftermath of the tragedies at Whitman Mission and the ensuing 'Cayuse War,' the Cayuse people were reduced to half their former numbers and became dispersed. When that happened, the language went into disuse until these days it is considered a 'dead language.' Sadly, not enough elders are left who can speak enough of the language to keep it alive.

The Museum conducted what is often referred to as a 'shovel survey.' That means that a grid pattern was established in the area proposed for construction and at specific points, shovel holes were dug to see what, if anything, existed near the surface. Soil layering was examined, sifiting of removed soil was accomplished, and an examination of exisiting geological data was also done. If you've not been on a 'dig' before, it is hot, dirty work. There are no short cuts to getting quality results. Four of us worked on different points of the grid over the course of two months. While many people think that finding 'something' is the point, it is the determination of what happened in an area that drives the work.