Pacific Standard July-August 2013 Cover

House Pit Seven

Our multimedia presentation on the evolution of fairness continues with a look at the archeological findings that helped explain the culture of Keatley Creek’s residents.


The detritus or people fishing and living at Keatley Creek was well preserved at the site, which still shows a moonscape of old pit house sites. (Photo by Alan Honick)
August 31, 2012 • By • Leave a Comment
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People began using the Keatley Creek site during the Middle Prehistoric, from about 5000 to 2800 B.C.E. They probably built shelters throughout that period, but the first clear evidence of pit houses is found after 2800 B.C.E. The height of the village’s development took place between 400 B.C.E and 1000 C.E. After that, the population dwindled. There is evidence of a major landslide on the river below Lillooet that may have blocked salmon migration around that time, possibly for decades.

Keatley Creek proved to be an ideal location for Brian Hayden to pursue his interests. The dry climate provided excellent preservation of material, even organic remains such as fish bones.

The location he chose for the first major excavation was designated as House Pit Seven, and in this video, he explains to Gordon Orians what he found, and where he found it.

Next: Artifacts

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About Alan Honick with Gordon Orians

Alan Honick is a documentary filmmaker who has focused on issues of ecology and human sustainability for most of his career. Gordon Orians, a behavioral ecologist, is a
professor emeritus at the University of Washington. His most intensive research area has been behavioral ecology, primarily with problems of habitat selection, mate selection, and mating systems. Recently he has focused on human emotional responses to environments.