Possible Pole Recovered in G̲aw Tlagée

On March 20, 2025, excavation was being done for the Old Massett Village Council pavilion construction being done on the shoreline dunes. On that day, a possible pole was recovered. CHN’s Archaeologist and CHN Archeology Monitoring staff were on site during the entire excavation, which was between March 17-24. The remaining culvert will be excavated in a few weeks.

Summary of the archaeological work to-date:

• Construction: for the inland area, only the top vegetation mat layer of sediment was removed (less than 20 cm deep). Along the shoreline, deeper trenching was done along the shore and inland for buttresses for concrete steps / concrete shore hardening. The entirety of the shoreline excavations were in disturbed fill containing fishing nets, old car and boat parts, plastic and general garbage from the within the past 60 years or so.

• • The possible pole was recovered from the sand dune portion of this excavation area, amidst driftwood and historic debris.
  • Previously disturbed shell midden was found mixed in with the historic debris in one other part of this excavation, a few meters inland. This sediment was entirely raked by the CHN crew to recover any artifacts and other cultural material.
• The possible pole was immediately identified when it was brought out of the ground. Land Stewardship Director was notified and CHN requested some carvers to come to take a look to determine it. At the time, it was covered in beach sands and the wood itself was very decomposed and soft. The sand couldn’t removed without damaging the wood. It was decided to put the possible pole aside and let the wind dry or rain wash off the sand in a gentle way, so we could see the features better. This is where it is currently sitting, placed on pallets and flagged, but we are looking at storing it in a seacan.
• Since being there, community members have come by to take a look and to look at the photos. Many people have agreed agreed that it looks like a carved pole.
• Of the other artifacts recovered, they are at the CHN office awaiting analysis. Artifacts include: blue trade beads, white glass buttons, ceramic tobacco pipes from the 1800s. Various ceramics and glass bottles from the 1800s, ground stone artifacts, worked bone, and painted stone.