| I discuss the coastal occupation history of the Coast Tsimshian in terms of the distribution of known archaeological sites in the Prince Rupert Harbour, located on the northern coast of British Columbia. I identify patterns in site selection behaviours that emerged over the past 5000 years since sea level stabilization. These observations are analyzed using geographic information systems (GIS) to understand how these past human populations used and organized themselves on the landscape. This spatial analysis provides information on the development of certain subsistence practices and the environmental factors that influenced the placement of sites in the landscape. These factors are considered in relation to non-environmental factors such as defensibility, visibility, and proximity to other sites, which would have directed site location decisions during times of increased conflict. These patterns in site characteristics are used to understand the agency of the settlement history in the Prince Rupert harbour area. |
