|
Archaeological ExcavationFood CacheFood cache pits were dug in the ground, lined with birchbark and covered with bark. Rocks were then placed on top of them, along with a layer of shells and dirt as camouflage. Families dug up their caches one at a time. Once emptied, the pits were filled with dirt and loose shell.
Each family kept at least one hidden food cache on the edge of the
village, or even within the house sites. Reserves of fish helped feed
people during the winter, especially when it was difficult to find
food. There might be hundreds of cache pits for a small village.
Tsimshian lands were particularly rich in food supplies, which made neighbouring groups envious, so caches protected the winter food supply from raids. The women made the caches and kept their location secret, even from each other, so that no member of the community captured by a rival group could reveal where the food supplies were. |
|
| |
|
|