What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to understand the spatial organization of stratigraphically distinct deposits at the Hoko River Rockshelter.

April 10, 2026Open Access

Spatial Organization of the Hoko River Rockshelter Site Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Key Points

The study aims to understand the spatial organization of stratigraphically distinct deposits at the Hoko River Rockshelter.
Focuses on State 8, the upper 0.30 - 0.35 m of the shellmidden.
Utilizes a soil auger with a 10 cm diameter bit for sample collection.
Samples collected at arbitrary 0.10 m vertical levels to a total depth of 0.30 m.
Identified over 1,000 distinct strata at the rockshelter site.
Stratigraphic layers in State 8 were deposited in a manner similar enough to be classified as one major unit.
Augering method was effective for data collection, though interpretations were challenged by complex stratigraphy.

Abstract

The Hoko River Rockshelter site (45-CA-21) contains over 1,000 identified strata which have been divided vertically into eight stratigraphically and temporally distinct sets of deposits or "states". This study focuses on spatial organization of State 8--the upper 0.30 - 0.35 m of this shellmidden. State 8 marks the period {ca. 210-100 B.P.) during which this temporary fishing camp was last used. Numerous stratigraphic layers are contained within State 8, but they were deposited by processes similar enough to be considered one major unit. A soil auger with a 10 cm diameter bit was used to collect samples at arbi-trary 0.10 m vertical levels to a total depth of 0.30 m within the deposits assigned to State 8. Augering proved to be a reliable method for collecting data on spatial organization, but the value of some inferences drawn from these data was limited ·by the complex stratigraphy at the site.

Spatial Organization of the Hoko River Rockshelter Site Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Key Points

Abstract

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