Prehistoric culture change on southern Vancouver Island : the applicability of current explanations of the Marpole Transition
Date
2000
Authors
Clark, Terence N.
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Abstract
This thesis presents the results of research on the transition from Locarno Beach archaeological culture type (3500/3300 -2500/2400 BP) to Marpole culture type (2500/2400 -1500/ 1100 BP) within the Gulf of Georgia region of the Northwest Coast. Nearly 6000 artifacts from seven Southern Vancouver Island archaeological sites were typologically reclassified and added to previously recorded data from twenty Gulf of Georgia site components. Following the methods of Matson et al (1980) and Burley (1980), multidimensional scaling was used to examine variability within the Marpole culture type. Results show a continuation of the Old Musqueam, Beach Grove and Garrison subphases of Marpole and the addition of a fourth named Bowker Creek Based on spatial and temporal distribution, I have re-interpreted the culture historical sequence and assigned both the Old Musqueam and Bowker Creek subphases to the Locarno Beach culture type, thus changing the date of the Locarno Beach- Marpole transition to around 2000 BP. My results show that Southern Vancouver Island may exhibit a different culture history than the Fraser River. I offer an explanation of this transition and insight on the rise of sociocultural complexity for the Gulf of Georgia