Abstract

The Middle Period (3500 - 1500 BP) was a crucial one in the culture history of the Prince Rupert area with major developments occurring in almost all aspects of life. Although several attempts have been made to account for these changes, as yet no consensus has been reached on the causal factors involved and their relative weight. To advance the discussion, several researchers have begun to work with the rich body of oral traditions passed down by the indigenous groups of the region. When carefully analyzed, oral traditions provide a record of past events that were of enduring cultural importance. As such, they form a natural complement to the archaeological record. The challenge lies in the process of integrating the two sources of historical information within an absolute chronological framework. This paper offers an update on the process with particular attention to settlement data recently gathered within the Dundas Island Group.