Abstract

We report 1996 fieldwork at Quattishe, the site of an ancient Gusgimukw Kwakwaka'wakw village in Quatsino Sound, northern Vancouver Island. At the behest of the Gku-yau-las Cultural Society, the Quatsino Band authorized an investigation and heritage restoration of variably preserved, vandalized burial houses. Sites and artifacts were documented and human skeletal remains analyzed for historical identification. Collected data allowed inferences about the length of time one of the burial houses had been used, the possible presence of siblings, and evidence for the possible representation of a non-local native woman. Information was obtained on culturally enhanced head shapes and paleopathology. Funding was provided by the Quatsino Band Council, Canadian Museum of Civilization, and Bastion Heritage Group. We were aided by the British Schools Exploring Society and K'leesa Cultural Services.