Archaeological excavation at Yuquot, 1966.
Archaeological excavations provide evidence that Indigenous People have occupied the west coast of Vancouver Island for over 5,000 years. Mowachaht/Muchalaht histories teach we’ve been in our territories since the Beginning of Time. When Europeans arrived in the late 1700s, the Mowachaht and Muchalaht numbered about 3,500 people.
There are 546 archaeological sites recorded in our territories – that’s just what’s been found so far. Nearly 100 sites are villages, seasonal sites, or resource gathering camps. Archaeological sites include habitation sites (middens), petroglyphs, fish traps, canoe runs, CMT (culturally modified tree) sites, and more. Please treat all archaeological sites with respect; protect them from damage.
The best known archaeological site in our territory is at Yuquot. In 1966, Parks Canada archaeologists supervised a large-scale excavation, uncovering over 4,000 artifacts, as well as numerous remains from fish, mammal, birds, and molluscs. The dig proved that Yuquot has been continuously occupied for over 4,200 years!