Tikchik village: a nineteenth century riverine community in ... - Cluster

ExcavationsThe Tikchik village site is located on the east bank of the TikchikRiver about two kilometers above its mouth (Fig. 3). The old settlementappears as a cleared area roughly 90 m. long by 38 m. wide ona low bluff about 4^/^ m. above the level of the river. In the generalarea of the site, the river bank is relatively high only at the locationof the village and for about one-half a kilometer to the south. Belowthat point the land is low and a heavy growth of willows borders theriver on both sides.Just at the site the river makes a sharp turn tothe west, a turn which constitutes the downriver side of a large horseshoebend.This feature appears to be relatively recent, for the oldriver bank, on the side where the site is located, continues toward thenorthwest. Below this bank at the upriver end of the site is a marshyarea with a slough in early summer. A dense growth of willows coversthe bank itself at this point, extends on up the rise, and forms thenorthwest border of the site. Directly opposite the site the riverbank is also very low and there is dense willow growth. Thus, in thegeneral area, the place where the village was located is the only areasuitable on either side of the river.The Tikchik River is relatively deep near the site since the bankis cutting at this point and for a distance of approximately half akilometer down stream. The cutting is more extensive below thesite, although at no point can the banks be said to be cutting backvery rapidly. It is likely that the sloping, grass-covered bank infront of the settlement presents roughly the same general appearancetoday as it did at the time of occupation.The land on which the village was located rises gradually to acrest at the very rear of the site which is approximately 10 3/^ m,above the level of the river rising to 15 m. in the eastern corner.Then there is a gradual drop down again suggesting that at one timea slough of the river may have extended into the area behind the site.Four house pits are located near the front of the site not far from theriver bank, while the other six and the two kashgees are clusteredtoward the rear near the crest of the rise (Fig. 4, a and b). The gentlerise which characterizes the whole site is most pronounced at the extremesoutheastern corner and it is here that the larger of the two231