The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley

by Harlan Ingersoll Smith

A much decomposed and fragmentary piece of shell, apparently of claw shape with a perforation at the base, several other pieces of similar shape and two triangular pieces of shell (202-8180-82) all of which were apparently burned, were found in cremation circle No. 14 (9) at the same place. A fragment of a shell ornament (202-8189) was also found in cremation circle No. 21 (16) at this place.

The pendant shown in [Fig. 91] is nearly of disk form and made of haliotis shell. It is perforated at the more convex edge and was found with one very much like it in grave No. 34 (5) of an infant in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek. One was near the head and the other near the pelvis. Another specimen and a fragment of still another (202-8257a, b) and several other small fragments of decomposed shell (202-8258) were found near the lower jaw in grave No. 37 (8) in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek.

Fig. 89 (202-8386). Pendant made of Iridescent Shell. From the grave of a child in a rock-slide west of Columbia River near the head of Priest Rapids. Nat. size.
Fig. 90 (202-8255). Pendant made of (Haliotis) Shell. From grave No. 37 (8) of a child in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, below Ellensburg. Nat. size.
Fig. 91 (202-8234b). Pendant made of (Haliotis) Shell. From grave No. 34 (5) of an infant in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, below Ellensburg. Nat. size.
Fig. 92 (202-8252). Pendant or Nose Ornament, made of (Haliotis) Shell. From grave No. 37 (8) of a child in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, below Ellensburg. ½ nat. size.

The pendant or nose ornament shown in [Fig. 92] is made of shell which in its much decomposed condition appears to be haliotis. This object was found on the lower jaw of a very much decomposed skeleton of a child in the same grave. The fact that a piece of copper, apparently factory-rolled, (202 8251) was found inside the broken skull suggests that this grave was modern. The object is nearly circular in outline, although slightly wider than high. The sides have disintegrated or were rounded off, to a rather sharp edge. There were apparently three perforations near the upper edge of the object, and it is broken so that it is impossible to see whether they were perforations for suspension or were made merely as a means of cutting out a portion of the shell in such a way that it could be clasped on to the septum of the nose. Portions of this specimen and several other shell objects, found in the same grave were of a peculiar pink color.

Fig. 93 (202-8171). Pendant made of Shell. From near neck at south side of adult skeleton in grave No. 12 (7) covered with pebbles in bluff on north side of Naches River about twelve miles above its mouth. Nat. size.
Fig. 94 (202-8170). Pendant made of Oyster Shell. From near neck at south side of adult skeleton in grave No. 12 (7) covered with pebbles in bluff on north side of Naches River about twelve miles above its mouth. Nat. size.