Makah Cultural & Research Center
Introduction
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Images
The Makah Cultural and Research Center was established after the discovery of the Ozette Archaeological Site. It preserves and promotes the cultural history of the Makah Indian Nation.
Backstory and Context
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Makah Museum
The museum houses artifacts from the Ozette Archaeological Site, a historic 300-500 year-old Makah village located along the coast near the north end of Ozette Lake. Many of the artifacts found at the site are on display in the museum's permanent exhibits such as baskets and whaling and fishing gear. Replicas of a long house and full-sized canoes are on display as well. There are also temporary exhibits and an ethnobotanical garden featuring native plants. In addition, the museum offers guided tours, demonstrations of basketry and carving, lectures on various Makah-related topics, and workshops.
Ozette Archaeological Site
The Ozette Archaeological Site was discovered by a hiker in early 1970. A strong storm had recently eroded a large part of the site, revealing hundreds of well-preserved wooden artifacts. The site itself was covered in a mudslide around 500 years ago, which coincides with Makah oral tradition of a "great mudslide." The artifacts found were the remains of six longhouses and the items inside them. Excavations continued for eleven years. More than 55,000 artifacts were discovered and all are stored in the Center, which was established to interpret and preserve these artifacts.
Sources
"About the Makah Cultural and Research Center." Makah Cultural and Research Center. Accessed April 23, 2020. https://makahmuseum.com/about.
"Ozette Archaeological Site." Makah Cultural and Research Center. Accessed April 23, 2020. https://makahmuseum.com/about/ozette-archaeological-site.
All images retrieved from the Makah Cultural and Research Center