Students receive a hands-on look at archaeology

Published 2:44 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

FALL CITY _ The seventh-grade students at Chief Kanim

Middle School were charged with the mission of finding out “how archaeology

can help us to find and show respect to our Snoqualmie ancestors.”

From mid-May through the end of school, archaeologists from

BOAS Inc. brought their experience from the dig at the Seattle Public Utilities

Tolt Filtration plant near Duvall into the classroom. The 167 students

learned about compass and map reading, native history and other elements,

and participated in artifact sorting and cleaning.

“It was fun having the rocks here,” said Jen Roath. “It was more fun

than just listening for an hour.”

Toward the end of the project the students were able to explore

never-before-sifted dirt samples for rock flakes and other artifacts.

“It’s one way to bring people of different ages into the project,”

said Astrida Blukis Onat, president of BOAS Inc. The samples came

from the Tolt dig site where the archaeologists spent about six months

excavating. Crews found more than 20,000 stone artifacts and determined that

the site was about 3,000 to 7,000 years old and was probably a tool-making

area for the Snoqualmie Tribe.

For student Cale Middleton, his favorite part of the project was

hearing the stories told by Snoqualmie Tribe archaeologist and former

tribal chairman Andy de los Angeles.

“I liked Andy coming in and sharing his culture and

experience,” Middleton said. “I went to the

dig [site] last year, but I didn’t know a lot.”

The enthusiasm that Middleton has for the program is exactly what de

los Angeles hoped to accomplish.

“What we are trying to do is provide a foundation of learning so

that they can become better stewards in protecting archaeological and

historic sites,” he said. “The Tribe has

suffered through some tremendous damage and losses to its ancestral burial and

tribal historical sites. This is one way to turn sad events into positive experiences.

“We are hoping that as we spend time with the children at these

grade levels that they will become a positive force,” de los Angeles added.

Teacher Dick Kirby has already seen the impact that de los Angeles

and the uniquely crafted program have had on his students.

“Kids who were not doing well in class have been sparked by Andy

to write, draw or participate in class,” he said. “The students who do well

are pushing themselves to their limits.”

The program was made possible through a $15,000 grant from the

King County Heritage and Landmark Commission. Onat said she hopes to

continue their educational outreach in the Snoqualmie Valley schools, but

the future partnership depends on what types of funds can be secured.

“We will try to pursue more grants, but we don’t want to repeat

[this project]. We want to build on this and we want to see more like this in

the school curriculum because it ties to the history of the state and the area,”

Onat said. “And it gets children involved in the stewardship of the historic

resources.”