The Archaeology of 45KT28, The Sunset Creek Site

Approximate location of 45KT28 beneath the Wanapum Reservoir.

The Web Pubs
Sunset Creek
    by C M Nelson
Reflections
    by Jay Miller
The Paper Pubs
Prelim. Report
Sunset Creek
Eratta
Culture Change
Solland Thesis

Supplements
Correspondence
Level bag tools
2014 Drawdown
Proj. Points
Setting
Excavatiions
Field Profiles
Features
Camp Life
Ranching
     remains
45KT26

Catalogs
Primary Catalog
   Nos 1-400
   Nos 401-4813
ID Bone
Level Totals
Artifacts by
     level
Artifact
    comp catalog
Level Bag
     Artifacts

KT28 Home

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45KT28 ~ Geographic Setting

The following images are intended to place the Sunset Creek Site in it's wider geographic setting.

Quilomene Bar in the early 21st century, more than 30 years after the flooding of the Wanapum Reservoir. Quilomene Bar is opposite and just downstream from the Pot Holes scabland flood re-entry channel. Much of the southern end of the bar - the downstream elevated portion of the ancient scabland flood bar - is still above water. The northern end, including the site, is under water. 45KT28 is just opposite the northern re-entry notch in the lower basalt flows, where you can see a small green patch fed by the overflow from the irrigated fields above.

Go to the SETTING SECTION of the Sunset Creek Site Report.

Conventions
Abstract
Table of Contents
Letters
Figures & Tables
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Definitions
Setting
Cultural Record
Introduction
Vantage Phase
Cold Springs
Frenchman Spring
Quilomene Bar
Cayuse Phase
  Characteristics
  Age
  Ethnography
  Salishan
  Stratigraphy
  Cayuse I
  Cayuse II
  Cayuse III
  Discussion
Summation
Models for
  Prehistory
Typology
Stone Artifacts
  Flaked Stone
  Percussion
  Ground Stone
Bone/Antler Tools
Shell Artifacts
Metal Artifacts
Raw Materials
Methodology
Rockshelters
References Cited

This image locates 45KT28 within the entire Columbia Basin. Click on the image to enlarge (4.1mb).

The approximate location of Salishan languages transcribed to the image from above. Click image to enlarge.

Topography showing the upland hinterland immediately accessible to those living at the Sunset Creek Site.

Click on image to enlarge.

Quilomene Bar seen from the south before flooding. It occupies the left (west) bank of the river. In the larger version of the image, you can see the abandoned ranch buildings and the Sunset Creek canyon where it notches the top of the plateau (the small notch just past the tip of the headland). 45KT28 is just out of site at the north end of the bar.
At the southern end of the bar you can see the giant ripples left in the top of the scabland flood bar.

Click on image to enlarge (10.2mb).

Quilomene Bar seen from above. The Potholes re-entry is in the upper left, opposite the small Sunset Creek Alluvial fan. 45KT28 extends from the southern (right) edge of the fan downstream to the end of the sandy beach. Quilomene rapids is seen in the lower right corner. The Columbia River is about half way between low water and flood.

Click on image to enlarge.

Oblique view of 45KT28, which lies beneath and just behind the sand beach that extends downriver (to the right) from the toe of the Sunset Creek alluvial fan. The abandoned ranch buildings can be seen in the distance along with the road that wanders a little inland from the cut bank of the river. Photos by C. G. Nelson.

Click on image to enlarge. Spring 1961 (11.7mb).

Quilomene Rapids, looking north. The southern end of Quilomene Bar is seen at the upper left, showing the toe of 45KT26. Fall 1957. Photo by C. G. Nelson.

Click on image to enlarge.

Early morning sunlight on the cliff that overlooks Lodge Pole Rapids, to the north of 45KT28. The north bank of Sunset Creek is seen in the foreground. Spring 1959. Photo by C. G. Nelson

Click on image to enlarge.