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Namu is a small fishing port, former
The site of Namu is one of the oldest known sites on the British Columbia coast. Marine hunters lived here 10,000-5800 (cal) BCE. Evidence from archaeological analysis from the early period at Namu ''indicate the full establishment of a broad-based marine economy as early as 6000 BP'' (4000BC). Microblades appear at Namu around 8250 BCE, the farthest south they were generally made and used along the coast. Elements of the more southerly pebble tool tradition also appear at Namu, which appears to have been at the interface of two great regional traditions.
There is no known evidence of large permanent houses, most likely due to rising sea levels along this unstable shore line. Deglaciation and the stabilization of rivers opened spawning grounds and led to the establishment of large salmon runs after 5800 (cal) BCE. Salmon fishing declined somewhat after 2500 BCE because of estuary development and river sedimentation. Still later, the stabilization of sea level led to the development of large tidal flats. People were thus able to add shellfish as a major food resource. This lasted until around 1250 BCE.
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Photos of Namu from a Kayaking Trip
{{coord, 51, 52, N, 127, 52, W, region:CA_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki, display=title Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia Central Coast of British Columbia Populated places in the Central Coast Regional District Ghost towns in British Columbia
cannery
Canning is a method of food preservation in which food is processed and sealed in an airtight container ( jars like Mason jars, and steel and tin cans). Canning provides a shelf life that typically ranges from one to five years, although ...
town and First Nations
First Nations or first peoples may refer to:
* Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area.
Indigenous groups
*First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including:
**First Natio ...
community on the coast of British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
, Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. It is located about southwest of Bella Coola or SSE of Bella Bella, on the mainland shore of the Inside Passage
The Inside Passage (french: Passage Intérieur) is a coastal route for ships and boats along a network of passages which weave through the islands on the Pacific Northwest coast of the North American Fjordland. The route extends from southeaste ...
ferry route directly opposite Hunter Island, and just south of the opening of Burke Channel Burke Channel is a channel in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, separating the south and east coasts of King Island from the mainland. It was first charted in 1792 by James Johnstone, one of George Vancouver's ...
and King Island. The community's harbour is named Namu Harbour, and a large lake just inland is Namu Lake, which lies in the short drainage basin of the 15 km Namu River, immediately east of which is the small but rugged Namu Range.
Namu was the namesake of the killer whale Namu
Namu or NAMU may refer to:
*The North American Monetary Union
*Namu, British Columbia, a town in Canada
*Namu Atoll, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean
*Namu doll, a type of Pullip doll
*Yang Erche Namu, a Chinese singer and writer of Mosuo ethnicity
...
, who was captured nearby in 1965 and was the second orca ever displayed in captivity.
Pre-contact history
The site of Namu is one of the oldest known sites on the British Columbia coast. Marine hunters lived here 10,000-5800 (cal) BCE. Evidence from archaeological analysis from the early period at Namu ''indicate the full establishment of a broad-based marine economy as early as 6000 BP'' (4000BC). Microblades appear at Namu around 8250 BCE, the farthest south they were generally made and used along the coast. Elements of the more southerly pebble tool tradition also appear at Namu, which appears to have been at the interface of two great regional traditions.
There is no known evidence of large permanent houses, most likely due to rising sea levels along this unstable shore line. Deglaciation and the stabilization of rivers opened spawning grounds and led to the establishment of large salmon runs after 5800 (cal) BCE. Salmon fishing declined somewhat after 2500 BCE because of estuary development and river sedimentation. Still later, the stabilization of sea level led to the development of large tidal flats. People were thus able to add shellfish as a major food resource. This lasted until around 1250 BCE.
Shell midden
A midden (also kitchen midden or shell heap) is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, mollusc shells, potsherds, lithics (especially debitage), and other artifacts and eco ...
s are often where archaeologists identify organic remains, thanks to their alkaline content, which is a good natural preserver. At Namu, an important burial context has been recovered in the shell midden, dating circa 3400 BC. The presence of this hunter-gatherer cemetery is further evidence of a prolonged sedentism, a characteristic of complex hunter-gatherers. Various stone technologies have been identified at the Namu site. It consisted of celts, microblades and burnishing stones. Many of these tools were made out of materials found in the region such as antlers, bone and rocks.Maestri, Nicoletta. "Namu Marine Adaptation in the Northwest Coast." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr 2012. See also
*Heiltsuk
The Heiltsuk or Haíɫzaqv , sometimes historically referred to as ''Bella Bella'', are an Indigenous people of the Central Coast region in British Columbia, centred on the island community of Bella Bella. The government of the Heiltsuk people ...
* Heiltsuk Nation
The Heiltsuk Nation is a First Nations government in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, centred on Campbell Island in the community of Bella Bella, British Columbia. The Heiltsuk people speak the Heiltsuk l ...
* Nuxalk
The Nuxalk people ( Nuxalk: ''Nuxalkmc''; pronounced )'','' also referred to as the Bella Coola, Bellacoola or Bilchula, are an Indigenous First Nation of the Pacific Northwest Coast, centred in the area in and around Bella Coola, British Co ...
* Nuxalk Nation
*List of canneries in British Columbia
This is a list of canneries and cannery towns in British Columbia, Canada.
Fish and seafood
* Alert Bay
*Alexandra a.k.a. Alexander (Skeena River)
*Arrandale (Nass River)
* Balmoral (Skeena River)
* Bliss Landing
*Bones Bay
* Boswell
* Butedale ...
References
External links
Photos of Namu from a Kayaking Trip
{{coord, 51, 52, N, 127, 52, W, region:CA_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki, display=title Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia Central Coast of British Columbia Populated places in the Central Coast Regional District Ghost towns in British Columbia