Ancient Chinook wedge joins FOS collection

The Wahkiakum Chinook wedge that a Portland couple found in 2008 is a welcome addition to the Friends of Skamokawa’s collection, said FOS archivist Keith Hoofnagle.

The seven-inch long wedge shows the chipping that formed it. Native tribes made wedges of varying sizes from wood, often yew, or from antler. European immigrants used wedges to split logs also, according to local historian Irene Martin.

Chinook wooden wedges were wrapped at the top with a cedar withe to keep them from splitting when hammered by stone mauls.

“That was their nylon—the strongest thing they had,” Hoofnagle said.

Northwest natives used wedges to split wood, often lining up several wedges to split cedar logs for canoes and to make planks for houses.

“They made canoes right at the water’s edge for ease of launching,” Hoofnagle said.

“That’s how this one was lost,” Hoofnagle speculated. “It could have been one of many being used and been overlooked and buried in the mud.”

The wedge remained buried for as many as 3,000 years before dredging at the mouth of Skamokawa Creek brought it to the surface, he said.

Portland couple Maynard and Jan Kessler spotted a waterlogged piece of wood on a walk and picked it up. Maynard Kessler had been a docent in an historical museum, Hoofnagle said.

“The Kesslers stored the wedge in a dark and cool place, which was exactly what it needed to dry slowly and release the moisture accumulated over the past approximately 3000 years,” Hoofnagle said.

After they found it, the Kesslers sent photographs to Portland State University archaeologist Dr. Ames, who identified it as a Chinook wedge. In 2010, they donated the piece to FOS.

The wedge was displayed for the 30th anniversary of the founding of Vista Park, but it won’t be on permanent display.

“The enemies of this piece are light and heat,” Hoofnagle said, noting that most parks or museums would not leave it on display.

Hoofnagle, who retired from the National Park Service as a ranger naturalist, said he was very familiar with requirements of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGRA).

“Local tribes must be contacted if items are found in or connected with a burial site,” Hoofnagle said.

“This wedge was found on private property and was not connected with a burial site—the Chinook buried above ground, in canoes placed in trees—and it was not found in an archeological dig site. The village of Skamokawa is a national historic district, but no current archeological digs are underway,” Hoofnagle said.

Vista Park contains the site of a former Chinook village, which received archaeological exploration after the park was formed.

Hoofnagle showed the piece to Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum Collections Manager Barbara Minard. The museum in Ilwaco also has a wedge in its collection.

“We were very careful with the acquisition of this piece…The Kesslers wanted us to have it. We also have a letter from the property owner,” Hoofnagle said, noting the wedge was found on property belonging to Kent and Irene Martin.

Irene Martin, a local historian and the former archivist for FOS, referred questions to Hoofnagle.

“Lay people who see this wedge say, 'Wow, you’ve got to get it carbon dated.'" he said. "But for archaeological experts, it’s clear. They know what it is and how old.”

The Friends have not heard from nor contacted the Chinook tribe, he said.