A Tla’amin Cultural Landscape: Combining traditional knowledge with archaeological investigation in Grace Harbour, Desolation Sound, B.C.

This thesis is a cultural landscape study that discusses the results of an archaeological survey and testing project in Desolation Sound, B.C. and interprets this data in the context of the rich ethnohistorical and oral historical record of the local First Nations people. The survey included both the near shore and upland areas in the Grace Harbour Cultural Landscape, which is made up of 15 square kilometres centered on Grace Harbour, and includes parts of Malaspina and Lancelot Inlets. The study area falls in the shared traditional territories of the Tla’amin, Homalco and Klahoose First Nations. This region has archaeological evidence of long and varied use by ancient people over the last 8000 years. Intertidal stone features, large and small shell middens, cultural depressions, cultural platforms, culturally modified trees, and lithic scatters demonstrate the richness of the archaeological record in this cultural landscape.