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Fort Ross: Collaborative Archaeology and the native American voice. Section 110. Establishment of a Contact Zone:. In 1799, Tsar Paul granted the Russian-American Company a broad charter authorizing its monopoly over North America (Fort Ross Interpretive Association).
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Fort Ross: Collaborative Archaeology and the native American voice Section 110
Establishment of a Contact Zone: • In 1799, Tsar Paul granted the Russian-American Company a broad charter authorizing its monopoly over North America (Fort Ross Interpretive Association) • The Russian-American Company set up a mercantile company in present day Sonoma County (Indians, Missionaries and Merchants 2) • The Russians assembled a multiethnic workforce: (Indians, Missionaries and Merchants 2) • Kashaya Pomo • Coast Miwok • Aleuts (Alaskan Natives)
The primary reasons that mercantile companies interacted with the natives: (Indians, Missionaries and Merchants 7) • Exploit them as cheap labor • Not to transform their culture
In 1841, Russians abandoned the site because: • Fur trade had not been lucrative in many years • Cold weather and pests yielded low yields of crops • English and Spanish challenged claims to the land • (Fort Ross Interpretive Association)
Many of the structures at Fort Ross were destroyed over time (Fort Ross State Historic Park) • Today, the Rotchev House is the only remaining original structure and has also achieved National Landmark status (Fort Ross State Historic Park)
The Kashaya Pomo • The Kashaya were the first known people to have settled in the region (The First People, Fort Ross) • Roughly 1,500 Kashaya Pomo occupied the region before Russian colonization (The First People, Fort Ross)
Kashaya women’s headdress Kashaya men’s dance headdress Abalone shell necklace
The Kashaya Pomo were skilled artisans especially in the craft of basket-weaving (The First People, Fort Ross)
Diet: Abalone and mussel shellfish, fish, sea mammals (The First People, Fort Ross).
The Kashaya Pomo usual diets also comprised of nuts, berries, acorn, seeds, and deer (The First People, Fort Ross)
Muted Voices of the Past • There are few documents describing the interactions between the local indigenous people, the Russians, and the Aleuts • However, most of the history comes from first-hand Russian accounts and oral tradition of the Kashaya Pomo (“Native Responses to the Russian Mercantile Company at Fort Ross”) • The Kashaya Pomo did not have a written language when the Russians arrived
Collaborative Archaeology Now: • It incorporates people from different backgrounds and perspectives aiming to benefit both archaeologists and indigenous people and other stakeholders (“Archaeology and Indians: Thawing an Icy Relationship” 39) • Collaborative archaeology involves not only just asking about their pasts, but also making them a part of the research process.(“Archaeology of the Seventh Generation”) • Archaeologists must ask how their research benefits the community and the local people.
Collaborative Archaeology at Fort Ross: At Fort Ross, Professor Lightfoot and his students, the Kashaya Pomo natives including Otis Parrish, state park rangers and archaeologistscollaborated in the research objectives and process.(Collaboration: The Future of the Study of the Past” 28)
Compromise is important in order to respect the views of the native tribes and other stakeholders involved. At Fort Ross, the Kashaya Pomo had various taboos and beliefs that all must follow: (“Archaeology of the Seventh Generation”) • site must be treated as a living organism • cultural rules will be followed • no alcohol • women on their menstrual cycle (Khela) are not allowed to work • project will be low impact
Native peoples are integral components to many excavations. • Archaeologists are becoming increasingly more involved with local stakeholders and public outreach programs. • This helps maintain the once silent Native American voice.
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