To clear the way for construction, an archaeological survey was conducted near Redmond Town Center Mall, which unearthed interesting artifacts that can be dated at least 10,000 years ago. Seattle Times reports to delved more than 4,000 assorted stone tools like stone flakes scrapers, awls and spear points.
"We were pretty amazed... This is the oldest archaeological site in the Puget Sound lowland with stone tools," archaeologist Robert Koppel, who led the field investigation, told Seattle Times.
The discovery is shedding light that the now called western Washington was once a place where prehistoric bison and mammoths used to roam. Kopperl believed that the shores of Bear Creek, a tributary of the Sammamish River, appear to be inhabited by early residents who were creating and fixing stone tools.
As per a chemical analysis, traces from the tools showed that they were most likely eating bison, deer, bear, sheep and salmon. "This was a very good place to have a camp... a centralized location to go out and fish and hunt and gather and make stone tools," Koppler said.
Various artifacts near the surface were the primary sighting. With scientists increasing excitement, they dug deeper and found a foot-thick layer of peat. As they continued excavating, the team started finding the treasure of tools and fragments. "We knew right away that it was a pretty significant find," said Officer Allyson Brooks of Washington State Historic Preservation.
Only a few of the handful, these tools are western Washington's treasure trove. "It's hard to find this kind of site... because it's so heavily vegetated and the Puget Lobe of the big ice sheet really affected the landscape," Kopper said. This is compared with the artifacts discovered on the east side of the mountain that dated back between 12,000 and 14,000 years.
Initial analysis was published in the PaleoAmerica journal and findings were discussed in a sponsored presentation by Redmond Historical Society last Sept 12.
Immortal News reports that plans of displaying the artifacts have not been decided. They will be given back to the Mucksloot Tribe, whose ancestors particularities are of tools, for curation after archaeologists' complete analysis.
