This volume provides a descriptive overview of the cultural complexity on the northwest coast that stretches from northern California to Alaska. Topics covered range from the earliest settlements to the subsequent cultural diversities in native American populations. Maps, charts, and illustrations further enhance the book's interest and appeal. Key Features * Chapters include exhaustive research on such topics as: * The evolution of individual cultures * History of various archaeological research findings * Studies of the initial colonization of the northwest coast "An authoritative summary of the archaeology of the North American northwest coast... An exhaustive history of previous excavations and a thorough review of past interpretations... This book should be required reading for general and specialized courses in prehistory and the ethnographic present... The work should be acquired for any collection with extensive holdings on Native Americans." --CHOICE