Tongass National Forest

Coffman Cove Community Archaeology Project

Issue

Coffman Cove, the proposed site of the northern terminal of the Inter-Island Ferry, is a good place to live today, as it has been for thousands of years. Federal and state laws protecting significant archaeological sites require that we preserve information about past human occupations as we use federal funds to develop modern communities and transportation systems.

The opportunity exists in Coffman Cove to provide tangible benefits to a broad range of interests by conducting data collection at the Coffman Cove Archaeological Site, developing educational materials for local and regional use, and contributing to an interpretive effort through the Inter-Island Ferry Authority’s northern terminal.

Background

The remains of an ancient village of the Stikine kwaan Tlingit people lies within the modern city limits of Coffman Cove on northeastern Prince of Wales Island. Tlingit people of the Wrangell area traveled the waters of Clarence and Sumner Straits and considered Coffman Cove an important part of their homeland.

The archaeological remains of this ancient village (a site determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 1981) occupy eight acres of prime waterfront property in Coffman Cove. A series of land adjustments over the past three decades have moved the archaeological site from Forest Service management to State management and finally to split ownership (private, city, and state).

In January 1999 a memorandum of understanding was developed and signed among the City of Coffman Cove, the University of Oregon, the Wrangell Cooperative Association (Tribe), the State Division of Lands, the State Office of History and Archaeology, and the Tongass National Forest recognizing the mutual benefits from archaeological data recovery, respectful treatment of Native American burials, community participation, and site interpretation. All of this information; the prehistory, the history, the cooperation, and the place of archaeology in modern community growth; will be presented to the local and visiting publics through displays and interpretive projects associated with the Inter-Island Ferry Authority’s northern terminal.

Current Situation

At midyear FY04 the Tongass National Forest received a congressional earmark of $247,000 to accomplish archaeological data recovery at Coffman Cove as well as to make progress on educational and interpretive goals related to the Coffman Cove Community Archaeology Project. Prince of Wales Island Zone archaeologist Terry Fifield, Tongass Heritage Program Leader Mark McCallum, and Alaska Regional Heritage Program Leader Susan Marvin are working with a group of tribal, state, community, and educational partners to accomplish project goals, and ultimately to leverage additional funds to complete longer term project goals.

More Information

Scott Fitzwilliams, Recreation, Lands, Minerals, and Heritage Staff Officer, at (907) 747-4236, or
Terry Fifield, Prince of Wales Zone Island Archaeolost, at (907) 826-1642.

Current as of March 2004

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest
Last Modified: November 25, 2007