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Oregon - Where Past is Present

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Barbed Harpoon Tips, Whalehead Cove, Curry County
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Barbed Harpoon Tips, Whalehead Cove, Curry County Detail
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Obsidian Wealth Blade, Rogue River Valley
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Obsidian Wealth Blade, Rogue River Valley Detail
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Net Weights, John Day Reservoir, Gilliam County
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Net Weights, John Day Reservoir, Gilliam County Detail
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Carved Bone Effigy, Tillamook County
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Carved Bone Effigy, Tillamook County Detail
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Stone Adze Blades and Antler Wedges
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Stone Adze Blades and Antler Wedges Detail
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Braided Sagebrush Rope, Paisley Caves, Lake County
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Braided Sagebrush Rope, Paisley Caves, Lake County Detail
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Projectile Points of Varying Ages, southern Oregon
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Projectile Points of Varying Ages, southern Oregon Detail
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Carved Stone Lamp or Bowl, Gilliam County
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Carved Stone Lamp or Bowl, Gilliam County Detail
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Digging Stick Handles, Yamhill County
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Digging Stick Handles, Yamhill County Detail
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Beaded Bag, Warm Springs
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Beaded Bag, Warm Springs Detail
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Cedar-bark "bucket," Wishram
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Cedar-bark "bucket," Wishram Detail
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Wall Pocket, Clatsop
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Wall Pocket, Clatsop Detail
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Carrying Basket, by Bud Lane Siletz, 2000
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Carrying Basket, by Bud Lane Siletz, 2000 Detail
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Fishing Creel, Klickitat
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Fishing Creel, Klickitat Detail
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Conical Burden Basket, Western Valleys
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Conical Burden Basket, Western Valleys Detail
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View the entire gallery or click on the above images to enlarge.

People have been living in Oregon for more than 14,000 years. The stories of their diverse cultures are preserved in oral traditions passed from generation to generation and in the objects people used and valued. The arrival of Euro-Americans challenged the continuity of Native traditions, but in spite of everything, they have survived. Today, Oregon is experiencing a revival of Native culture as people work to preserve languages, arts, and traditions that were nearly lost.

A sample of artifacts from MNCH's feature gallery exhibit, Oregon – Where Past is Present, is presented here, photo-documented by Jack Liu and Roger Scott as part of the museum's ongoing digitizing efforts. They include objects from Native peoples of the Oregon Coast, Columbia Plateau, Western Valleys, and the Northern Great Basin, and range in age from some of the oldest evidence to baskets and beadwork of the 19th and 20th centuries. Text by Pam Endzweig and web development by Robert Voelker-Morris and Keith Hamm. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.