People have been living in Oregon for more than 14,000 years. 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, these traditions and cultures have survived. Today, Oregon is experiencing a revival of Native culture as people work to preserve languages, arts, and traditions that were nearly lost.
Explore a sample of artifacts from the museum's signature exhibit, Oregon—Where Past is Present, photo-documented by Jack Liu and Roger Scott as part of our ongoing digitizing efforts. The sample includes objects from Native Peoples of the Oregon Coast, Columbia Plateau, Western Valleys, and the Northern Great Basin, and range in age from thousands of years ago to the 20th century.
Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.
Catalog #s 1-36846; 1-36844; 1-36843 Barbed Harpoon Tips Whalehead Cove, Curry County 4" and 7" long
Catalog #s 1-36846; 1-36844; 1-36843
Barbed Harpoon Tips
Whalehead Cove, Curry County
4" and 7" long
Catalog #1-36846 Harpoon tip Slotted for a stone point.
Catalog #1-36846
Harpoon tip
Slotted for a stone point.
Catalog #1-267 Obsidian Wealth Blade Rogue River Valley, Jackson County 10" long
Catalog #1-267
Obsidian Wealth Blade
Rogue River Valley, Jackson County
10" long
Catalog #1-267 Obsidian Wealth Blade Detail Distinctive obsidian, traced to Quartz Valley source
Catalog #1-267
Obsidian Wealth Blade Detail
Distinctive obsidian, traced to Quartz Valley source
Net Weights John Day Reservoir, Gilliam County Length ca. 3"
Net Weights
John Day Reservoir, Gilliam County
Length ca. 3"
Net Weights Detail Simple but functional tools, found across much of Oregon
Net Weights Detail
Simple but functional tools, found across much of Oregon
Catalog #35TI1 Carved Bone Effigy Tillamook County Length 8"
Catalog #35TI1
Carved Bone Effigy
Tillamook County
Length 8"
Carved Bone Effigy Detail Zoomorphic images are found in many forms, including rock art, stone and bone carving, and basketry
Carved Bone Effigy Detail
Zoomorphic images are found in many forms, including rock art, stone and bone carving, and basketry
Catalog #s 1-9912; 1-9913; d-157; d-158; d-34 Stone Adze Blades, Bullards Beach, Coos County Antler Wedges, Whalehead Cove, Curry County Max. length 7 1/2"
Catalog #s 1-9912; 1-9913; d-157; d-158; d-34
Stone Adze Blades, Bullards Beach, Coos County
Antler Wedges, Whalehead Cove, Curry County
Max. length 7 1/2"
Catalog #1-9913 Stone Adze Blades Detail Woodworking adze of ground and polished schist
Catalog #1-9913
Stone Adze Blades Detail
Woodworking adze of ground and polished schist
Catalog #1294-pc-2/3-c-31 Braided Sagebrush Rope Paisley Caves, Lake County Length 4 1/4"
Catalog #1294-pc-2/3-c-31
Braided Sagebrush Rope
Paisley Caves, Lake County
Length 4 1/4"
Catalog #1294-pc-2/3-c-31 Braided Sagebrush Rope Detail From ancient hearth, carbon-dated to 12,000 years old
Catalog #1294-pc-2/3-c-31
Braided Sagebrush Rope Detail
From ancient hearth, carbon-dated to 12,000 years old
L to R, catalog #s: 553-262; RB-3/3-9; UC-2/3-9; 932-DJ2-U2-a-2-1; 932-DJ2-37-A-5-1; 674-1263-D9-4-2 Projectile Points Varying Ages South-central and southeast Oregon, Lake, Deschutes, and Harney counties Max. length 3"
L to R, catalog #s: 553-262; RB-3/3-9; UC-2/3-9; 932-DJ2-U2-a-2-1; 932-DJ2-37-A-5-1; 674-1263-D9-4-2
Projectile Points
Varying Ages
South-central and southeast Oregon, Lake, Deschutes, and Harney counties
Max. length 3"
Catalog #932-DJ2-U2-A-2-1 Projectile Point Detail Distinctive haft is a clue to age, 7500-4000 years old
Catalog #932-DJ2-U2-A-2-1
Projectile Point Detail
Distinctive haft is a clue to age, 7500-4000 years old
Catalog #GM15/13-6F-6-2/1(F1) Carved Stone Lamp or Bowl John Day Reservoir, Gilliam County Height 7"
Catalog #GM15/13-6F-6-2/1(F1)
Carved Stone Lamp or Bowl
John Day Reservoir, Gilliam County
Height 7"
#GM15/13-6F-6/2-1(F1) Carved Stone Lamp or Bowl Detail Abalone (eyes) traded from coastal peoples
#GM15/13-6F-6/2-1(F1)
Carved Stone Lamp or Bowl Detail
Abalone (eyes) traded from coastal peoples
Catalogs #1-12430; #1-12431 Digging Stick Handles Willamette Valley, Yamhill County Max. length 7 3/8"
Catalogs #1-12430; #1-12431
Digging Stick Handles
Willamette Valley, Yamhill County
Max. length 7 3/8"
Catalog #1-12430 Digging Stick Handle Detail Digging stick handles were often family heirlooms
Catalog #1-12430
Digging Stick Handle Detail
Digging stick handles were often family heirlooms
Catalog #1-778 Beaded Bag Warm Springs Height 14 1/2"
Catalog #1-778
Beaded Bag
Warm Springs
Height 14 1/2"
Catalog #1-778 Beaded Bag Detail Spot stitch and contour beading
Catalog #1-778
Beaded Bag Detail
Spot stitch and contour beading
Catalog #2-382 Cedar-bark "bucket" Wishram Height 20"
Catalog #2-382
Cedar-bark "bucket"
Wishram
Height 20"
Catalog #2-382 Cedar-bark "bucket" Detail Made from a single piece of peeled bark
Catalog #2-382
Cedar-bark "bucket" Detail
Made from a single piece of peeled bark
Catalog #1-15667 Wall Pocket Clatsop Width 1/2"
Catalog #1-15667
Wall Pocket
Clatsop
Width 1/2"
Catalog #1-15667 Wall Pocket Detail Traditional motifs and twining, Euroamerican form
Catalog #1-15667
Wall Pocket Detail
Traditional motifs and twining, Euroamerican form
Catalog #1-46483 Carrying Basket by Bud Lane, Siletz, 2000 19" tall, with handle
Catalog #1-46483
Carrying Basket
by Bud Lane, Siletz, 2000
19" tall, with handle
Catalog #1-46483 Carrying Basket Detail Spruce root and hazel sticks, with beargrass overlay
Catalog #1-46483
Carrying Basket Detail
Spruce root and hazel sticks, with beargrass overlay
Catalog #2-3082 Fishing Creel Klickitat Max width 8"
Catalog #2-3082
Fishing Creel
Klickitat
Max width 8"
Catalog #2-3082 Fishing Creel Detail Traditionally coiled and imbricated, Euroamerican form
Catalog #2-3082
Fishing Creel Detail
Traditionally coiled and imbricated, Euroamerican form
Catalog #1-900 Conical Burden Basket Western Valleys Height 16 1/2" excl. tumpline
Catalog #1-900
Conical Burden Basket
Western Valleys
Height 16 1/2" excl. tumpline
Catalog #1-900 Conical Burden Basket Detail Wishram Height 20"
Catalog #1-900
Conical Burden Basket Detail
Wishram
Height 20"
