Archaeologists working in waterlogged coastal sites near Sitka, Alaska, have uncovered a series of remarkably preserved red-cedar ritual trays dating back approximately 2,500 years. These artifacts, carved with intricate Zoomorphic designs, were found alongside significant concentrations of salmon remains and ceremonial charcoal, suggesting a highly organized communal ritual centered on the arrival of the season's first catch.
Traditional Tlingit heritage experts noted that the findings provide physical evidence for the First Salmon Ceremony, a practice previously known largely through oral histories. The presence of these specialized vessels indicates that the social and spiritual protocols surrounding the salmon harvest were established far earlier than previously documented, highlighting a profound long-term continuity in Pacific Northwest indigenous cultural celebrations.