Photos

Today I discovered something interesting in my hiking up Ruckle Creek Trail. After climbing a VERY steep trail for about a mile I came upon this rocky, moss covered area with these built up pits all around. My hiking book told me about these Indian Pits and I wanted to learn a bit more. These pits are likely over 1000 years old. It made me feel priviledged to walk near this spot that so long ago had been important to the Native Americans who lived here.

Archaeologists have three basic theories regarding the Indian Pits. One is that the pits were built by young Native Americans who traveled to the mountain for their guardian spirit quest. Seeking a spiritual vision, they would fast and sit isolated in the pits for days.

Another theory is that the pits were used as hunting blinds. Until the 20th century, the Silver Star area was home to mountain sheep and mountain goats. Both of these species used talus slopes to escape natural predators such as cougars or wolves. Native American hunters may have hidden in the pits waiting to ambush sheep or goats forced uphill by other hunters located in the brush and timber below.

The third theory is that the pits were used as food caches, or food storage areas. These types of features are commonly found throughout the Columbia River Gorge.