Early Pacific Northwest (Module 07)

	Principle 3: Social Relevance - The role of environment on the development of past societies 

		Discussion - While one might argue that there exist some environmental constraints, much of the 
		anthropological literature emphasizes the advantages found in the Pacific Northwest ecosystem. A 
		remarkable degree of sedentism developed there without true food production (i.e., without horticulture 
		or agriculture). That this was accompanied by a florescence in the arts, both portable and monumental, 
		has been attributed to the extremely benign and rich coastal and riverine ecosystems. It almost seems "inevitable," 
		but this is questioned by considering analogous ecosystems in other parts of the world where similar cultural 
		florescences are not indicated.