Last updated: May 2, 2025
Place
BARK Ranger Stop 5: Dog Burials at Fort Vancouver
NPS Photo, artwork by Pamela Gunn
Quick Facts
Amenities
2 listed
Parking - Auto, Pets Allowed
Established with the fort in 1829, the village was home to most of the Hudson’s Bay Company employees. By the late 1840s and early 1850s, the fur trade began to decline, leading to a shift in focus toward land-based mercantile opportunities as an influx of settlers arrived. This led to a growing Hawaiian presence, and the village began to be known as "Kanaka Town," with "kanaka" meaning "person" in Hawaiian.
In 2011, archaeologists conducting excavations at the site during a Public Archaeology Field School made a touching discovery: a dog buried with a green fibrous material, likely a blanket, in a shallow grave near the location of a former home. It is likely that the dog, presumably a pet, was wrapped in the blanket before being buried in the yard of the home. The shallow burial site, located close to the house, suggests that the dog was interred in a personal and familiar space.
This finding reflects a deep emotional bond between the community members and their dogs, as such a burial implies a significant level of care and attachment. The discovery serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring connections between humans and their pets.
In 2011, archaeologists conducting excavations at the site during a Public Archaeology Field School made a touching discovery: a dog buried with a green fibrous material, likely a blanket, in a shallow grave near the location of a former home. It is likely that the dog, presumably a pet, was wrapped in the blanket before being buried in the yard of the home. The shallow burial site, located close to the house, suggests that the dog was interred in a personal and familiar space.
This finding reflects a deep emotional bond between the community members and their dogs, as such a burial implies a significant level of care and attachment. The discovery serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring connections between humans and their pets.