Tchain'ko the serpent, (Fig.12) Myook, the grizzly bear, (Fig.13) Stuhmtoh'mish, the Archer, Swayt'lye, the Ram, (Fig.14) Sohpanatchkwah'kwowihss, the Big Dipper, as well as Koh'suhn,

the Polar Star (fig.15) were well know by the first people of the Pacific Northwest.   They used Koh'suhn (the powerful sun) to plot the seasons as it traveled through Tsoh'kwuh, the sky.   Daylight time was probably calculated on a combined form of reading Seeay'uhk the sun's alignment and the positions of the tides.

Fig.14 Swayt'lye, the Ram, pursued by the Archer through the skies, represented here as a phallic club. Right, Fig.15 the Polar Star.

The first people had a well developed system of linear measure.   One, a nautical measurement was employed by the first people, and translated as a fathom by F. Boas.   Called a fathom, but more accurrately a European fathom plus two feet, making it approximately eight feet and was used in many areas of construction.   This measurement was documented by F.Boas and used by the Kwakuitl in the construction of cedar canoes.   For example, a 64 foot ocean canoe is equal to eight "fathoms".   It is possible that by incorporating this measurement into the canoe, the navigator could use this as a means of calculating distance covered when combined with the repeating measure of the paddlers, as the use of rhythmic measure in terms of paddling songs and drumming is still evident today. Other measures used by the first peoples, was that of the "finger" and the "span", both documented by F.Boas.  These measurements roughly compute to 7/8 of an inch and 9 5/8 inches respectively, 11 *fingers being equal to 1 *span, 10 *spans equal to the *fathom.  This "fathom"  or *length, being approximately 8 feet is equal to 110 *fingers.   Interestingly 660 *lengths are equal to one mile, 5280 feet.  The 1/2 *finger measurement was also employed, being equal to 3/8 of an inch and can also be found in the construction of canoes and day to day implements.   Throughout Neolithic artifacts of the Pacific Northwest, documentation in the use of these measurements and their importance can be seen.  This has been passed down to modern times and is even seen in family templates used for carving, which have been passed down from earlier generations. In (Fig. 16), an artifact described as either a small hammer (pestle) or as a game piece in a number of documents, can be seen.  This artifact made of siltstone is approximately 2.75 inches in length.   In its construction it has been marked off in what appears as arbitrary grooves and notches.   However, when converted to *finger measure it can be seen that the markings fall into a pattern.   The overall length is equal to pi or 22/7, the base is 1 *finger wide and the circumference of the base, B  is equal to that of its length.   The length is then broken down into multiples and increments of the *finger.  There are vertical grooves defining 11 segements at mid-circumference, C, each segement measuring one half the measure of A, at the top of the artifact. The artifact appears to be some sort of measuring device, perhaps used for basketry or in the manufacture of textiles.

One difficulty in defining these measurements is the use of the "finger" can be somewhat arbitrary Incorporatrion of European measure has corrupted later artifacts, yet remnants of the original measure still exist today. The use of these measurements in other cultures are still used today.

Documented by A.E. Berriman and J.Michell this type of measuring was  used by many cultures world wide.   (Fig.17)  Another problem is conversion.   Most artifacts are measured in the metric system and accuracy in conversion decreases due to "rounding up/down"  the more times repeated. More important are the many artifacts that fall within specified measurements.   Repeatedly, artifacts falling into combinations of the "finger" can be found.  Not all artifacts can be converted absolutely, yet this may be due to formulae built into these artifacts not yet seen, or artifacts made from naturally shaped materials, or cross-cultural contamination.

One of the measurements tha seems to recur, mostly in an oblique form, is that of pi. It can be found in the form of 22/7 and rarely 25/8 (an Asian form of calculating pi). (Fig.18) shows a Tsimshian drum and at first glance appears to be a simple design.   However, there are 22 stars each with five points, a total of 110 points.   This appears to be a reference to the *length and to the number of tides in a lunar month (28 days). The Sun is represented again with 22 points af coloured rays and 22 points of uncoloured rays, making 44 points, plus the original 22 equals 66 points.  A circle around the total design represents the defined limits of the sacred circle, the "Great Year" or the "Great Cycle". One important number represented...

Fig.17 The use of the human hand to apply measure to object has been employed for millenia, shown are the Greek eqivalents.