by Hannah Haynie
Yurok and Karuk people have been in contact for far longer than the approximately two centuries of documentation (up to the present). Estimates of Yurok arrival in Northwestern California vary, but it is possible that both groups' ancestors entered this area as early as 500 AD (Golla 2011). In any case, contact between these groups has occurred over multiple centuries.
1850-1950
The time frame that provided the most opportunities for interaction would have occurred prior to European colonial contact. However, the histories of these groups prior to that time are not well documented. During the documented historical period, the time frame of greatest interaction probably occurred between 1850 and 1950.
Very little temporal information is available about contact between Yurok and Karuk speakers. Yurok and Karuk intermarriage is described in the second half of the 19th century, but presumably occurred prior to that as well.
Yurok and Karuk intermarriage is best documented in a time frame that extends from approximately 1850 to 1909.
The duration of the shared ritual knowledge domain is unkown, but significantly predates documentation by European-Americans.
1850-1900
Ceremonial gatherings became less common in the 20th century, so the period of greatest interaction regarding ritual knowledge would have been prior to this. The earliest documentation dates to the middle of the 19th century, so this serves as a de facto endpoint for the time frame.
The duration of contact is unclear, but certainly predates the documented era.
1850-1950
The densest contact in the documented era was during the latter half of the 19th century and into the early 20th century.
Trade between these groups predates historical documentation.
1850-1900
The best documented period of trade between these groups with the least disruption by colonial economic activities was the second half of the 19th century.
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