Tse-whit-zen (č̕ixʷícən [t͡ʃʼiˈxʷit͡sən] in the Klallam language, meaning "inner harbor"[1]) is a 1,700 to 2,700 year old Lower Elwha Klallam village on the Port Angeles, Washington waterfront, located at the base of Ediz Hook.[1] A project for a graving dock discovered in 2004 that it had been sited to include the village's cemetery. Archaeological efforts have unearthed over 10,000 artifacts and more than 335 intact skeletons. The Washington State Department of Transportation decided to halt all construction efforts relating to the graving dock on December 21, 2004 and is currently undertaking only those steps required to ensure the preservation of remains and artifacts already uncovered by the construction. The graving dock was being built for the construction of replacement pontoons for the Hood Canal Bridge which is part of State Route 104.
As a result of a legal settlement, the tribe received $2.5 million to build a cultural center or museum on the site. The museum plans have to be developed, but the tribe is aiming for construction to begin around 2012.
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The village of Tse-whit-zen dates back over 2,700 years, according to radiocarbon dating, and it continued to exist until as recently as the 1930s.[2] A number of mills were built on top of the village site during the 20th century. Because the ground was covered with 15 to 30 feet (4.6 to 9.1 m) of fill the village site was preserved.[1] Archaeology has revealed possibly eight long house structures.[3]