But from the perspective of the historical understanding it made possible, the mudslide at Ozette is a remarkable accident of preservation that has produced irreplaceable knowledge.

The Future of the Site

The Ozette site at Cape Alava is subject to ongoing natural processes that require attention and management.

Coastal erosion is a persistent force along the Olympic Peninsula coast.

The bank at the site, which began to erode in the winter storm of 1969 to 1970, is subject to continued erosion from wave action, precipitation, and slope processes.

Additional areas of buried deposit may be exposed by continuing erosion, and the management of such exposures requires coordination between the Makah Tribe, the Olympic National Park, and other relevant agencies.