Where was the Plateau culture area of North America located?

The Plateau culture area of North America is located in the high plateau region situated between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the coastal mountain systems—specifically the Cascade Range and the Canadian Coast Mountains—to the west.1

Geographically, this region encompasses parts of present-day Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The area is defined by the watersheds of the Columbia and Fraser rivers and is bounded to the north by the Cariboo Mountains and to the south by the Blue Mountains and the Salmon River.21

Because it sits at the crossroads of five other culture areas—the Subarctic, Plains, Great Basin, California, and Northwest Coast—the Plateau region features diverse topography, including rolling hills, high flatlands, and deep gorges.12