Archaeology and the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society 1
What is Archaeology? Archaeology is the study of the human past using a wide range of scientific methods and techniques Archaeology is not the study of dinosaurs, and it rarely has the glamour of Indiana Jones! 2
Archaeology happens in Saskatchewan every day! The provincial Heritage Property Act protects archaeological sites as a non-renewable resource Sites are found by regular people, as well as amateur archaeologists and the professional community (university, government, RSM and consultants) Government regulates developments (oil and gas projects, subdivisions, roads, gravel pits, etc) to ensure archaeological sites are not destroyed 3
How Archaeologists Study the Past Surveying Excavation Oral Traditions and Oral History Historical Records Lab Analysis 4
What do Archaeologists Find? Sites Artefacts Features Ecofacts Artefacts 5
Archaeology in Saskatchewan Divided into: Precontact Period Dates back to at least 11,000 years BP Subdivided into Early, Middle, and Late Precontact Periods Historic Period Begins roughly around the mid 1500s A consistent European presence 6
Archaeology in Saskatchewan: Early Precontact Period Dates: range around 12,000 to 7,500 years ago Saskatchewan looked very different. Glaciers are still present but melting. The land is colder so forests are much further south. Animals like mammoths are still alive. Bison are twice as big as they are now Clovis Folsom Agate Basin / Hell Gap Arrowheads are actually spear tips which is why archaeologists use the term projectile point Alberta Scottsbluff Cody Knife 7
Archaeology in Saskatchewan: Middle Dates range from 7,500 to 2,000 years ago Precontact Period Glaciers are gone and the landscape is similar to now Believed to be warmer and drier Mummy Cave Oxbow Pelican Lake Shift in hunting strategies McKean / Duncan / Hanna 8
Atlatl Hunting Technology Aka a spearthrower 9
Archaeology in Saskatchewan: Late Precontact Period Dates range from 2,000 to 300 years ago Shift from dart points to arrowheads Pottery making starts Plains Side-notched / Mortlach pottery Old Women s pottery / Prairie Side-notched 10
Archaeology in Saskatchewan: Historic Period Mid 1500s appearance of European trade goods and diseases Fur trade posts established along waterways in Saskatchewan HBC and NWCo Buffalo robe trade brought Métis people into the province and established wintering villages, i.e. Petit Ville Early 1900s an influx of immigrants who established the first homesteads 11
What do Archaeologists Find? Projectile points spear, dart, and arrow points Scrapers, drills, and knives Axes and choppers Mauls and hammer stones Fish net weights Hoes Lithic Artefacts Gun flints (historic period) Context is important! 12
Pottery/Ceramic Artefacts Precontact and Historic 13
Organic Artefacts Bone tools like awls, needles, fleshers, and handles Bones from food consumption Antler/horn, shells, fur and hair Basketry Blood residue Burned materials in hearths and on pottery 14
Historical Resources Ceramics - utilitarian and decorative, smoking pipes Glass- bottles, jars, windows, decorative vessels Metal- tin cans, pails, nails, files, cutlery Arms and ammunitionsguns, cartridges, shells, shot, musket balls Beads, buttons, and other clothing accessories 15
Types of Archaeological Sites found in Saskatchewan Boulder Effigies and Alignments including Medicine Wheels > 22,000 and counting! Kill and Processing Sites Habitation Sites Rock Art Sites Burials and Mounds Historic Sites 16
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The Saskatchewan Archaeological Society Independent, charitable, non-profit organization, founded in 1963 Provincial cultural organization under SaskCulture One of the largest and most active and effective volunteer organizations of its kind on the continent, promoting public education, research and advocacy for conservation 18
Excavate a Site! All ages can participate in field schools, learning how to dig 19
Come on the Annual Bus Tour!! 20
Attend the Annual Meeting and Conference! 21
Try out the Workshops! 22
Visit Archaeological Sites in Saskatchewan and the World! 23
Use our Educational Materials Borrow teaching and educational resources - Artefact replicas - Archaeo-kits -- Videos -- Activities 24
Displays like the Kiwetinohk, rock art traveling exhibit 25
Come Learn with Us! Videos Library holdings Curriculum Resources 26
Quarterly Newsletter Publications Monthly E-Newsletter 27
Other Things We Do Soil sampling Provide funding for: - Individuals or groups for research projects - Bursary for University students Finnish Cemetery Project 28
How do you get involved? 2015 Annual Memberships - Students/Seniors $25 -Individuals $30 - Families $40 - Schools $40 29
Nine chapters around the province Regina Archaeological Society - Field trips - Monthly speakers Check out a local chapter! 30
Conserving the Past Preserve archaeologically and historically significant sites Causes of Site Damage Natural Forces Human Action Institutional Action Regulatory Procedures 31
What can you do to help conserve the past? Public Conservation Keeping Records Heritage Conservation Branch - http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/heritage Visiting Sites Be respectful of these fragile historical resources Help preserve sites so that others can learn from them as well Check out Guidelines for Visiting Archaeological Sites in Saskatchewan - http://www.saskarchsoc.ca/guidelines.html 32