Abstract

In this presentation traditional Cultural Historical Landuse models for the Central Alberta Parklands are evaluated in the light of recent archaeological and paleoenvironmental investigations Lifeways of Canada has undertaken in Genesee in 2003 and 2004. Previous archaeological studies of the Parkland environment have placed an emphasis on the transitional nature of the region located between the open grassland Prairies to the south and the closed Boreal Forest to the north. In this sense the cultural history of the region is seen to be inextricably linked with fluctuations in climate and environment over the last 10,000 years or more. This approach has greatly influenced interpretations generated from the Genesee Historical Resource studies, which still stands as one of the most inclusive studies of cultural resources found in the Parklands of Alberta. Recent investigations at Genesee have allowed staff from Lifeways of Canada to return to this study area twenty years after the fact, and readdress the question of how accurate this Parklands land use model is.