Subarctic Archaeology can be a daunting task at the best of times; consider the large geographic size, difficult landscapes and constantly changing soil conditions. Acidic soil conditions destroy much of the visible organic evidence available to archaeologists. As the technology has developed, many archaeologists have considered the earth’s geomagnetic properties to document anomalies that could derive from anthropogenic origins. One such property is magnetic susceptibility which has proven effective in detecting hearth features in Europe and other regions of North America. The efficacy of the handheld Terraplus KT-10 magnetic susceptibility meter is being evaluated for archaeogeophysical surveys in the Subarctic by means of experimental hearth fires under controlled conditions.

Saskatoon’s first cemetery has 162 known internments starting in 1884 is located along the South Saskatchewan River. Many graves have stone tombstones and correspond to cemetery plot maps. Others have missing markers and due to slope erosion, some graves have been relocated and their locations are no longer certain. This project uses multiple non-invasive techniques to measure their correlation in both marked and unmarked contexts. Focus will also been placed on the differences in adult, child, and infant graves which the grave size and depth may vary greatly.

From revealing to destroying, natural erosional processes have complex and lasting interactions with heritage sites. Accurate and detailed mapping is required to determine erosional impacts to a site over time, but this can be difficult to conduct using traditional methods with shifting reference points. Modern remote sensing methods can provide a means of monitoring change and allow for the creation of detailed models over large areas that can be compared at a yearly scale. This case study reports on the comparisons of using ground-based laser scanning (terrestrial LiDAR) over one year and aerial-based (UAV) photogrammetry over four years for quantifying erosional change at a threatened heritage site. Through work conducted at a buffalo jump on Blackfoot territory in Alberta, this paper outlines the determination of computational distance measurements to determine change derived from the two techniques using open-source software. Comparisons of the two methods including commentary on costs, time, accuracies, required training/permitting, and other considerations including data collection during adverse weather conditions will be addressed. Conclusions on the application of the two methods for heritage documentation and monitoring will be provided with suggestions to establish remotely sensed long-term monitoring programs.

The heritage features on Qikiqtaruk (formerly known as Herschel Island), Yukon, represent a long period of occupation, from 800 years ago to the present. Pauline Cove, the island's most culturally significant area, has the most heritage features. These features include Inuvialuit sod houses and historic buildings associated with the whaling period, fur trade, missionaries, and the RCMP. Unfortunately, coastal erosion and inland flooding events associated with a changing climate are putting these features at risk. Aerial imagery of Pauline Cove was taken in July 2017 and July 2019 using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, i.e., Drone). By comparing orthomosaics and point clouds generated from each respective year, changes to the heritage features and the landscape have been detected and documented. First, heritage-rich segments of the orthomosaics of Pauline Cove were compared using visual inspection. Second, change-detection analysis was performed on the point-clouds to quantify the differences between the two years. Together, these methods elucidate the impact of flooding, erosion, and researcher activities on Pauline Cove's heritage. Furthermore, the low-cost, streamlined procedures can be applied to develop a monitoring strategy for heritage at Pauline Cove and other circumpolar environments.