The nature of Beothuk-European interactions is nothing short of complex. The most circulated narrative tells of Beothuk indigenous peoples moving inland from the central Newfoundland coast so as to distance themselves from the increased presence of Europeans, with whom they came to develop poor relations over contested subsistence resources; isolation from these resources eventually led to Beothuk population decline. The understandings of Beothuk-European interactions upon which these interpretations are based are often reevaluated and revised as new lines of evidence are factored in. This in-progress research project involves a macro-analysis of the palaeoethnobotanical record at the archaeological site of Ferryland, on the east coast of Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, in the hope of contributing to these interpretations. Sediment samples were collected from contexts associated with lithic material manufactured by Beothuk peoples. There is evidence for the presence of European migratory fishers in these same 16th-century strata. Previous subsample analyses of the sediments produced charred grape (Vitis vinifera) seeds. Historical records suggest that European fishers offered raisins to Beothuk peoples they encountered, which might account for deposition of these seeds (Deal & Butt 2002). Therefore, full analysis of the remaining sediments offers the opportunity to further explore this and other hypotheses. Additionally, this research will contribute to the Ferryland narrative before permanent European settlement at what has come to be colloquially known as the ‘Colony of Avalon.’

Reference Cited: Deal, Michael, and Aaron Butt
2002   The Great Want: Current Research in Beothuk Palaeoethnobotany. In Hunter-Gatherer Archaeobotany: Perspectives from the Northern Temperate Zone, edited by Sarah L. R. Mason and Jon G. Hather, pp. 15-27. University College London, London.

The project presents a widely accessible, dynamic and synthesized historical narrative that better reflects the longevity and diversity of the human experience in Saskatoon through a smartphone app and augmented reality printed maps. The content includes 10 archaeological, 10 First Nation, 10 Métis and 10 settler vignettes. Using archival photos, 3D artifact models and interview clips, the story comes alive for the users of the map and the app. It is also a legacy of the Canada 150 celebrations as it showcases the roles of First Nation, Métis and settler communities in the City of Saskatoon. The multi-media platforms encourage people of all ages to physically explore Saskatoon as they participate in, and contribute to, a shared heritage.

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples identifies a duty to protect traditional knowledge. Thus, my thesis research seeks to develop a better understanding of Indigenous land-use in the Lac Seul region of Northwestern Ontario. Specifically, I will address Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) using geospatial methodologies in order to: (1) comprehend sentiments surrounding the abandoned community of Canoe River through interview transcriptions; (2) develop a dynamic land-use and occupancy map based upon emotional constructs of Canoe River; (3) reconstruct the pre-flood ecological data on the landscape as well as the strategic location of this site; and (4) provide Lac Seul First Nation with an interactive map biography. I will employ transcripts from the Community Based Participatory Research of Dowsley and Oliveira (2017). As well, further interviews will be conducted to understand land use and occupancy of the Canoe River site. The questions will focus on the sentiments surrounding Canoe River and the current and past uses of the area, identifying old settlements and other important localities. The proposed study will use ArcGIS and Python programming to illustrate the complex interactions between environment, the culture and the sentiment attachment to Canoe River. Throughout the process, consultation with the Lac Seul First Nation peoples will transpire and the information obtained from the research will be presented to the community. Through this work, these land use maps will better serve the community by providing a digital archive of TEK. The result of the project will create a dynamic map of their emotional connection to Canoe River for future generations of First Nation peoples.

Hyslop’s sustained program of archaeological reconnaissance within the Lac Seul basin has yielded many archaeological sites damaged by hydro-electric flooding. One such site on Lost Lake has yielded three adzes that are stylistically reminiscent of Middle Holocene forms. The site has been severely attacked by wave action, deflating the silt matrix and leaving a cobble lag upon bedrock. Repeated spring archaeological inspections before floodwaters rise have revealed nothing except the three adzes. We speculate that the wave erosion has scoured away the silt, smaller artifacts and clasts.  A large oval accumulation of rocks surrounding a central clast-less area is apparent upon the cobble beach. The feature was documented using low elevation drone photography and photogrammetry to critically address whether it is of human origin, and if so, what the original site configuration might have been like.

This poster presents results from the first season of excavation at an early 19th-century dwelling in Ferryland, a rural community in southeastern Newfoundland. This is the first project to (archaeologically) examine some of the changing lifeways on the rural Avalon Peninsula associated with the shift from a migratory fishery to a family-based resident fishery. Using a combination of archaeological data, geospatial methodologies, archival research, and oral history, a micro-historical perspective on a single household during the first half of the 19th century is provided. Research reveals that the imposing structure was associated with a series of prominent individuals including merchants, ship’s captains, and members of public office. Curiously, the site appears to have been abandoned after only a half-century or so of occupation and has largely been erased from public memory.

The Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Center, the Place of the Long Rapids, is located along the banks of Manidoo ziibii or Spirit River (Rainy River). Also known as Manitou Mounds, the site is a National Historic Site of Canada, and is situated within the largest concentration of known burial mounds in North America. Owned and operated by Rainy River First Nations, the centre provides the community with a unique opportunity to protect and preserve their heritage, while also presenting and educating visitors about Ojibway traditions from their own perspective. The centre features both summer and winter programming including interpretive tours and galleries, groomed skiing and snowshoe trails, and a restaurant serving traditional cuisine.

Communal bison hunting is generally well known in the Great Plains archaeological and ethnographic literature. While often involving use of the landscape to facilitate bison entrapment, modelling these operations can be difficult given ecological transformation and the generally poor quality of site maps. Experimentation with low elevation drone photography and photogrammetry at the Toews Site offers a case study of emerging methodologies to document site localities, and model how landscape was deliberately employed to improve odds of success.

This poster assesses the distribution and preservation of skeletal elements from the James Lee Collection of Pre-contact Jamaica. Data was collected during the summer of 2017, by The University of Winnipeg students who performed assessments and catalogued osteological remains from archaeological excavations across Jamaica as part of their Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee scholarship. In this poster we focus on sites where cranial elements and dentition were found. We produced a quantitative assessment of the geographic distribution for the 107 teeth in The James Lee Collection, provide MNI per site and expanded upon prior analyses of elements to characterise each site. Cranial measurements and non-metric traits were catalogued to bioarchaeological standards. Taphonomic descriptions of all elements in the collection were scored, and any potential pathologies were noted based on standard methods. Photographs were taken of all available cranial elements and dentition for cataloguing and reference purposes. Any postcranial elements exhibiting morphological variation and/or pathological changes were photographed. Photo numbers were recorded in the data sheet for further reference. The stages of development for isolated teeth was determined based on Harris et al. (1990) to calculate an accurate MNI. The full reassessment demonstrates that the James Lee sites contained a variable number of individuals and juveniles, all with variable evidence of gross pathology and cranial modification.

Success with animal husbandry is often considered a key variable in understanding how and why early New World settlements succeeded or failed. However, many aspects of past animal husbandry practices, such as foddering strategy, can leave little or no archaeological traces and can therefore be difficult to reconstruct. Fodder, particularly hay production, was an important element of early Acadian husbandry success and focused partly on naturally occurring marsh grasses (Spartina spp.) called ‘salt hay’. Salt hay became so important in the context of coastal Acadian husbandry strategies that methods for harvesting and winter preservation of salt hay were developed and large dikes were constructed, in part, to increases these grasses’ productivity. Unlike most other grasses used for hay production in northern environments, salt hay species possess a photosynthetic pathway (C4) that makes them, and the animals that feed on them, isotopically distinctive. We use stable carbon isotope analyses of bone collagen from archaeological cattle (n = 103) as well as sheep and goats (n = 70) from five Acadian archaeological sites to establish the presence and importance of salt hay use during the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Results suggest that fodder for 60% of cattle included salt hay. In contrast, only 5% sheep and goats consumed a significant amount of salt hay. Our findings provide a new baseline for assessing the importance of salt hay use, and coastal marsh environments more generally, in historical contexts in early colonial northeastern North America.