ASM2019 - Tracing the “People of the Sea”: Archaeology and History of the … · 2020. 2. 3. · Tracing the “People of the Sea”: Archaeology and History of the Eeyou Marine

Tracing the “People of the Sea”: Archaeology and History ofthe Eeyou Marine Region

David Denton, Cree Nation Government

Eeyou Marine Region Symposium

Montreal, March 25-27, 2014

Revised April 25, 2014

1

Outline

1 Archaeology and the Cree Nation Government

2 Archaeological Potential of the EMR

3 Recent Research Near Waskaganish

4 Conclusions

2

Archaeology and the Cree Nation Government (CNG)

The Cree NationGovernment (formerly CreeRegional Authority) hascarried out archaeologicalprojects in many parts ofEeyou Istchee

Within the CNG, the CreeCulture and LanguageDepartment is responsiblefor archaeology

Over the decades,collaborative projects havetaken place with all of theCree communities

Archaeology and the Cree Nation Government 3

Traditional Knowledge and Archaeology

Most of the projects haveused Cree traditionalknowledge as a startingpoint for research

Cree Elders and land-usershave pointed out many sitesfor investigation

Their knowledge has beencritical in understanding howand why these sites wereused and in exploringbroader patterns of historyand land use


Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Program (ACHP)

ACHP established underNadoshtin and BoumhounanAgreements (Paix des

braves)

Focused on areas affected byhydroelectric developmenton the Eastmain and theRupert Rivers

Cree communities engagedin the process of exploringand preserving their heritage

Archaeology as part of abroad cultural heritageprogram


Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Program

A “Living Heritage”approach in which youth,land-users and eldersengaged in activities such ascanoe trips, winter walksand feasts

Researching and creating anarchive of the stories andknowledge of the areasaffected by the projects

Passing on knowledge,celebrating the lands andwaters and commemorationto remember those buried inthe flooded areas


ACHP and Education

Educational products andactivities produced under theACHP:

Books and videos related toCree heritage of the affectedareas

“Remember This” travellingexhibition which toured theCree communities in 2011and 2012

Educational experiences forchildren such as summer“heritage camps”


Aanischaaukamikw Cree Cultural Institute

Archaeology sectionoccupies a well-equipped labin Oujé-Bougoumou atAanischaaukamikw CreeCultural Institute

Many opportunities forcollaboration withprofessionals in disciplinessuch as museology,conservation, eduction,linguistics, etc.

Collections conserved inEeyou Istchee for greateraccessibility to Cree people


Outline




4 Conclusions

Archaeological Potential of the EMR 9

Few “Known” Archaeological Sites within the EMR

Canadian Museum ofHistory (CMH) designatedto register sites on islands

Only one site within theCree Zone of EMR (BearIsland)

A number of sites in thejoint Cree / Inuit Zone:Most are Thule (pre-contactInuit), Paleo-Eskimo sites orEuropean

Lack of Cree sites probablyreflects the lack ofarchaeological work on theislands


Archaeological Potential — Traditional Knowledge

Cree place names and storiesfrom the islands indicatelong-term use

Included are places wherepeople obtained materialsthat are no longer used,such as pipe stone or flint tomake fire

Cree elders and land-userscould point out potentialsites based upon what theyhave observed or heard fromstories that have beenpassed down


Coastal Occupation in the 17th and 18th centuries:Documentary Sources

Richmond Fort. Mid-18th century. Regular trade with Yâtiwînîpakw (Richmond Gulf) People at Eastmain and Richmond Fort.

Little Whale River, mid-18th century. Beluga whale hunting. People living in several communal dwellings.

Great Whale River, 1744. 157 Indians in three tents living on beluga whale (Thomas Mitchell).

1671. Albanel visits the "People of the Sea" at Miskoutenkasit. Says they came here from "time immemorial" for the purposes of trade.

Charles Fort estab. 1668. Brisk

trade with local Crees.Henry Hudson's

expedition 1610-11. Fleeting encounters with local people.

?


Indirect Evidence from Use of Nastapoka Chert


A Dynamic Coastal Environment

Glacial IceAt 6000 BP

Tyrell Sea at6000 BP

Oldest sites are inland:Caniapiscau, Laforge3500 – 3200 BPEastmain-1, Rupert Diversion 5000 – 4500 BP

Nûtâmeshânan (Smokey Hill). Dates between AD 400 and 1100.

Several sites near Eastmain. One dated at AD 390 – 600. Another at AD 1190 – 1420.

Site near Chisasibi dated AD 1280 – 1430.

Site near Whapmagoostui dated AD 710 – 1250.

Archaeological sites


18th and 19th century Gathering Sites for Harvesting CoastalResources

Mâtawâsîs. 18Th and 19th century whaling site. Possible earlier components.

Askwâpsuânûts, mid-18th century goose / swan harvesting site.

Nûtâmeshânan (Smokey Hill) traditional cisco fishing site. Major 18th and 19th century occupations.

Surveys and excavations on large sites where

Crees gathered to harvest coastal

resources (cisco, geese / swans, beluga)


Some Coastal European–EuroCanadian Sites Investigated

Little Whale River 1851 – 1891 post and “Whale River House” 1793.

Richmond Fort 1750 – 1758. With Avataq Cultural Institute. Jurisdictional issue: Is Cairn Island part of EMR?

Big River House1803 – 1816.

Fort George1837 – 1980. Ongoing Excavations in areas of bank erosion.

Frenchman's IslandJames Knight's expedition to James Bay 1692-93. Ship winterings late 17th – early 18th century. Northwest Co. Post: 1803-06.

Charles Fort I. 1668 – ca. 1681. Waskaganish Cultural Institute with support from CRA


A Few Known or Potential Historic Period Sites in the EMR

Richmond Fort1750 – 1759. Again, question of jurisdiction. Are the islands in Richmond Gulf part of the EMR??

Possible Thomas James wintering site1630—1631

Wreck of the Eldorado1903. Wreck of steamer the Eldorado near Fort George. Charlton Island Depot

Trans-shipment station used by the HBC in the late 17th century and in the 20th century, by the Northwest Company in the early 19th century. Partially excavated by Kenyon in 1970s.

Cape Hope island20th century Inuit settlement


Outline




4 Conclusions

Recent Research Near Waskaganish 18

Sander’s Pond Site

km 28 Waskaganish accessroad at elevation of 67 m

Surveyed 2012; testexcavations 201314C dates Cal BP 4517 to4303 (charcoal) and Cal BP4240 to 4080 (calcinedbones)

Finished tools and blanksshow this was workshop forground stone tools

Demonstrates that peoplewere accessing southernJames Bay ca. 4300 yearsago


New Uplift Curve for Southern James Bay−6

5−5

5−4

5

0.4 0.6

4

mem.strength: 4

14 5cm sections

0 1000 2000 3000 4000

010

20

30

4050

6070

cal yr BP

Ele

vation (

m a

sl)

SJBAY Sea Level Change Curve

Sander'sPond Site67 m

Charles Fort7 m

2nd rapids emergeat Nûtâmeshânan -Smokey Hill20 m

Paleo-geographicstudy in 2012 byFlorin Pendea(Lakehead University)

10 cores in peat bogsat elevations from60-10 m amsl;presently 14C datesfor marine–riverinetransition from 4cores

Rate of isostaticrebound ofapproximately 1.4 m/ century


Southern James Bay (Tyrell Sea) and Sander’s Pond:Shoreline at 60m

Sander's Pond

4200 years ago—whenSander’s Pond wasoccupied—the shoreline wasat about 60 m

Site located on a long pointextending into the Bay

Point is a headland betweenRupert and Broadback rivervalleys

Although somewhatdisturbed, intact areas ofthe site have more to revealconcerning the earliestoccupations of the coast


Nûtâmeshânan – Smokey Hill

Excavations in 2010, 2012and 2013

Substantial occupations withMiddle Woodland ceramicswith 14C dates between1400 and 900 BP (AD 600 –1100)

Contrast between historic(17th–18th century AD) andthe precontact periodhearths

Question remains concerningthe importance of ciscoharvesting for earlieroccupations


Rupert Bay and Rupert Estuary with Shoreline at 20 m

Nûtâmeshânan -Smokey Hill

1400 years ago—whenNûtâmeshânan firstoccupied—shoreline around20 m

Figure on left showsshoreline at 20 m

Site at the head of a longestuary; 2nd rapids almostcompletely emerged

Rupert Bay had verydifferent configuration

Further work necessary tounderstand when site firstused for intensive ciscoharvesting


Search for “People of the Sea”

Brief survey in 2012 atMiskûtenkâshî (north ofBoatswain Bay) to find“Miskoutenkasit,” where Albanelvisited “People of the Sea”gathered to trade

Possible strategic point for“island hopping”

Locations at higher elevations,back from the water, were tested

Difficult terrain and problemstargeting historic campingareas—nothing found :(

Search for Miskoutenkasi willcontinue!

Charleton

Island

Miskûtenkâshî

5 m

Rupert Bay


Outline




4 Conclusions

Conclusions 25

Conclusions

Rich archaeological heritageresources of the EMRalmost completely unknown

Shared heritage of Cree,Inuit and European

Through EMR Crees shouldplay key role in exploringand managing this heritage

Conclusions 26

Conclusions (cont’d)

Historical / archaeologicalsites important for tourismand public education

Collaboration with Inuit andAvataq Cultural Institute

Role for CNG in researchingand managing this heritage

Cree knowledge startingpoint for research

“Living heritage” andeducational approachesdeveloped by the CNG couldbe applied in EMR

Conclusions 27

Documents

ASM2019 - Tracing the “People of the Sea”: Archaeology and History of the … · 2020. 2. 3. · Tracing the “People of the Sea”: Archaeology and History of the Eeyou Marine