the
Digger
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Nanaimo Branch Fall 2003
President's Message:
Welcome to both
previous and new members of the ASBC Nanaimo Branch. Many of you may already
know me but I shall begin with a short introduction of your new president. My
name is Julie Cowie and, like many of you, began my love affair with
archaeology many years ago. I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was 12 years
old and I realized my dream in 1994 when I graduated from the University of
Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology. My work in archaeology has
mainly been on the Plains, with my specialization being lithic and faunal
analysis. Since moving to BC in 1996, I have worked briefly in northern BC but
fell into ecosystem mapping for a company in Duncan. I have been a member of
the ASBCNB since 2000 and have participated in a number of displays and
committees. I am also your web master so any suggestions there are gratefully
accepted.
Over the last
three years, I have watched the ASBCNB grow in number and grandeur. One of our
goals is to become more of a public presence and this year is no exception. It
started with a kick as we had a successful "Discover Archaeology"
display at the Nanaimo District Museum (NDM) in August. Thanks again to all of
those who volunteered. We had over fifty people attend, some from as far away
as Gabriola, and it was a roaring success. Due to that, we have been asked to
participate in the NDM’s educational programs, to what extent is not yet known.
Participation in these events is always rewarding and I encourage you to become
an active member of this society. If not for the event itself, at least for the
great potlucks we have when we all get together! I’ll keep you informed of any
upcoming volunteer opportunities the moment they arise.
A major goal this
year is to work with the executive committees of both Vancouver and Victoria to
help the ASBC evolve in to an organization that can effectively represent the
Province. On September 27 a meeting between all branches took place. The
essence of this meeting was to lay down a method of communication between
Vancouver and the Branches in order to facilitate the evolution of the society.
I feel this meeting was a success in terms of laying the foundation for future
talks about bylaws and other issues. Changes are coming to the ASBC and I will
do my best to keep you all informed of what they may be and to get your input.
I look forward to
meeting you all at the upcoming lecture on October 10, as we begin our "BC
Westcoast Archaeology" fall lecture series theme with Kitty Bernick, a well-known
wetsite expert. I encourage you e-mail me (j-jcowie@telus.net) with your
thoughts and ideas and feel free to pull me aside at any lecture. My door is
always open.
Julie Cowie
UPDATE:
After meeting with representatives from the
Archaeological Society of British Columbia (ASBC) Vancouver and Victoria groups
on Saturday, September 27 the executive committee is considering the advantages
of forming a Federation. Branches would be replaced by individual societies
with each society being responsible for their own conduct, issues, and funding.
We welcome your comments, concerns and suggestions.
Executive Committee 2003 - 2004
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President: |
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245-3050 |
j-jcowie@telus.net |
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Past and Vice President: |
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756-0530 |
stcolborne@shaw.ca |
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Secretary: |
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951-0066 |
nadinesimpsonis@yahoo.ca |
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Treasurer: |
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758-6433 |
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Membership: |
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751-2322 758-1399 |
maryvas@shaw.com charleneriches@hotmail.com |
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Program coordinator: |
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714-6636 |
cparsley@telus.net |
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Web Master |
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245-3050 |
j-jcowie@telus.net |
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Newsletter: |
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758-4319 |
asbcnb@island.net |
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Public Relations: |
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751-2322 |
maryvas@shaw.ca |
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Directors: |
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limi@mala.bc.ca daphnep@island.net pknowles@island.net dodo@telus.net |
Telephone e-mail address
***
Bones, Totems and Middens
2003/04
ASBC-Nanaimo Branch Lecture Series
All lectures are held at Malaspina
University-College in the Education/Social Sciences Building (356) in Room 111
from 7-9 PM. Lectures are open to everyone. Membership for the year (includes
the full lecture series and the quarterly publication The Midden) is as
follows: $24 Family, $19 Individual, and $14 Student/Senior. Non-members will
be asked to pay $5.00 per lecture at the
door. Refreshments are available.
October 10, 2003
SPEAKER: Kathryn
Bernick
TITLE: Wet-Site Archaeology on the Northwest Coast:
An Historical Overview with a Focus on Vancouver Island
Water-saturated "wet sites" yield
many kinds of data normally not available to archaeologists. Exotic finds
include baskets, netting, wooden tools, and occasional wooden artwork. Together
with mundane "perishable" finds they contribute significantly to our
knowledge of ancient technologies and environmental adaptation. On the
Northwest Coast, scientific investigations of wet sites began more than 30
years ago. Yet most practicing archaeologists today lack the skills to evaluate
and excavate water-saturated deposits or to handle perishable finds in the
field. Moreover, the availability of artifact conservation facilities has
decreased since the 1970s. An accelerating rate of damage to wet sites heightens
the need to promote wet-site archaeology within the profession and to develop
effective long-term methods of site protection. Examples from Vancouver Island
illustrate that one need not look far to find
challenging problems and exciting opportunities.
November 14, 2003
SPEAKER: Roy
Carlson
TITLE: Pre-contact
Northwest Coast Native Art
The Native Northwest Coast art found
throughout our society today did not spring full-blown out of the void. Even
the earliest examples collected by Cook, Malaspina and others are far too
complex and too well executed, too sophisticated, and too stylized and
widespread to have suddenly materialized through the introduction of iron tools
as some early ethnographers would have us believe. This art is obviously a
tradition which means it has a past, and the only way we can get concrete
evidence of that past is through archaeology, but even then merely finding the
few bits and pieces that survive in the archaeological record doesn't tell us
all we want to know. What were the human motives that sent this art tradition
spiraling on its way to climax? When and where did this take place? What can
the art tell us about the past cultures that produced it? And conversely how
can the pre-contact art help us understand the ethnographic art? How do we
answer these questions? Finding prehistoric art objects is the necessary first
step, but that isn't enough, such finds have to be interpreted. Interpretation
- meaning finding answers to the preceding questions - is dependent on
employing three interdependent concepts: -FORM, CONTEXT, and ANALOGY. In this
lecture I review the evidence for Northwest Coast art over the 4,000 years
preceding contact between the Native peoples and Europeans using slides of both
pre-contact art objects and their ethnographic analogs, and employ these three
concepts as a basis for interpretation.
Roy L. Carlson in Professor Emeritus of Archaeology at Simon Fraser University
where he was appointed to faculty when the university opened in 1965. His
academic degrees were earned at the Universities of Washington and Arizona and
he previously taught at the University of Colorado. Before coming to SFU he
undertook archaeological field work in Arizona and New Mexico and in the Aswan
Reservoir in north Africa as well as on the coasts of Washington and British
Columbia. Since coming to SFU he has undertaken archaeological research on both
the southern and central coasts of B.C. and in Siberia, and directed
excavations at the important sites of Namu and
Pender Canal. His most recent book is Early Human Occupation in British
Columbia published by UBC Press in 1995. Dr Carlson was the founding Chair of
the Department of Archaeology at SFU established in 1970.
December 12, 2003
SPEAKER: Phil
Hobler
TITLE: Early Archaeology on the Central Coast
***
Nanaimo
District Museum ASBC-NB 2003
"Discover
Archaeology" Interactive Bone Display
August 23, 2003
Due to the success of last year’s event at
the Nanaimo District Museum, we were asked to do an encore performance. As in
the previous year, the bone display focused on how bones can give us clues
about the archaeological record, such as seasonality and subsistence. A top
notch team of individuals was assembled to wow the public with their knowledge:
Daphne Paterson, Imogene Lim, Julie Cowie, Eleanor Routley, Nadine Simpson,
Donna Hill, and Warren Wulff.
The display itself mirrored last year’s
display. It involved the skeletal remains of a variety of species, from a
whistling swan to a beaver. A replica of a skeletal human arm and leg were
brought to illustrate that though many species have bones, not all are arranged
or look the same way. It was a very effective learning tool. We also featured
the stratigraphy and archaeological principles display constructed for the Sharing
Memories event in 2001. Many archaeological
books were also available for the public to browse through. Shaw Cable came by
to tape our event and I am hoping to have that broadcast on our web page
[www.nisa.net/~asbcnb]. Stay tuned for that segment.
Over fifty people came to the museum specifically
for this event, with a vast majority of that number being children. Four
separate groups came from Gabriola Island. One young woman from Gabriola wowed
our volunteers with her knowledge of fauna and the fact she has her own bone
collections (much to the worry of her mother!). I bet there is at least a
biologist in the making there. Our volunteers were very impressed at the
enthusiasm and knowledge of all the children. Most were very interested in how
people and animals are alike, while the eagle and swan skulls on display
dazzled others. Visit http://homesites.nisa.net/asbcnb/ndm2003.html for photos of the event. Some are rather large to
download but please be patient.
There was also the opportunity for
participants to make their own stone or bone tools. This was well received,
with some children staying over half an hour to work on their tools. For me it
was more fun watching them try different knapping techniques than making my own
"demonstration" tool. There were a few band-aids passed out but
overall we all had a blast. The day was a total success. The excitement and
genuine interest displayed by the kids was enough to make us repeat this event
next year. Thanks to all the volunteers who made this event such a success.
~Julie Cowie
Archaeology
Forum
The 2003 B.C. Archaeology Forum will be held
on October 17-19 at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince
George. The Forum is co-hosted by the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation and the
Anthropology Program at U.N.B.C.
Preliminary information is available on the Forum web page, which is accessible
through www.unbc.ca/anthropology.
Call for papers/presentations
1. As tradition dictates, the first morning will be devoted to overview
presentations.
2. On Sunday, October 19, there will be a morning session focusing on current
and future archaeological research in British Columbia. This interactive
session will consist of presented papers, posters and other media
presentations. Students are especially encouraged to participate.
Please send any submissions for both of these sessions to: farid@unbc.ca
***
UNDERWATER
ARCHAEOLOGY COURSES
Sunday, October 19th,
2003 – An Introduction to Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology. The Introduction course costs $90
for members. For non-members, the course costs are $90 plus membership.
Saturday November 8th
and Sunday November 9th – A two day course in Foreshore and Underwater
Archaeology. The
2-day course costs $100 for members. For non-members, the course costs $100
plus membership. Course completion confers joint certification by the UASBC and
the Nautical Archaeology Society (U.K.). Archaeological field schools and projects
worldwide recognize the program.
For details see our web
page [www.nisa.net/~asbcnb] or contact the Underwater Archaeological Society of
British Columbia’s Education Director, Andrea Hamel at (604) 879-8934 or
athamel@hotmail.com.
Membership
Renewal:
Only
members in good standing receive the Midden.
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MEMBERSHIP
RENEWAL 2003-04 THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, NANAIMO BRANCH Dept.
of Social Sciences, Bldg. 356, Malaspina University-College 900 -
5th Street Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5 |
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FAMILY $24 ___ |
INDIVIDUAL $19 ___ |
SENIOR $14 ___ |
STUDENT $14 ___ |
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