the Digger
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Nanaimo Branch Fall 2004
2004
President's Message:
Welcome to a brand new season of the ASBC Nanaimo Branch. The ASBCNB has already hit the ground running this year with two very successful programs that have occurred over the summer.
We hosted the 3rd Annual Discover Archaeology Interactive Bones Display at the Nanaimo District Museum in August, seeing over 170 people visit the display in five hours. It was truly amazing. Please see the article within this issue of the Digger that outlines this fantastic event. Thanks again to all the volunteers who participated.
I think much of the success of NDM event was due to the high community profile that the ASBCNB has been receiving through our "Hands On Heritage! Public Archaeology Project" located at 55 Haliburton Street in Nanaimo. This project focuses on the early history of Nanaimo through work at one of Nanaimo's earliest homes. Much credit must be given to our project archaeologist Colleen Parsley whose tireless effort on this project has lent to its success. Through her work, archaeology and conservation of Nanaimo's heritage resources has been the talk of the town this summer. Hats of to her and all the volunteers who endured the heat of the summer to bring knowledge and a sense of community pride to Nanaimo. Much thanks goes to the Petersons who hosted us at their home and to the numerous businesses and private donors who gave generously to this project. A "Thank You" evening is being planned to recognize those businesses and individuals who donated funds, in-kind donations, and their time to make this project such a success. The date is yet to be set but notices will be sent out once plans are finalized. Please visit the HOH website (www.asbcnanaimo.nisa.com/handsonheritage.html) for more detailed information about the project and our partners.
One aspect of conservation that HOH has brought forth is the idea that historic sites in and around Nanaimo do not seem to have value to some individuals that live in the area. Pot hunting, such as bottle collecting and surface collecting from middens and beaches, seems to be a more than common occurrence. This is disheartening as heritage, regardless of its time period, is still a piece of our collective past and not to be treated lightly. Bottle hunting seems to be a rigorous pursuit within Nanaimo, as I recently witnessed some horrendous pot hunting at the Nanaimo Chinatown site a few weeks ago. Picture very large holes (one at least six feet deep) and various intact bottles lined up neatly in a row and others smashed to bits. These looters were obviously looking for something of particular value and did not care about context or even respecting those who had lived in that area in the past. It was a sad, and infuriating, sight to see. This has encouraged me to reiterate the Aims and Ethics of the ASBC.
AIMS AND ETHICS
· To encourage the identification and protections of archaeological sites and materials in British Columbia.
· To encourage individuals with surface collections to donate them to authorized institutions.
· To encourage the proper recording of surface collected artifacts.
· To report the discovery of any likely archaeological site or rock art in the Province to the proper authorities.
· To encourage the formation of branches throughout B.C.
· To discourage the placing of commercial value on any artifact.
In joining the Archaeological Society of BC - Nanaimo Branch, I hereby acknowledge and agree to:
1. Uphold these aims and ethics and to abide by the Heritage Conservation Act of British Columbia. This act states that archaeological excavation may be undertaken on under permit and a report on all finding must be filed with the Minister in charge of the Act.
2. Make any surface finds in my possession available to professional archaeologists for their inspection and study.
3. By complying with the Act, this means that I will not remove any archaeological material from sites that we may visit or where the ASBCNB is conducting an archaeological excavation, reconnaissance, or mapping exercises. I understand that removing these objects will result in my immediate ejection from the Society and that I will be reported to the police, where criminal charges may be laid under the provisions of the Act.
4. Although historic sites are not protected under the Act, often these sites are on private property. I understand that removing any historic archaeological material is a breach of ethics and will result in my immediate ejection from the Society, as well it may result in me being charged with theft under the Criminal Code of Canada.
I encourage all of you to actively discourage pot hunting where you can. Educational projects like Hands On Heritage! are important in spreading the news about conservation but it is word of mouth and diligence by our society members that will make all the difference in preserving our collective past.
A goal we had set last year was finally realized at the Vancouver ASBC Annual General Meeting that took place in Vancouver in June. The branches of the ASBC were finally recognized as voting members of the provincial ASBC, thus illustrating our voting rights as it pertains to bylaw changes and provincial matters. This was a huge hurdle for our Executive as we had been working towards recognition for over three years. Now that we have that recognition in hand, we will be working with the Vancouver executive this fall and winter to revise the bylaws to that they reflect a vision of what we want the ASBC in the future. Your executive will keep you informed of proposed bylaw changes at lectures and via e-mail so that you may comment on them and add your voice to whatever may come over the next year. This is your society and it is important that we all know what is going on and what changes will occur.
We also have a new website this year: www.asbcnanaimo.nisa.com . Sections of the Executive committee now have their own contact e-mail addresses and they are listed below:
Main Branch e-mail: mail@asbcnanaimo.nisa.com
Membership e-mail: membership@asbcnanaimo.nisa.com
Education Taskforce e-mail: taskforce@asbcnanaimo.nisa.com
Hands On Heritage! e-mail: handsonheritage@asbcnanaimo.nisa.com
If you need information or have comments, please contact the various sections through these e-mails and they are posted on our website for your convenience.
In addition, all agendas and minutes from the Executive meetings will be posted on the website for members to access. Executive meetings are on the first Friday of every month and all members of the ASBCNB are encouraged to attend. We have an open door policy as this is your society and you have a right to know what transpires outside the lectures.
Although I will be taking a short leave of absence (November and December) from the ASBCNB due to the imminent arrival of my second child in November, I still encourage all members to e-mail me at mail@asbcnanaimo.nisa.com with your thoughts and ideas and feel free to pull me aside at any lecture. My door is always open.
Julie Cowie
***
In Memory of
Jan
Janice Blackbourn (nee
Champoux), a Founding Member of the Archaeological Society of BC, Nanaimo
Branch, passed away suddenly at her home, on Saturday, July10, 2004. She is
survived by her two children Jessica and Michael Blackbourn, her sisters
Phyllis Odell and Paula Shorrock, her mother Helen Champoux, her former husband
David Blackbourn, her colleagues and her many friends in the ASBC, Nanaimo
Branch.
Jan was born in
Rhode Island, USA, on January 18, 1942. She graduated with a Bachelor of
Science from the University of Rhode Island, where she developed a love for
science, astro-biology and intellectual debate. During the mid-sixties, Jan
moved to Vancouver, where she worked at the University of British Columbia.
While there, she met and married David Blackbourn, in June of 1968. They
started a family, and after staying home for a few years, Jan went back to work
at Douglas College. The family moved to Nanaimo in the early 1980's. Jan worked
intermittently at the Pacific Biological Station until recently, when she
became the station's Histologist. Jan particularly enjoyed the
electron-microscopy part of her job, as well the thrill of discovery. She found
and described a new parasite, which turned out to be not only a new species,
but a whole new class. Over the course of her career, Jan authored or
co-authored numerous publications.
Jan had the heart of a teacher and loved to be able to share her knowledge with others; part of the satisfaction she had in her job was sharing her skills with the younger or less experienced lab techs. Nothing made her happier than discussing ideas or being part of a lively debate, especially over a meal. Her enquiring mind and forthright manner made her fearless in the pursuit of "the truth".
The Harbour City
Photography Club has also lost a valued member in Jan. Photography was a hobby
Jan pursued with a sense of wonder and exploration, as can be seen in her
dazzling microphotographs of Vitamin C. These photos transcend the realm of the
snapshot, to the sphere of art.
During her time in Vancouver, Jan worked as a volunteer on the Mungo Cannery archaeological excavation, which she enjoyed immensely. Consequently, when given the opportunity to participate at the 1992 Departure Bay archaeological project, Jan was one of the first to volunteer and she was instrumental in the creation of the Nanaimo branch of the ASBC. Since then she has been an important asset to the ASBC, NB, sitting on the executive in most of the intervening years. Jan fulfilled the position of President, membership coordinator, treasurer and most recently newsletter editor, admirably. Over the years, Jan also worked hard to convince the city to include archaeology in its official community plan; she contributed greatly to the dialogue with our provincial executive, and brought intelligence and reason to our own meetings. She will be sorely missed.
Jan was a loyal friend and mother: supportive
and caring. Although bewildered by her children (she often wondered how she had
produced such hugely creative kids) she was extremely proud of them. Jan also
loved, food, fossils and fun. She laughed much, slept little and knew great joy
in her family, work, and the beauty of Vancouver Island. She will remain
forever in the hearts and minds of all who knew her.
***
Hands On Heritage!
Thank
you to everyone who was able to come and be a part of Hands On Heritage!
On
June 11th, we launched our public archaeology project Hands On
Heritage! at Malaspina University/College. We invited members of the public to
join the ASBC-NB and participate in the archaeological investigation of this
site, from the very beginning to the very end.
Essentially,
a public program was developed to allow people with no previous experience the
opportunity to learn the skills to participate in the entire process including
archival research, ethnohistoric interviews, mapping, survey, excavation, and
analysis.
During
the archaeological investigation, an entire historical landscape came vividly
to life for the participants and many things previously forgotten came to
light. For instance, the corner of Haliburton Streets and Finlayson, used to
have a large 50-room hotel called the Royal Hotel. In 1863, the Vancouver Coal
Company bought it and converted it into a ‘Boarding House’ with the mine
manager’s suite in the upper level. Behind the hotel, there was a train trestle
that went to Crace Street. This location was used for the locomotive ‘The
Pioneer’ so that a natural flowing spring could be utilized for filling up the
steam engine. All of this burnt down when a spark from the locomotive ignited
the trestle and the hotel and all burnt down and was gone.
In addition, associated with this spring, we
learned of a flume that was constructed. A flume is a Roman invention used in
the diversion of water, and has been used up until the end of the 19th
century. The exact use of this flume was is not yet fully known, all that was
known was that it was built quite close to the Bevilockway residence and it
carried water, possibly for domestic use, from Haliburton all the way down the
hill to the ocean.
Excavation
began on July 10 and was scheduled for 3 weeks. Typical historic deposits are
approximately 30 centimetres deep and based on this, 3 1m x 1m excavation units
were planned.
Our excavation interested many people. We had
people visiting from all over the city and many repeat visitors. Our public
interpreters were able to field questions, provide information and enabled a
dialogue to take place where people could talk about their interest in their
own history. Many people were provided with education about what to do if an
archaeological site is encountered and who to contact if there has been
wrongful disturbance. Children from 4 and up were invited to come and a
simulated excavation was designed for the younger ones while the older kids
were able to work in the excavation units under supervision.
The
results of the excavation are astounding. The expected deposits of 30cm turned
out to be 148cm in one of the excavation units. The original street topography
was quite different with features exposed that are associated with the earliest
road construction. The flume that was researched was not found but the contents
of a dump which we thought were the possible remains of the flume. Two buried
fence posts was also excavated.
An
ash pit has been found that contained a very old style fork, unlike any seen
today. The domestic contents have been very informative with particular
butchering patterns emerging and many bits of old pottery and glass. Very
delicate glass beads and very course beads have been found, also tobacco pipe
stem fragments. One pipe stem is traditional clay and highly decorative, while
the other is of beautiful bone construction with no decoration. A coin
featuring King George V was found dating to 1916 and two carbon rod fragments
were found which were used during the WWII to light carbon arc lamps that were
used to identify air raids at night.
An unusually deep pit was found that was
possibly ascribed to the function of lamp post hole.
One
of the guiding research queries was whether or not we would find evidence of
any clinic activity associated with the 1882 mine explosion and we did not find
any evidence to corroborate this theory.
The
success of the public program has had some major support.
The media attention has been absolutely
wonderful and has played a major role in the success of Hands On Heritage!
Perhaps you have seen us featured in the Daily News, Harbour City Star, or the
News Bulletin?
The
other main factor of success has been the dedicated efforts of ASBC-NB
executive members, Julie Cowie and Dorothy Young among others.
They
constituted the fundraising team that saved the project from premature closure
as they were able to raise the sufficient funds to keep it alive. Thank you.
This
included the wonderful Artifact Identification Tea that was hosted by Jack and
Yvonne Peterson as a Hands on Heritage Fundraiser. This event brought many
different experts to identify different items brought by the public.
The
public was encouraged to bring in any artifact for identification and written
documentation was given. Well-known archaeologist Grant Keddie, curator of
Archaeology at the Royal BC Museum , historic bottle specialist Tom Boun also
of Victoria, Lynette Harper (museologist), Imogene Lim and myself were on site
for identification.
After
this successful event, another successful event was in store for Hands On
Heritage! The Archives House Tour was offered on September the 18th
and 55 Haliburton Street as well as the Hands On Heritage project formed part
of the tour. This event was wonderful as many people were invited inside the
infamous Bevilockway House and were able to experience it inside and out as we
were set up doing archaeology as a ‘living exhibit’. It was a win-win situation
where we were able to interest people in archaeology while helping the
Archives
raise money for the essential services they provide the community.
Following
all this busi-ness this, field work continued and just reached completion at
8:00 Saturday night! There is still lots of opportunity for participants as the
next component will be commencing:
labwork including artifact cataloguing and analysis.
Stay
tuned for more opportunities and research results as we analyze the remains.
»»» Colleen Parsley »»»
In addition, we would like to
thank the following:
Jack and Yvonne Peterson
Ramsay Lampman Rhodes
Arbutus Books
Best Western, Dorchester Hotel
Liberty Tax
Archaeology Society of BC – Vancouver
Thrifty Foods
Nanaimo Historical Society
Painted Turtle Guesthouse
Nanaimo International Hostel
DGV Engineering Services
The New VI
Archaeology Branch, Ministry of Sustainable Resources
Laboratory of Archaeology, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, UBC
Nanaimo Downtown Partnership
Grant Keddie
Tom Boun
Lynette Harper
***
Discover
Archaeology
On August 7, 2004 the Archaeological Society of BC - Nanaimo Branch and the Nanaimo District Museum presented the Third Annual "Discover Archaeology" Interactive Bones Display at the Nanaimo District Museum.
This hands-on bone display focuses on how bones can give us clues about the archaeological record, such as what season the animal was killed and past environments. Aspects of analysis were also explored, such as determining natural marks on bone (ie. Rodent and carnivore gnawing) versus those left by humans. A variety of species were represented, from a horse skull to a bison toe. A replica of a skeletal human arm and leg were brought to illustrate that though many species have bones but not all are arranged or look the same way. It was a very effective learning tool and most of the children had a lot of fun "trying on" them on.
A variety of lithics were also displayed, illustrating the anatomy of a flake and various tools made from stone. 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, as well as information on conserving and protecting our archaeological resources.
Over 170 people came to the museum specifically for this event, with a vast majority of that number being children. 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.
There was also the opportunity for participants to make their own stone or bone tools. This was well received by the kids, with some kids staying over half an hour to work on their tools.
The success of this event was partly due to the fantastic promotion that we received via the Museum and by a guest appearance by the ASBCNB President, Julie Cowie, on the VI Television morning news program. The high profile that the ASBCNB has received as a result of their "Hands On Heritage!" Public Archaeology Project has lent to such a wonderful turnout. Much thanks goes to the fabulous volunteers who had their hands more than full that day. Without such wonderful volunteers events like this could never take place.
The ASBCNB plans to modify the display for next year in order to keep interest high and the display fresh. Stay tuned for the Fourth Annual Discover Archaeology in summer of 2005.
***
Bones,
Totems and Middens
2004-2005 ASBC-Nanaimo Branch Lecture Series
All lectures are held at Malaspina University-College in the Educational/Social Sciences Building
(356) in Room 109 from 7-9 pm. Lectures are open to everyone. Membership for the year (includes fall 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
8, 2004
Speaker:
Grant Keddie
Topic: A History of the Songhees Salish
The lecture will provide an overview of Grant Keddie's recent book: Songhees Pictorial. A History of the Songhees People as seen by Outsiders.1790-1912. This will be a brief introduction to the landscape and archaeology of the greater Victoria region.
Keep your calendar open on November 12 and December 10 for upcoming speakers. Information will be posted on our website www.asbcnanaimo.nisa.com.
***
ASBC-Victoria
ASBC Victoria has now been resurrected and their first meeting was September 22, 2004. They can be contacted at http://www.asbc.bc.ca/vicsite/
***
UPCOMING EVENTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
BC Archaeological Forum 2004 – Merritt, BC
Merritt Secondary School, Merritt, BC
November 13 and 14, 2004
Visit
our website at www.asbcnanaimo.nisa.com/2004BCArkyForum.htm
for conference information.
37th Annual Chacmool Conference:
QUEER(Y)ING ARCHAEOLOGY: The 15th Anniversary Gender Conference
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
November 10th - 14th, 2004
Please visit their www.arky.ucalgary.ca/arky1/call_for_papers2004.htm for more information about the conference as well as submitting papers and abstracts. You can contact their organizers at chacmool@uclagary.ca for additional information.
***
Please remember that membership is
due for those that joined in October and November of 2003.
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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