Archaeology in Calgary/Alberta

[banffavenue]

Hi there guys I don't live in Alberta but was wondering (from your more local perspective) whether this aforesaid subject has any focus in the city of Calgary or in the province of Alberta? By this I mean; is the subject taught at schools(in relation to local archaeology such as Native history) or is there a focus on digs or research in the local or surrounding area? Any help on the matter would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks for reading this

[Traditional_Ale]

Calgary didn't even exist during the Classical period. Not sure where you're going with this.

[Hack&Lube]

This area is not old enough to have any significant archaeological significance . You're more apt to find anthropology and paleontology and geology in this area.

Alberta is famous for it's geological features and as a world class center for paleontology in Drumheller.

[banffavenue]

Lesson one: always reread what you write (especially if you haven't slept in a while!) Thanks for pointing out an obvious error (I wrote "The Classical World/Archaeology" initially as that's the title of the degree I currently study) but hopefully I've made it clearer.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

This area is not old enough to have any significant archaeological significance . You're more apt to find anthropology and paleontology and geology in this area.

Alberta is famous for it's geological features and as a world class center for paleontology in Drumheller.

I'm not sure about current dig sites, but there are some pretty significant Native American sites around Calgary and throughout the prairies.

[banffavenue]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I'm not sure about current dig sites, but there are some pretty significant Native American sites around Calgary and throughout the prairies.

This is what I was hoping to hear My dissertation topic this year is the archaeology of Native American sites in Quebec. As a result, native archaeology is what I hope to eventually branch out into once I graduate.

[Svartsengi]

check out Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump south of Calgary. I don't have the link. Its a UNESCO world heritage site.

[banffavenue]

Checking it out now, looks right up my street! Thank you very much Svartsengi

[THE SCUD]

Seriously, do some googling... Also, State of of Alberta?

I thought the British education system didn't suck - guess I was wrong.

[banffavenue]

Thought I got rid of my sleepless stupidity (obviously not!) Now corrected.
Plus I am aware of google, I just wanted a more personal perspective.

[Hanni]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

Seriously, do some googling... Also, State of of Alberta?

I thought the British education system didn't suck - guess I was wrong.

Did making this correction really require you being such a dick about it?

[MelBridgeman]

Paleontology would be the big thing here in Alberta... From the Dinosaur fossil sites to the East to one of the world's most celebrated to the west, The Burgess Shale.

The history of humanity in alberta is short, thanks to well the massive chunks of ice that covered the area 10,000 years ago

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

This area is not old enough to have any significant archaeological significance .

This isn't true, significance is relative.

banffave, I've worked on Arky sites in the past. Actual work/digging around the province is done mostly through environment management firms rather than Universities.

Not sure what kind of specific details you want to know - I've dug up buffalo jumps, teepee rings/camsites, the Oxley Ranch House and other random sites - but if you have any questions you think I might be able to answer let me know.

[vanisleflamesfan]

There are many interesting pre-history sites in Alberta. Albertan archaeologists have uncovered evidence as far back as Clovis culture people. The archaeology program at UofA and UofC both tend to have at least some focus on Alberta pre-history, Native sites, etc.

Check out the work of Jack Brink, one of Alberta's most notable archaeologists.

[octothorp]

There's some teepee rings on my family farm. When Encana was doing some drilling on the land, they sent out an archeologist to confirm and map out the rings. Cool story? Damn right, bro.

In answer to the original question, it's not a subject really taught in school in a classroom environment (at least not when I was in school), but it definitely is taught through field-trips to places like Fish Creek or Head Smashed In. Many museums in the province have collections of arrow-heads or other archaeological artifacts.

[Vulcan]

Here's a link to Writing On Stone Provincial Park and other Heritage Sites in Alberta.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/ab/sites/...-on-stone.aspx

I know little of archaeology but just a hint to be aware of native cultural sensitivity as they maybe aren't as open to having their sites dug up or explored, as European culture may be.

here's some information on the Blackfeet who are the main tribe in southern Alberta.

http://www.blackfootcrossing.ca/

In northern central Alberta the largest tribe is the Cree and these people stretch across the prairies and woodlands from the Rockies to Quebec, so you may have run across them in your studies.

http://www.sicc.sk.ca/saskindian/a89mar11.htm

[Kavvy]

I work for a pipeline company, and we spend significant resources to ensure were in compliance with any possible sites. You would be very surprised of how many there are in Alberta.

[banffavenue]

Thank you very much to everyone for the information as it has been most helpful and eye opening! I'm very excited to follow up on some of these mentioned points for independent research during the summer! All the best

[Jedi Ninja]

See section 3.7 in this document for an example of the sort of archaeology you would find within the City of Calgary itself: (In this case, on Canada Olympic Park lands)

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/...pe_asp_one.pdf