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Report A Find : three years later

Description

This short paper offers a history of a public engagement initiative of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta called "Report A Find" that stemmed from the need to coordinate accounts of... More ≫

Description

This short paper offers a history of a public engagement initiative of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta called "Report A Find" that stemmed from the need to coordinate accounts of archaeological discoveries resulting from erosion during and after the 2013 floods in southern Alberta. The program launched in 2014 in an effort to create a portal for members of the public to convey information about potential disturbances to historic resources. In its short existence, Report A Find has hosted over 60 exchanges of information pertaining to artifact or fossil discoveries, site locations, and private collections. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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Terrestrial laser scanning for the documentation of an at-risk buffalo jump (EgPp-26) in south-central Alberta

Description

This paper reports on the use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to digitally capture the Wearmouth buffalo jump site located (EgPp-26) in south-central Alberta. The resulting datasets provide a... More ≫

Description

This paper reports on the use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to digitally capture the Wearmouth buffalo jump site located (EgPp-26) in south-central Alberta. The resulting datasets provide a lasting digital record of the site, as it appeared in September of 2016 and 2017. The digital data can be used to create accurate 3D reconstructions and the application of these high-resolution geospatial datasets can be used for quantifying analyses. As natural disasters such as flooding and wildfire increase in frequency, reality-capture technologies, such as terrestrial laser scanning, are effective tools for monitoring, managing, and preserving heritage resources. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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2016 Southern Alberta flood investigation at sites EePl-261 and EdPm-7 on the Highwood River

Description

In 2016, preliminary excavations were conducted at EdPm-7 and EePl-261 along the Highwood River south of Calgary. The sites were heavily impacted by the 2013 floods and continue to be threatened... More ≫

Description

In 2016, preliminary excavations were conducted at EdPm-7 and EePl-261 along the Highwood River south of Calgary. The sites were heavily impacted by the 2013 floods and continue to be threatened by future flood events. Excavations, diagnostic artifacts, and radiocarbon dating confirmed that EePl-261 and EdPm-7 are Late Precontact Period sites. Eight interesting in situ features were identified and excavated, which contribute to a better understanding of camp life and settlement patterns along the Highwood River. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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Post-2013 flood historic resource assessments of the Sheep, Highwood, and Bow rivers and their contribution to a regional understanding of the precontact landscape

Description

Historic resources assessments of the impacts the 2013 flood on palaeontological and archaeological resources adjacent to the Bow, Sheep, and upper Highwood rivers in southern Alberta were... More ≫

Description

Historic resources assessments of the impacts the 2013 flood on palaeontological and archaeological resources adjacent to the Bow, Sheep, and upper Highwood rivers in southern Alberta were conducted between 2013 and 2015. These studies visually assessed erosional exposures on these rivers and documented historic resources. Analysis of the location and character of these finds has shed light on the types of landforms present and the nature of human occupations in the Bow River watershed, and highlights how significant the impact of flood-related erosion has been on historic resources. This paper discusses these finds in a regional context to integrate them into the larger geological and precontact landscape contexts of southern Alberta. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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The Wearmouth Buffalo Jump : a stratified protohistoric site on lower Jumpingpound Creek, Alberta

Description

As a result of the program initiated by Alberta Culture and Tourism in response to the widespread flooding of 2013, a series of previously unidentified archaeological sites were recorded northwest... More ≫

Description

As a result of the program initiated by Alberta Culture and Tourism in response to the widespread flooding of 2013, a series of previously unidentified archaeological sites were recorded northwest of Calgary on a tributary of the Bow River, Jumpingpound Creek, near the confluence of the two waterways. This site complex is organized around the newly recorded Wearmouth Buffalo Jump, a deeply stratified bison kill at the foot of a small cliff. The area represents a rare instance in which aspects of archaeology, history, and Indigenous tradition may intersect at a geographic location that has remained largely intact since the period of first contact, yet this area remains highly susceptible to flood related erosion. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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Excavations at EePj-103 (Margaret’s Site) on the Bow River : a stratified protohistoric and historic site in southern Alberta

Description

Excavations in 2015 at EePj-103, Margaret’s Site, revealed a stratified Protohistoric and Historic Period site. A unique feature of this site is that it has two stratigraphically separate... More ≫

Description

Excavations in 2015 at EePj-103, Margaret’s Site, revealed a stratified Protohistoric and Historic Period site. A unique feature of this site is that it has two stratigraphically separate protohistoric occupations, neither of which are mixed with earlier Precontact Period materials nor later Historic Period materials. EePj-103 also has later Historic Period occupations, at least one of which is associated with the Domburg Ranch, established in 1889, and represented today by the remnants of sandstone building foundations. EePj-103 is uniquely positioned to help answer important research questions about the Protohistoric Period in southern Alberta, particularly those related to changing technology with the introduction of European trade goods. The historic ranch remains also represent a very early period in the settlement of Alberta after the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which...

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Near surface magnetic assessment on the FM Ranch Campsite (EfPk-1)

Description

During mitigative and exploratory studies undertaken at the FM Ranch Campsite (EfPk-1) in 2015, near-surface geophysical assessment was implemented to help focus archaeological and... More ≫

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During mitigative and exploratory studies undertaken at the FM Ranch Campsite (EfPk-1) in 2015, near-surface geophysical assessment was implemented to help focus archaeological and geoarchaeological studies in a selected area of the site. The purpose of the study was to locate culturally-derived combustion features (such as hearths) using magnetic detection methods prior to excavation, in order to maximize the potential for recovery of cultural data that are usually associated with these types of features. Analysis of the results of this work illustrated some shortcomings of the gradiometer method, and an alternative geophysical magnetic assessment method that would be more suitable for investigating the majority of archaeological features found in North America is suggested. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in...

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A summary of radiocarbon dates from the Southern Alberta Flood Investigation Program

Description

During the Southern Alberta Flood Investigation Program, a total of 72 radiocarbon dates were obtained from 23 archaeological sites. Radiocarbon dates submitted too late to be incorporated into... More ≫

Description

During the Southern Alberta Flood Investigation Program, a total of 72 radiocarbon dates were obtained from 23 archaeological sites. Radiocarbon dates submitted too late to be incorporated into final reports account for 65 per cent of the dates and are presented here. This paper provides a summary and evaluation of all radiocarbon dates for the Flood Investigation Program. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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