University of Calgary Public Archaeology Program

Since 2024, we have partnered with Calgary Parks and Open spaces to host our ARKY 306 field skills course Calgary's parks. The education offered through the field school and associated Public Archaeology Program, IYE school program, and Indigenous Archaeology Training Program is a form of ReconciliACTION, bringing folks from all backgrounds together to learn about the long term history of southern Alberta.

I've been reflecting alot lately on why this matters. Calgary is a settler municipality today, but it is also much more. The land where Bow meets the Elbow is known as Moh'kins'tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina. This is place with thousands of years of history, to which communities today maintain a cultural connection. It's important for us to recognize this place as part of a traditional cultural landscape, and work to ensure that these Indigenous histories are represented in our urban spaces.

See also: https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/archaeology-city

https://youtu.be/5p2EAKrriuk?si=SU3-0XV3hbozAOXs

Archaeology students from UCalgary dig up parts of Edworthy Park The University of Calgary Public Archaeology program and the City o...

Our students worked hard the last few days to close up site for the year, before heading to the lab to spend their last week of field school learning the ins and outs of cataloguing.

Thanks to Blair First Rider (Kainai) and Kathy Jackson (Amskapi Piikani) for visiting with us and sharing your teachings - it was a great learning opportunity and an awesome way to break up backfilling duty!

And a special shout-out to Lee Crowchild and Diane Meguinis (Tsuut'ina Nation) for leading us in ceremony to close out our field season and ensure we end in a good way.

To the many Elders who have given so generously of this time to help us teach and do archaeology in a good way - thank you, you are appreciated.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Little did they know when they enrolled in ARKY 306, field school would also reach them amazing skills for success in their next game of Twister!

Undergraduate students Anna, Naomi and Grace have spent the better part of the last three weeks excavating this cool brick feature.

The makers marks on the bricks - "CALGARY" and "EHC" - tell us they were produced by the Calgary Pressed Brick and Sandstone Company, which operated in what is now Edworthy Park from 1905-1931.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

We changed things up today, and took our ARKY 306 students on a field trip to Aakiipisskan (Women's Jump) and Ohkotoksskoi (Big Rock) with Siksika Knowledge Holder Kent Ayoungman.

Kent is in high demand, and I am so grateful he continues to make time to spend with us and share his teachings. I always learn something new!

Tomorrow, we're back on site to close out our final week in the field!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Our week ended on a high note, with our ARKY 306 students and PubArky participants having the opportunity to sit with and learn from Elder Herman Yellow Old Woman (Siksika Nation) today.

We were also fortunate to receive a visit from Elder Diane Meguinis (Tsuut'ina Nation) this week.

Thank you both for making time to spend with us, we are all better for it!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

After a day in the lab, we headed to site yesterday to bail out tarps and reopen our excavations (along with two very brave Public Archaeology Program Participants).

The weather held for us and one of our students recovered this beautiful piece of worked shell.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

It's been a busy week on site for our ARKY 306 students! Earlier this week we had a site visit from Siksika Elder Vivian Ayoungman and the opportunity to sit and listen to her teachings. Thank you Vivian for spending time with us!

We've also had some great finds, including field school student Jamie uncovering a complete Besant point!

Fun facts: Besant points were used with an atlatl (dart thrower) and represent the last use of this technology (ca. 2,100-1,500 years ago) prior to the introduction of the bow and arrow on the Canadian Plains.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Our ARKY 306 field school, a partnership with Calgary Parks, is in full swing! Working with and guided by Indigenous descendant communities, our archaeology field school provides foundational training for students moving into careers in archaeology alongside numerous public educational opportunities!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Archaeological Field School lets Calgarians dig into city's past Calgary's Archaeological Field School lets volunteers and students ...

In addition to welcoming our first PubArky participants today, two of our field school students, Sydney and Kaylen, found their first ever projectile point!

Fun facts: This projectile point is from a dart thrower or atlatl, and is a style known as Bracken, dating this occupation at the site between roughly 2,100 and 2,800 years ago.

It is made of obsidian (volcanic glass). Most obsidian from archaeological sites in Alberta can be sourced to quarries in Wyoming and Idaho.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

That's a wrap on our first week for the ARKY 306 field school! We've spent time on campus and out and about, learning from Elders, practicing important archaeological field and lab skills, and beginning in a good way through ceremony.

Next week - things get dirty in the field!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary