Archaeological Reports

This report summarizes the archaeological fieldwork that was conducted and designed to protect the existing resource of the Upper Fort Garry Gateway. Photographic plates document backhoe and shovel excavations as well as foundation features encountered.

This report outlines the research appraoch and field techniques, including auger drilling and backhoe trenching, of the inital Parks CAnada archaeological testing at The Forks site in 1984. Historic background is outlined in terms of previous archaeology and Precontact occupations. Findings at Forts Gibraltar I and II, as well as the remains of the railway, are disucssed. Accomplishments are summarised, and the potential is outlined. Appendices include layer/event descriptions for Forts Gibraltar I and II; results of soil testing; wood sample identification; radiocarbon dates; and artifacts from areas around Forts Gibraltar I and II. Numerous illustrations and photos are also included.

Monitoring of the reconstruction of Main Street and its arteries from York to Tache Avenue yielded large numbers of fur trade artifacts representing the HBC Upper Fort Garry (1836-1883) and early 20th century commercial and cultural activities. The range of artifacts included: architectural hardware; food processing; recreation; adornment; draft, railroad and vehicle transportation; butchering remains; clothing; flora and fauna; lighting and manufacturing equipment; communication; containers including wood, ceramic, glassware, bottles, cooking, storage, and ornamental; ceramic and glass dinnerware. The ceramics and glassware were thoroughly analysed, using maker’s marks, patterns and company histories. Fur Trade features include a bastion, wall portion, a privy tree-ring dated to 1839, several buildings, and a pit.

In continuation of a 1989 assessment, mechanized excavation of 9 trenches yielded 1533 artifacts. The Late Woodland Period (AD 500-1737), including the Blackduck tradition (AD 750-1000), Precontact artifacts represent the categories of lithics, ceramics, faunal remains, and a hearth feature. Historic artifacts represent the categories of: architectural objects (including structural); glass and ceramic containers; plastic debris; and faunal remains. These are identified with the Early Historic Period (1737-1888), including the Hudson’s Bay Experimental Farm (1836-1848). Stratigraphy is discussed in detail. Appendices include an artifact catalogue.

In Archaeology of Main Street Roadworks: York Avenue to Tache Avenue 1996-1998, pp212-216.

This is a report on the monitoring of Geo-Technical drilling and exploratory trenches that recovered 229 artifacts from 3 major levels: Railroad Fill (1900s); Early Historic (1737-1885) including Hudson’s Bay Experimental Farm period (1836-1848); and Precontact Native Ceramics (Blackduck tradition, AD 500-1750). Postcontact artifacts (78) represent: architectural objects; dinnerware; glass and ceramic storage containers; transportation; floral and faunal remains; detritus; soil samples. Precontact artifacts (150) represent ceramic, floral and faunal remains. Stratigraphy is discussed in detail. Appendices include an artifact catalogue.

Historical background covers the First Inhabitants (8000 BC - AD 1737); Contact (1737-1821) including Fort Gibraltar I (1810-1816); Transition (1821-1870); Industrialization and Immigration (1870-1888); and Railway (1888-1988) Periods. The stratigraphy is detailed in five distinct time periods represented by six events: Railway Period; B&B Building construction (1888-1889); Pre-Railway/Post-Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) Experimental Farm Period (1848-1888); HBC Experimental Farm Period (1836-1848); 1826 Flood; Fur Trade Period including Fort Gibraltar I (1810-1816). Artifact categories include: arms and ammunition; beads; buttons; glass; historic ceramics; lithic artifacts; fasteners; clothing, adornment, lighting, miscellaneous metal; nails; smoking pipes; seeds, bark, charcoal, leather; and faunal remains.

This is a second report on an excavation in Bonnycastle Park, discussing early historic Upper Fort Garry (1835-1895) and late historic post-Upper Fort Garry. Three cobble and mortar alignments were found to be wall foundations. Two log structures were identified as a privy pit (outhouse), dating to the occupation of the 6th Regiment of Foot, 1846-1848. The pits contained rich deposits of organic materials (including plant remains) in water-saturated matrixes. There are charts and drawings of the stratigraphy, artifact lists and plant analysis.

8(3&4): 30-50