Archaeological Reports

Monitoring of installations yielded 404 artifacts relating to the following periods: Late Woodland (AD 500-1737); Fort Gibraltar I (1810-1816); Immigration Sheds (1872-1885); and Railroad (1888-1988). Precontact artifacts are limited to lithic and faunal remains. Postcontact artifacts represent the following categories: architectural objects; transportations; smoking equipment; ceramic, glass, and metal dinnerware, storage, and ornamental containers; clothing; detritus. Features recovered include brick foundations, a midden, and a Precontact occupation site. Stratigraphy is discussed in detail. Appendices include an artifact catalogue.

The installation of service components was monitored, yielding 199 Historic artifacts from the early half of the 20th century which represent the following categories: architectural objects; lighting and manufacturing equipment; communication; clothing; housewares; transportation; unknown; faunal remains; glass, ceramic, and metal storage, cooking, and ornamental containers; and dinnerware. Where possible, containers and dinnerware are identified by manufacturer and/or pattern. Stratigraphy is discussed in detail.

Archaeological monitoring of drilling involved with existing piling construction inspection yielded no material evidence of past occupations, except for soil deposition post-dating 1947 building construction.

Impact assessment conducted on the area on the north bank of the Assiniboine River recovered artifact samples from: Historic Railroad (AD 1888 to 1988); Historic Early Industrial; Precontact Native Ceramic (possibly Selkirk, AD 1000-1750); and Archaic (920 ± 80 BC) Periods. Precontact artifacts include lithic tools, ceramics, and faunal remains. Historic artifacts include: architectural objects; lighting and manufacturing equipment; science, medicine, communication, commerce, transportation, and recreation related artifacts; food procurement and processing; clothing and clothing manufacture; adornment; house wares; dinnerware; storage, cooking and ornamental containers; floral and faunal remains. Historic glass and ceramic wares were identified by maker’s mark. Features include remnants of a spur railroad line and the Hudson’s Bay Company Flour Mill complex (1872-1907).

Monitoring of construction excavation yielded a few historic-era artifacts, likely dating to previous construction in the area. These materials were not diagnostic and represented secondary deposition, so they were not collected.

Monitoring of the expansion of south-side seating facilities yielded a total of 1155 Precontact artifacts in the following categories: lithic; ceramic; floral and faunal remains. Preliminary identification of 2 ceramic rim sherds suggests Devil’s Lake-Sourisford and Oneota affiliation. As these types likely originated a significant distance away from The Forks, the cultural horizon is attributed to the Aboriginal Peace Meeting (640 years ago). Stratigraphy is discussed in detail.

Monitoring of the construction of the baseball facility parking lot between Pioneer and Water Avenues yielded Pre- and Postcontact artifacts. The 322 Postcontact (19th and early 20th centuries) artifacts include: architectural objects; lighting equipment; food processing; clothing; recreation; adornment; house-wares; faunal remains; containers; and dinnerware. The 27 Precontact (post 700 BP, Late Woodland) artifacts include lithics, ceramics, and faunal and floral remains.

Monitoring of three locations yielded a total of 1288 artifacts. Precontact artifacts (641) were recovered from 2-4 cultural horizons that are associated with earlier identified horizons dated to AD 1225-1285. Historic/Recent artifacts (647) are from the Railroad Period (1888-1989). Artifacts represent the following categories: lithics; architectural objects; lighting and manufacturing equipment; transportation; glass and ceramic ornamental and storage containers; dinnerware; communication; food processing; clothing; recreation; transportation; floral and faunal remains. Some beverage containers and dinnerware are dated (1904-1911) and detailed by manufacturer. Stratigraphy is discussed in detail.

Monitoring of mechanized excavation and drilling allowed for recovery of diagnostic artifacts and recording of stratigraphic profiles. Artifacts were recovered from 2 main periods of deposition: around World War I and post-1950. The following categories were represented: architectural objects; lighting and manufacturing equipment; medicine; communication; food processing; commerce; clothing; recreation; adornment; transportation; faunal and floral remains; storage, cooking, ornamental containers; dinnerware. A brief historical overview covers the early 1820s to 1955, and stratigraphy is detailed by layer.

Monitoring of auger holes and excavations yielded 28 artifacts from Precontact, Homestead and Industrial periods in the following categories: faunal remains; architectural objects; clothing; floral recoveries; soil; and containers. Historical context is briefly discussed for the following periods: First Inhabitants (8000 BC-AD 1737), including Archaic (3000 BC-AD 1) and Woodland (AD 1-1737); Contact (1737-1821), including Fort Gibraltar I (1810-1816); Transition (1821-1870); Industrialization and Immigration (1870-1888); and Railway (1888-1988). Stratigraphy is discussed in detail, providing information on flood activity at The Forks over the last 3000 years. Appendices include an artifact catalogue.