1990 Investigations at Fort Gibraltar I
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
I I 1990 INVESTIGATIONS I AT FORT GIBRALTAR I: I I THE FORKS PUBLIC I ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT Sid Kroker Barry B. Greco Sharon Thomson ABSTRACT During the summer of 1990, funding from Canadian Parks Service, The Forks Renewal Corporation and Historic Resources Branch of Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation (now designated Culture, Heritage and Citizenship) enabled the implementation of a 16 week Public Archaeology Program. The pro- gram provided a hands-on archaeological experience for more than 560 individuals, through general public partidpation and school programcomponents. A total of 42,480 visitors came to watch archaeology-inaction. The project was conducted by a staff of professional archaeologists, assisted by a partiapant coordinator and two tour guides. A ratio of two partiapants for each professional was maintained, both in the excavation component and the laboratory component. This ratio resulted in close supervision and the maintenance of profes- sional standards. The enthusiasm and intense concentration displayed by the participants resulted in work of very high quality. The excavation was a continuation of the 1989 project conducted at The Forks National Historic Site. The 1990 project uncovered further evidence of five major events. The major natural event, the flood of 1826, was identified in the soil stratiffa~hv.The four cultural events. documented bv stratiera~hv"',and recovered artifac'ts,'w~rethe~ailia~period (18&1988), theco&truction of the B&gBuilding (1888-1889), the Hudson's Bav Companv Experimental Farm (1836-1848) and the Fort ~ibralkrI Period (18161816). 3tn;ctur;l remains of one of the buildings of the fur trade post were recorded. More than 24,000 artifacts were recovered, catalogued and analyzed. The artifacts consist of material from recent railroad operations to trade items and faunal remains from the first North West Company fur trade post at The Forks. Due to the enthusiasm displayed by members of the public, both as participants and as observers, it is recommended that the project be continued under the leadership of The Forks Public Archaeology Association. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The 1990 Public Archaeology Project had two distinct foci, each with its own specific goals and objectives. The primary focus was the continuation of archaeological research to obtaii additional data regarding Fort Gibraltar I (1810- 1816bthe structures and the people who lived in them. In addition, the project was envisioned as an interpretation vehicle, wherein members of the public and the school system could participate in the hows and the whys of archaeology. The secondary focus, that of public education, was carried out in conjunction with the archaeological research program and in such a manner that the scientific integrity of the research was not affected. The goals of the research component of the project were: 1. to obtain artifactual and stratigraphic evidence that would provide detailed evidence concerning the buildingsand/or palisades of Fort Gibraltar I, in order to accurately determine the location of the fort and its internal design; 2. to obtain data that would help clarify the complex soil stratigraphy at the site and correlate the soil levels and riverine de~ositionseauences . observed in 1984 and 1989; 3. tocorrelateartifactrecoverieswith those from 1984and 1989 inorder todevelop a more complete picture of the activities which occurred at Fort Gibraltar I; 4. to further investigate features which hadbeenrecordedduring the 1989 project; 5. to obtain further data concerning the events that had occurred in the area, before and after the establishment of Fort Gibraltar I (A.D. 1810); 6. to facilitateinterdisciplinaryinvestigationsinto thenatural history of The Forks. The goals of the public component of the program were: 1. to fulfill the public mandate of historic interpretation at The Forks for the community and visitors; 2. to demonstrate the role of archaeological fieldwork in the recovery and inter- pretation of heritage resources at The Forks; 3. to provide hands-on experience for interested members of the public who wished to participate in archaeological studies under the supervision of profes- sional researchers; 4. to obtain tangible historical evidence that The Forks was used as a meeting place and to provide a link between the past, present and future; 5. to make the public aware of the significance of The Forks and its in situ archaeological resources; 6. to provide an opportunity for school groups to use the archaeology project as part of their social science cumculum; 7. to involve avocational groups such as the Manitoba Archaeological Society, the Manitoba Historical Society and the St. Boniface Historical Society in heritage programming at The Forks; 8. to determine appropriate mechanisms for future public archaeological programming at the site; 9. to involve the community-at-large in heritage programming at the site; 10. to help make downtown Winnipeg a focus of attention for residents and visitors. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The senior author wishes to acknowledge the invaluable work and dedication of his co-authors and the other contributors to this document. Donalee Deck under- took analysis of seeds and charcoal. Pamela Smith provided analysis of the recovered faunal remains. Pamela Goundry provided major input during the preparation of the document. Catherine Flynn produced the computer graphic representations of profiand features. Assistance, during the report preparation, was also provided by Leigh Hambly. In addition, Leigh Hambly prepared the report in a desktop publishing format. In the planning and implementation of a project of this magnitude, the efforts of many more people than the immediate staff are necessary. Sincere thanks are extended to the senior personnel of Canadian Parks Service (CPS), The Forks Renewal Corporation (FRC) and Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation (HRB) for their visions and contributions to making the project a reality. Special gratitude is acknowledged to Ellen Lee, Rob Gillespie and Mike Fay [CPS], Al Baronas and Nick Diakiw [FRC], and Leo Pettipas and Donna Dul [HRB] for their considerable efforts expended during the planning of the project. In numerous ways, the staff of the project were assisted by agencies and members of the archaeological community of Manitoba. Materials and supplies were provided by CPS, FRC and HRB. Primary funding derived from these three sources as well as Winnipeg Core Area Initiative (CAI). Office space for the Participant Coordinator was provided by the Manitoba Archaeological Society (MAS). Post- field season laboratory and research facilities at the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature (MMMN)were provided through the efforts of Dr. E. Leigh Syms. The assistance of many individuals was greatly appreciated. Contributions by the following people are gratefully acknowledged: Arda Melikian, Paul Speidel, Peter Filopoulos, Lee-Anna Smith, Lori Dueck, Karen Lawlor, Pamela Goundry, Vernon Nawagesic and Elaine Ross [project staffl; Sharon Appel and Jennifer Mucha [MAS Kiosk staffl; Peter Priess, Gary Adams, Kevin Lunn, Mary Ann Tisdale, Jennifer Hamilton, S. Biron Ebell and Linda Seyers [CPS]; Pat Badertscher, Gary Dickson, Tony Buchner, Peter Walker, Gordon Hill, Virginia Petch and Leo Pettipas [HRB]; Dr. E. Leigh Syms [MMMN]; Dr. C. T. Shay and Dr. Lany Stene [University of Manitoba]; Shelley Bellchamber, Marilyn Edmunds and Eva Boldt [FRC]; Manitoba Archaeological Society Executive; Anita Neville and John Hope [CAI]; Rob Gillespie, Cynthia Birdwise-Lecocq and the interpretive and maintenance staff at The Forks National Historic Site; and members of the Interim Board of The Forks Public Archaeology Association. Apologies are extended to anyone whose name has been overlooked. Finally, but definitely not least, the staff of the 1990 Forks Public Archaeology Project wish to thank the enthusiastic participants and the interested members of the public who made this a most rewarding archaeological experience. CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...........................................i GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ...................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................iv FIGURES ...........................................viii TABLES .............................................x 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................1 1.1 Planning for the Project ................................2 12 Scope of the 1990 Public Archaeology Program ...................2 2.0 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...............................5 2.1 The First Inhabitants ..................................5 2.2 Contact Period (1737-1821) ..............................7 2.3 The Transition Period (1821-1 870) ..........................8 2.4 Industrializationand Immigration Period (1870-1888) ................8 2.5 The Railway Period (1888-1988) ...........................9 3.0 FORT GIBRALTAR l OPERATIONS 1990 ........................ 10 3.1 Introduction ......................................10 3.2 Operation Location ..................................10 3.2.1 1989Project .................................. 10 32.2 1989 Overburdan Removal at 21 K (Fort Gibraltar I) .............11 3.2.3 1990: Reopening the 1989 Excavation ................... 14 3.2.4 1990: Sie Extension ............................. 15 3.3 Encbsing the Excavation Area ........................... 15 3.4 Outside Excavation Activities ............................19 3.5 Ste Excavation Methodobgy ............................ 20 3.6 Laboratory Procedures