Archaeological Reports

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 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 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.

Monitoring of installations yielded 29 Postcontact artifacts from the Hudson’s Bay Experimental Farm (1836-1848) and Railway/Industrial (1860-1988) periods representing the following categories: architectural objects; lighting equipment; communication; clothing; transportation; faunal remains; glass and ceramic storage containers; and dinnerware. Stratigraphy is discussed in detail. Appendices include an artifact catalogue.

No evidence of cultural occupation was encountered during monitoring of auger drilling. Detailed stratigraphic profiles of the holes are provided.

Monitoring of construction yielded a total of 469 artifacts, consistently mainly of faunal remains (mostly butchering remains, but some naturally deposited specimens) with few floral remains and 2 lithic flakes. Stratigraphy is discussed in detail.

Monitoring of four small, drilled holes as part of minimal geo-technical investigations did not yield any artifacts and did not allow for definitive conclusions to be drawn regarding the existence of sub-surface cultural horizons in the vicinity of the right-of-way. The observed stratigraphy is discussed in detail.

Monitoring of 3 augered piling holes indicated considerable prior disturbance at the location. No evidence of archaeological horizons or relict soil horizons was observed.

Monitoring of excavations yielded no cultural resources, but numerous buried soil horizons were observed.

Monitoring of backhoe excavations for construction did not yield any heritage objects, but did enable the recording of buried soil horizons, indicating periods of soil formation between flood episodes. Correlation with previously recorded profiles indicates zones of potential impact for future developments in the area.