Latest news with #DaveRondeau
CBC
03-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Ancient Saskatchewan archaeological site falls victim to illegal scavenging
Social Sharing A crucial archaeological site in Saskatchewan has become a target for illegal scavenging. sowanânihk, which means "a place to cross" in Cree, is located near Prince Albert and is estimated to be around 11,000 years old. It holds a wealth of evidence of Indigenous settlements that likely existed there. A local ambassador for the site says national news coverage and general popularity has led to an increase in damage from human interference to the site, including the illegal practice of pot hunting. "There's been potters, or people actually digging into the site unauthorized," said Dave Rondeau, local historian and the Crutwell consultation co-ordinator for Métis Local 66. "Without any respect for what this site is in and of itself." The importance of the site The sowanânihk site was likely used as a long-term settlement by Indigenous people, according to archaeologists. "You know, this is a window for us, an opportunity and a window for us to peer back thousands of years and write the story right from the onset of habitation for our territory," Rondeau said. Glenn Stewart, an associate professor in the department of anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan, describes the site as "one of the oldest in Saskatchewan, especially further north." "Preserving it for future generations is not only something we want to do as archaeologists, but it's also a fundamental importance to Sturgeon Lake First Nation and other Indigenous groups in the area," Stewart said. As the site gets more attention, Rondeau said people should be helping to preserve it, not damaging it in search of relics. "As it becomes better known, there is always the risk that you might have more unscrupulous individuals going out and pot hunting." Pot hunting involves illegally digging up artifacts to keep or sell, often without any understanding of the archaeological value they hold. Rondeau said he's seen evidence of it at the site — shovel markings and damage along the riverbank. "You can corrupt the study," Rondeau said. "What good is removing these, you know, lithic material or points or rock or bones if it's just going to go into a box underneath your bed?" Archaeologists like Stewart are trained to carefully excavate and record findings so that the relationship between the artifacts can be understood in the larger context of the site. "Archaeology in itself is a destructive process," Stewart said. "We spend a lot of time training our students on how to properly excavate a site so that all of that information remains intact." A plan for preservation A University of Saskatchewan team is working on a preservation plan for the site. Using small cores extracted from the area, the team will try to get a definitive answer on how far the site extends. "We want to be able to bring in youth, especially Indigenous youth, so they can learn about their own history," Stewart said. "The Canadian government has done a very good job of erasing that history, so we want to give back now." These tests will also help determine how to preserve the site for future generations. Rondeau said that while archaeological research is essential, it is just as important that the local communities, especially Indigenous people, are involved in the conversation. "Whatever we do in terms of research will be governed by what Sturgeon Lake and other Indigenous groups want to see happen at the site," Stewart said. By working together, archaeologists and Indigenous communities hope to preserve a connection with the ancestors and the ancient history of the land. "Everybody owns this site. We are all treaty people, but we need some level of, for lack of a better term, stewardship or the ability to enforce, to stop the contamination of and the destruction of this site," Rondeau said.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Discovery Could Upend Our Theory of Early America
An 11,000-year-old Indigenous settlement found in Saskatchewan reshapes the understanding of North American civilizations. Evidence of a long-term settlement, rather than a temporary hunting camp, pushes against previous ideas that Indigenous peoples were solely nomadic. The find also bumps against previously held beliefs on how long people groups have lived in North America. The now-extinct but once-plentiful Bison antiquus—a bigger, taller cousin of the bison we know today, each weighing as much as 4,400 pounds—would make for quite a meal if you managed to bring one down. Their meat was apparently reason enough for a group of Indigenous peoples to make a home near what is now Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, according to a new discovery that flips our predisposition about early North Americans upside down. In the new find, researchers discovered evidence of a long-term settlement near Sturgeon Lake in the Canadian province, dating the settlement to 11,000 years ago. It could rewrite what is known about Indigenous history in North America, providing evidence of a more sedentary life style taking hold much earlier than the nomadic way of living that experts have long believed was how those early people groups lived. 'This discovery challenges the outdated idea that early Indigenous peoples were solely nomadic,' said Glenn Stuart, archaeologist at the University of Saskatchewan, in a statement released by Sturgeon Lake First Nation via the university. 'The evidence of long-term settlement and land stewardship suggest a deep-rooted presence. It also raises questions about the Bering Strait Theory, supporting oral histories that Indigenous communities have lived here for countless generations.' The researchers said this find establishes the location as one of the oldest known Indigenous sites on the continent, a pre-contact settlement showing that organized societies existed in the region far earlier than previously believed. Researcher and archaeologist Dave Rondeau initially discovered a host of artifacts revealed by erosion from the North Saskatchewan River. 'The moment I saw the layers of history peeking through the soil, I felt the weight of generations staring back at me,' Rondeau said. 'Now that the evidence has proven my first instincts, this site is shaking up everything we thought we knew and could change the narrative of early Indigenous civilizations in North America.' The team located stone tools, fire pits, and lithic materials used in toolmaking. The Charcoal layers show inhabitants practiced fire management, and the site was used long-term, rather than as a temporary hunting camp. Another key differentiator was the discovery of large bison remains. The landscape features a buffalo jump—a cliff that Indigenous people used to drive large groups of animals over for easier kills—and the team believes the site likely housed multiple bison pounds and other kill sites. The findings point to hunters strategically harvesting the now-extinct Bison antiquus. Finding evidence of bison also could provide insight into early hunting techniques and the evolution of the species. 'This discovery is a powerful reminder that our ancestors were here, building, thriving, and shaping the land long before history books acknowledged us,' Chief Christine Longjohn said in a statement. 'For too long our voices have been silenced, but this site speaks for us, proving that our roots run deep and unbroken.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A Settlement Discovery Could Upend Our Theory of Early America
An 11,000-year-old Indigenous settlement found in Saskatchewan reshapes the understanding of North American civilizations. Evidence of a long-term settlement, rather than a temporary hunting camp, pushes against previous ideas that Indigenous peoples were solely nomadic. The find also bumps against previously held beliefs on how long people groups have lived in North America. The now-extinct but once-plentiful Bison antiquus—a bigger, taller cousin of the bison we know today, each weighing as much as 4,400 pounds—would make for quite a meal if you managed to bring one down. Their meat was apparently reason enough for a group of Indigenous peoples to make a home near what is now Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, according to a new discovery that flips our predisposition about early North Americans upside down. In the new find, researchers discovered evidence of a long-term settlement near Sturgeon Lake in the Canadian province, dating the settlement to 11,000 years ago. It could rewrite what is known about Indigenous history in North America, providing evidence of a more sedentary life style taking hold much earlier than the nomadic way of living that experts have long believed was how those early people groups lived. 'This discovery challenges the outdated idea that early Indigenous peoples were solely nomadic,' said Glenn Stuart, archaeologist at the University of Saskatchewan, in a statement released by Sturgeon Lake First Nation via the university. 'The evidence of long-term settlement and land stewardship suggest a deep-rooted presence. It also raises questions about the Bering Strait Theory, supporting oral histories that Indigenous communities have lived here for countless generations.' The researchers said this find establishes the location as one of the oldest known Indigenous sites on the continent, a pre-contact settlement showing that organized societies existed in the region far earlier than previously believed. Researcher and archaeologist Dave Rondeau initially discovered a host of artifacts revealed by erosion from the North Saskatchewan River. 'The moment I saw the layers of history peeking through the soil, I felt the weight of generations staring back at me,' Rondeau said. 'Now that the evidence has proven my first instincts, this site is shaking up everything we thought we knew and could change the narrative of early Indigenous civilizations in North America.' The team located stone tools, fire pits, and lithic materials used in toolmaking. The Charcoal layers show inhabitants practiced fire management, and the site was used long-term, rather than as a temporary hunting camp. Another key differentiator was the discovery of large bison remains. The landscape features a buffalo jump—a cliff that Indigenous people used to drive large groups of animals over for easier kills—and the team believes the site likely housed multiple bison pounds and other kill sites. The findings point to hunters strategically harvesting the now-extinct Bison antiquus. Finding evidence of bison also could provide insight into early hunting techniques and the evolution of the species. 'This discovery is a powerful reminder that our ancestors were here, building, thriving, and shaping the land long before history books acknowledged us,' Chief Christine Longjohn said in a statement. 'For too long our voices have been silenced, but this site speaks for us, proving that our roots run deep and unbroken.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
