Gwaii Haanas and the Gulf Islands: Results from the Parks Canada 2008 Archaeological Field Season
-Daryl Fedje and Nicole Smith Archaeologists Daryl Fedje and Nicole Smith of Parks Canada will present some findings from this year’s fieldwork in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve & Haida Heritage Site. This year’s fieldwork included a focus on the intertidal and inland reaches of the two National Park Reserves. In this talk Daryl and Nicole will provide a summary of the fieldwork in the two park reserves and will highlight some key discoveries. In particular, they will focus on: the finding of intact archaeological deposits below modern beach deposits in the intertidal zone of the Gulf Islands; the ways in which intertidal lithic sites of Gwaii Haanas are providing new insights into the stone tool production of the area; the discovery of clam gardens in Haida Gwaii; and further evidence of bear hunting and new evidence of human habitation from excavations at Gaadu Din 2 cave (one of the oldest sites in Canada).