The Central Archaeology Group Inc. (CAGI)

(reprinted courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Culture-click on the link above to be redirected to their website) Bordering on the four Great Lakes to the south, James and Hudson Bay on the north, and containing thousands of lakes and rivers in between, Ontario is blessed with an abundance of water. The history of the exploration, settlement and commerce of Ontario from the earliest First Nations peoples to the present day is characterised by the important role that its waterways played. First Nations peoples travelled, traded and lived along our province's waterways for many millennia. The early European explorers arrived on and used these same routes. The early sailing vessels they built were used in the fur trade or for military purposes. However, as Ontario's commerce grew with its population, so did the role of commercial shipping. In the absence of railways and roads, the early development and trade of our province was dependant on its lakes and rivers. A century and a ha...

(reprinted courtesy of the Canadian Archaeological Association) Preamble The objectives of the Canadian Archaeological Association include the promotion, protection and conservation of the archaeological heritage of Canada, and the dissemination of archaeological knowledge. Canadian archaeologists conduct their activities according to the principles of scholarly practice and recognize the interests of groups affected by their research. Whereas the heritage of First Nations Peoples constitutes the greater part of the Canadian archaeological record, this document presents a Statement of Principles that guides members of the Association in their relationships with Aboriginal peoples. Principles Members of the CAA/ACA agree to abide by the following principles: I Consultation: 1. To recognize the cultural and spiritual links between Aboriginal peoples and the archaeological record. 2. To acknowledge that Aboriginal people have a fundamental interest in the protection and management of th...

(reprinted courtesy of Canadian Heritage News, July 2002) Most Canadians would be shocked to know that over the past 30 years more than 20% of the historic buildings in our cities and towns have been lost to the wrecker's ball! Many of those buildings have played a significant role in our national development. The Historic Places Initiative of Canadian Heritage is going to help reverse that trend by helping communities preserve and protect their built heritage. The first steps are now underway with the development of a register of up to 20,000 historic places. Pilot projects are testing conservation standards and guidelines in cooperation with experts at the municipal and provincial levels. There will be a certification process to eventually make financial incentives available to private sector developers for the redevelopment of historic places. The Department of Canadian Heritage and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities are working closely together on the development and imp...

(reprinted courtest of the Society for Historical Archaeology-click on the above link to be forwarded to their website) If someone asked you to draw an archaeologist, what kind of picture would you produce? Would it resemble Indiana Jones at a temple, complete with whip and machete in far-off India or in a cavern crawling with poisonous snakes? Or would it look more like a studious Howard Carter, peering through an opening at the gold and treasures of King Tut' tomb. Although some modern-day historical archaeologists have adventures like Indy's or find treasures like King Tut's tomb, most have more in common with detective Sherlock Holmes, because they are trying, to solve the mysteries of the past. That is why a historical archaeologist will sweat for days under the hot sun to carefully extract tiny bits of pottery from the ground or spend hours in the laboratory, trying to fit together pieces of an 18th-century wine bottle. By examining seed and pollen grains through the ...

(reprinted courtesy of the Canadian Archaeological Association) Preamble The objectives of the Canadian Archaeological Association include promoting, protecting and conserving the archaeological heritage of Canada, and the dissemination of archaeological knowledge. Canadian archaeologists conduct their activities according to the principles of scholarly practice and recognize the interests of groups affected by their research. Stewardship We expect that the members of the CAA will exercise respect for archaeological remains and for those who share an interest in these irreplaceable and non-renewable resources now and in the future. The archaeological record includes in-situ materials and sites, archaeological collections, records and reports. Stewardship involves having care for and promoting the conservation of the archaeological record. This record is unique, finite and fragile. CAA members should acknowledge: 1) access to knowledge from the past is an essential part of the he...

Land-Based Archaeology (reprinted from Ontario's Ministry of Culture website) At one time or another during the 10,000 years or so since the final retreat of the great ice sheets of the last ice age, people have lived just about everywhere in the Province. The age-old combination of curiosity and human need has led people into every corner of Ontario, from Pelee Island in Lake Erie to West Pen Island, by the Manitoba border in Hudson Bay. Of course, Ontario is an easy province to get around in. After all, it was common at one time to travel the 3,000 kilometres by canoe from Montreal to Thunder Bay and back during the course of one summer, and the Province possesses a remarkably extensive network of lakes and rivers. An equally extensive system of overland trails was also established over time, and if for some reason it proved difficult to get somewhere in the spring, summer, or fall, it was always possible to move there swiftly and directly in the winter. It is safe to say that ev...

Welcome to The Central Archaeology Group's blog. If you have any comments, concerns, questions, or suggestions please post them here. Keeping you informed about archaeology, cultural heritage, and built heritage is what we hope to do. CAG is committed to preserving archaeological and cultural heritage. We believe that the protection of this non-renewable resource is imperative to present and future Canadians because not only is it important to continued development within each province, but it also underlines and identifies a distinctive Canadian culture. Laura