OAS Symposium 2015 - Call For Papers

The Huronia chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society is pleased to host the annual symposium from Oct. 16 to 18, 2015 in Midland, Ontario. The theme of the upcoming conference is “Huronia - Before and After Champlain.”
We welcome papers on all aspects of the Ontario’s archaeological past. On the 400th anniversary of Champlain’s arrival in Huronia, we particularly want to highlight the Wendat past in the region, and interactions with the first French explorers and missionaries.
At this time we are calling for proposals for sessions, individual presentations, and posters. Sessions may be half or full day sessions (about nine papers or sixteen papers respectively). Presentations are twenty minutes in length.
Session proposals: please send proposal descriptions of about 300 words to Alicia Hawkins (ahawkins@laurentian.ca) by April 1, 2015. A list of potential presenters should accompany the session proposal.
Abstracts for individual presentations and posters should be about 300 words and these should also be emailed to Alicia Hawkins (ahawkins@laurentian.ca). The deadline for abstracts is June 30, 2015.

Members Meeting - Wednesday December 10th 2014

Members Meeting -  Wednesday December 10th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

AGM

Subject - year end updates and reports - election of executive officers.

This meeting is set aside for our Annual General Meeting and election of officers who will guide us through the upcoming year including monthly meeting presentations and the planning and implementation of the OAS symposium next October.

Should you wish to put your name forward to stand for one of the executive positions or nominate another member to do so please do so by email or bring your nomination to the AGM. We will also be looking for volunteers to take on other key portfolios our act on committees to assist in moving our plans forward.

It is also the time to renew your membership for 2015.

The AGM will run 7-8PM followed by a meeting of the executive and others directly involved with the planning of the symposium.

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

"Champlain's Guide to Huronia."

Members Meeting -  Wednesday November 12th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

Presenter - John Raynor

Subject - "Champlain's Guide to Huronia."

This will e a presentation on a booklet that I started to prepare in 2007 that I hoped might be useful as part of the upcoming Champlain 400th anniversary.

I have done further research since then and have reformulated some of my suppositions. This presentation will act as a first level of peer review.

If you think that you know which villages Champlain visited while in Huronia and care to speculate on their names and or locations, please feel free to share.

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

For Passion or Profit

Members Meeting -  Wednesday October 8th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

Presenter - John Raynor

Subject - For Passion or Profit - a paper presented at the Canadian Archaeological Association in May 2014

Abstract

This paper will examine the role of the avocational archaeologist over time in Ontario with a particular focus on the archaeology of Huronia.

In a landscape where most of the archaeology in Ontario today is carried out by CRM companies under contract to the private sector and by a few universities that can still squeeze out the funds to do research and fieldwork, what is the role and motivation of the avocationalist?

In this paper we will examine the history of archaeology in Huronia and the rich record left behind by pioneers in a field well before there were any monetary rewards or many accolades to be had. Who were they, what did they do and perhaps more importantly, why did they do it?

We will also examine where we are today. When about 10% of the archaeological licences issued in Ontario are for avocational archaeologists, some with little formal academic training or credentials, where can their interest and enthusiasm be best used?  As the regulations governing archaeology tighten up and the bureaucracy stiffens, is it still an environment that can attract those driven by passion rather than profit to do what the love to do, or are the costs and liabilities becoming so high that they will either not enter the field or crawl back into the dirt pile and become the pot hunters of the past? 

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Midhurst Mega-development and Our Community

The particulars:

September 28th, focusing on aboriginal culture and settlements in the area. We will be meeting at the Anne St. N., and Carson Road intersection at 3 pm.

October 5th, focusing on the importance of preserving prime farmland. We will be meeting at
Midhurst Community Hall at 3 pm for a bus to tour highlighting how development may adversely impact prime farmland.

What?! !

Walks to learn about possible impacts the planned mega-development may have on important features of our community have been organized for three early autumn afternoons.

October 19, on the environmental and ecological implications development has for the area, including the Minesing Wetlands. We will be meeting at Meadow Mouse Trail at 3 pm.(West side of George Johnson Rd. just north of Snow Valley Rd.) Bring along boots or rugged shoes.

You can RSVP and find up to date information at: canow.ca, or by sending an email to climateactionbarrie@gmail.com.! !

We look forward to seeing you!

Who?! !

We've lined up some excellent guides to speak on the importance of the Minesing Wetlands and its ecological interconnections, on the vibrant tradition and culture of aboriginal peoples in the area, and on the value of preserving prime farmland and agricultural potential.

Midhurst Mega-development and Our Community

Members Meeting -  Wednesday September 10th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

At this month's Huronia chapter meeting we will be focusing on the OAS symposium that we will be hosting in October 2015. We hope to have our theme, title and some bare bone outline of our plan ready for this year's symposium to be hosted in Peterborough October 24th - 26th.

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Members Meeting - Wednesday August 13th 2014

Members Meeting -  Wednesday August 13th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

I have been advised that the Huronia museum has sustained some flood damage due to last nights heavy rain and continuing roof issues and will not be able to host tonight's meeting. For those planning to attend, we will host the meeting at my home (83 Balm Beach Rd. East, Perkinsfield, On.- 705 526 4927) just west of Midland towards Balm Beach. Same time and topic - new location.

Hopefully we will see some of you here.

Sorry for the late notice.

John

At this month's meeting we will be discussing the value of  Private Collections.

Since the wrap up of the field school at the end of June we have come across 3 private collections of artifacts found in Huronia. Discussions with these collectors have given us leads to non registered sites that have not been investigated by the archaeological community.

I will be proposing that the chapter consider the development of a strategic plan to seek out these collectors with the objective of learning from what they know and have collected or received from their ancestors.

The following email was sent to the ministry in this regard and hopefully we will have some sort of response in time for our meeting.

"I am considering proposing to the Huronia chapter of the OAS that we consider taking on a project to find and document private collections of archaeological material in Huronia (northern Simcoe Co.). Some collectors may be reluctant to share their collection info with us due to a fear of prosecution.  Given this apprehension, how are we best to proceed and what assurances can we give to these collectors that their cooperation will not result in their prosecution under the Heritage act or other Provincial legislation?

Looking forward to your guidance;"

John Raynor

President, Huronia chapter of the OAS.

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

A brief business meeting will be held after the presentation for Huronia chapter members.

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Water Screening

Dr. Bonnie Glencross and Dr. Gary Warrick will be in Huronia on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to complete the water screening process of the dry screened material from squares dug during the field school at the Allen tract. If you are interested in volunteering your services to assist in this process please let me know via email - jraynor@rogers.com or leave a comment on this post.

Members Meeting - Wednesday July 9th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

At this month's meeting we are pleased to welcome Tom Mohr & Sheryl Smith from the Peterborough chapter who will be speaking on ‘The Search for Gandatsetiagon:

The Search for Gandatsetiagon: Chasing ‘Gandy’.

Tom Mohr, currently President of the Peterborough Chapter, OAS, challenged the City of Pickering’s creation story of ‘two Jesuits from Frenchman’s Bay’ by digging back through centuries of historical material before arriving at the realm of archaeology. Sheryl Smith, OAS Board member and late of Parks Canada, worked forward from the archaeological record and helped to define this singular aspect of our collective history. Together, they will shed light on the story of a 17th century Seneca village on the north shore of Lake Ontario, its interaction with our earliest French explorers, and how it is recalled today.

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

A brief business meeting will be held after the presentation for Huronia chapter members.

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Members Meeting - Wednesday June 11th 2014

Members Meeting -  Wednesday June 11th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

At this month's meeting we are pleased to welcome Chris Dalton.

Chris will be discussing his role as Director of Chapter Services for the OAS and sharing with us his experiences as an avocational archaeologist in Ontario.

Christopher Dalton - is a carpenter by trade and archaeologist by hobby, whose interest in archaeology has been life-long. He has an avocational archaeology license for Ontario and is a life member of the London Chapter. Chris has worked extensively with John MacDonald mapping sites in the Blair area and more recently with Dr. Chris Ellis excavating the Davidson Site in Parkhill, Ontario. He is currently Director of Chapter Services for the OAS. 

Students and staff from the field school currently operating in Huronia will be joining us for this meeting..

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

A brief business meeting will be held after the presentation for Huronia chapter members.

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Field season is underway in Huronia

Just a reminder -
 What is the penalty for digging without a license?

The Ontario Heritage Act prohibits anyone from disturbing or altering an archaeological site — whether on land or under water — unless they hold a valid archaeological licence issued by the ministry. You may be disturbing an archaeological site, if you pick up arrowheads in a farmer's field, grade an archaeological site with a bulldozer, or take objects from a shipwreck.
Anyone who disturbs or alters an archaeological site or removes an artifact from a site without a licence can be fined or imprisoned. A person or a director of a corporation found in violation of the act or its regulations can face a fine of up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment for up to one year or both. A corporation found in violation of the act or the regulations can face a fine of up to $250,000.

What should we do?

One of our members went for an exploratory walk on a property where the roads were cut in last fall. After requesting a copy of the archaeological assessment from the municipality we were advised that there wasn't one as the plan was approved in the 80's before assessments were required? The land is in a historic area (Possibly related to Champlain's visit to Huronia) with both registered and non registered sites around it, it is sandy loam soil, it has a source of fresh water nearby, it is on a ridge with a defensible position overlooking a bay and it has plenty of room for a village.
So what's next? Do this become an advocacy project for the chapter? Does this require political action? Does this warrant community activism? Or do we just passively walk away and let another development possibly destroy another site without even attempting an assessment.
You thoughts would be appreciated.

Artifacts are from a private collection.

These artifacts are from a private collection believed by some to be from the Wendat village of Toanche that Champlain visited in August of 1615. If you our your family members have artifacts like these, we would like to know. Please contact the Huronia chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society via the Huronia museum so that we can arrange to photograph them and add them to our knowledge of the area. -https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Members Meeting - Wednesday March 14th 2014

Members Meeting -  Wednesday May 14th 2014

 Huronia Museum, Midland - 7 PM

The talk on May 14th will be by Brian Charles a member of the Georgiana Island Lake Simcoe Ojibway.  Brian will speak on the importance of wampum and wampum belts among the Ojibway over the past 400 years.

Meetings are open to the public at no charge.

http://huroniamuseum.com/

A brief business meeting will be held after the presentation for Huronia chapter members.

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HuroniaChapterOfTheOntarioArchaeologySociety

Dr. Marti Latta gives talk about 1976 archaeological dig in Beeton

April 24, 2014   ·   0 Comments

The Tec We Gwill Historical Society held their annual general meeting and were treated to a special presentation by Professor/archaeologist Marti Latta from the University of Toronto.

To a nearly full room at the Tec We Gwill Women’s Institute, Dr. Latta spoke about an archaeological dig in Beeton in 1976. During the dig, Dr. Latta and her team found remnants of a permanent village of about 300 – 500 people, including about 10 to 12 permanent houses made of wood that was situated just south of Beeton on the 10th side road between the 6th and 7th concessions.

“Unfortunately they came and went before there were any Europeans here to write about them, so we had to figure them out for ourselves,” Dr. Latta told the room. “These people were farmers. They raised a number of crops and you’ll see that they raised corn, beans, pumpkins and squash and probably tobacco.”

The village was thought to be an independent city state that was situated and protected at the top of a hill and looked to be a rather rich village that traded the sought after flint stone that they brought up themselves in canoes from Hamilton or Grimsby.

“They were middlemen with a lovely location to control a very important and profitable trade.”

The dig uncovered plenty of tools, pottery, woodworking tools, axes, hoes, hunting tools, needles carved of bone, games and lots of smoking pipes. Dr. Latta said the location itself was ideal for a village, situated at the top of a hill, with a permanent spring (that still runs to this day) and connected to rivers leading to all of the major water sources in the area.

The site itself was found just about 20 centimetres below the top soil of a corn field and also turned up some things that stumped the team.

“One of the things that we did find that we found very interesting, was some little bits and pieces of brass,” Dr. Latta said. “They were tested with neutron activation and are definitely sixteenth century brass. That gives us the next question of what was the date for the site.”

The brass would have been there much longer before the first arrival of Europeans in the area, which suggested it was traded “hand to hand” all the way from the east coast.

“They might have been getting some of this European brass from much farther east and then passing it along and it would have been incredibly rare,” she said. “We tend to think copper isn’t very important, but these were people for whom copper was more excited than we would feel about gold today.”

Dr. Latta explained that everything seemed great for the village and then eventually it was abandoned after what looks like an attack from neighbours that burned most of the site.

As for the remaining artifacts of the site, Dr. Latta delivered some sad news that much of what was uncovered was lost in an accidental “spring cleaning” at the University of Toronto. “It’s appalling and part of the reason I am here is to convey apologies,” she said. “It was just one of those horrible human mistakes that people make.”

There hasn’t been any excavation at the site since 1976, but much of the site is still protected by the Town of Beeton and Dr. Latta hopes it is explored again someday. “It’s a lovely site and really deserves some more attention.”

By Jeff Doner

Petun to Wyandot

The Ontario Archaeological Society (OAS) and Archaeological Services Inc. (ASI) are jointly hosting an event to honour former OAS President Charles Garrad and his newest book, entitled Petun to Wyandot: The Ontario Petun from the Sixteenth Century (edited by Jean-Luc Pilon and William Fox), which is due to be published this month in the Mercury Series by the University of Ottawa Press and the Canadian Museum of History (see also flyer, attached).

Please join us on Tuesday, May 27th from 6 - 8 pm at Massey College at the University of Toronto. A cash bar and appetizers await you there. There will also be an opportunity to purchase the book and we will provide pricing details in future correspondence with confirmed attendees.  

The event is free to attend, but we encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible, as space is limited. Please let us know by May 24th if you can attend by sending an RSVP email to rsvp.oas@gmail.com, providing your full name and the names of anyone else accompanying you.  (Please do not reply to this message.)  

More information on the book can be found here: http://www.press.uottawa.ca/petun-to-wyandot.

We look forward to seeing you as we help Charlie launch his magnum opus! 

Things you may need to know.

FAQs

Who owns the artifacts?

The answer to this question is ambiguous at best. The answer differs somewhat depending on the landowner: the rules for federally owned lands, such as national parks, and First Nations reserves are different from those applying other lands in Ontario. The Ontario government does not assert ownership of artifacts, but it does set out the laws governing the practice of archaeology in the province. These state that:

1.     Only a licensed archaeologist may collect or excavate artifacts in the province of Ontario.

2.     Under the terms of the licence, the government charges the archaeologist with holding the artifacts in trust for the people of Ontario.

3.     The archaeologist may place the artifacts in a public institution, such as a museum, for safekeeping.

In other words, the licensed archaeologist is the only person who may collect artifacts, but she or he does not own them. In fact, one could say that every resident of Ontario owns them, but no single individual does.

Does this mean that I need to turn over the collection that my grandfather made in 1952?

No. While it would be great if it was donated to a museum, the province is not attempting to recover old collections. It does mean that you should not be adding to that collection.  

Can anyone dig?

Only those with an archaeological licence or people directly supervised by someone with a professional or research archaeological license may excavate.

What is the penalty for digging without a license?

The Ontario Heritage Act prohibits anyone from disturbing or altering an archaeological site — whether on land or under water — unless they hold a valid archaeological licence issued by the ministry. You may be disturbing an archaeological site, if you pick up arrowheads in a farmer's field, grade an archaeological site with a bulldozer, or take objects from a shipwreck.

Anyone who disturbs or alters an archaeological site or removes an artifact from a site without a licence can be fined or imprisoned. A person or a director of a corporation found in violation of the act or its regulations can face a fine of up to $1,000,000 or imprisonment for up to one year or both. A corporation found in violation of the act or the regulations can face a fine of up to $250,000.

What happens if we find a burial?

The Cemeteries Act and the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, when proclaimed in force, requires anyone who uncovers a burial site containing human remains to report the discovery to the appropriate authorities — the police or a coroner. Likewise, archaeologists who encounter human remains during archaeological fieldwork are required to comply with all relevant provisions of the Cemeteries Act and Ontario Regulation 133/92 (Burial Sites) as part of the terms and conditions of their archaeological licence.

If human remains are discovered during land development activities, all construction and soil disturbance must stop immediately to allow the authorities to investigate. All archaeological fieldwork must stop until the coroner has had the opportunity to investigate and the Registrar of Cemeteries has been consulted. The Cemeteries Act requires that the descendants or representatives of those buried at the site be consulted prior to any decision regarding final disposition of the remains be made.

Who are the descendants of the people who once lived here?

The Huron/Wendat confederacy that consisted of four or five confederated nations living between Nottawasaga Bay and Lake Simcoe. They reported to have lived here some 200 to 300 years prior to the first Europeans arriving in Huronia and were Iroquoian by culture and language.

How can I get more involved?

Join the Ontario Archaeological Society or come to a local chapter meeting.

BENEFITS OF OAS MEMBERSHIP

• Membership in Ontario's archaeological community. Eligibility to join one or more of the Society's Chapters in Hamilton, Huronia, London, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Toronto or Windsor.
• Tours of archaeological interest in Ontario and beyond.
• Participation in workshops, courses, seminars.
• Eligibility to present a paper at the Society's annual symposium.
• Attendance at the Society's annual symposium, business meeting and banquet.
• Attendance at lectures and meetings.
• Information on excavations and volunteer opportunities.
• Subscription to Ontario Archaeology, our refereed journal.
• Subscription to Arch Notes, our bi-monthly newsletter and your window on the current Ontario archaeology scene.         
• Purchase of specialist items such as buttons, badges, T-shirts, posters.
• Access to the Society's research library, computer services and information on archaeological databases.
• Participation in working committees at provincial and chapter levels.
• Eligibility for awards or other forms of recognition (and the opportunity to endow and/or create such awards).

The Huronia chapter of the OAS meet the second Wednesday of each month at the Huronia Museum in Midland, Ontario.

Meetings start at 7:pm with a presentation and is followed by a business meeting of the chapter.

Members, guests and the general public are welcome to attend at no charge.

Visit the Huronia chapter blog to stay informed of chapter activities and join in the discussions relating to the archaeology and history of Huronia.

http://www.oashuroniachapter.com/

More on the legalities of the practice of archaeology in Ontario:

http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/archaeology/archaeology.shtml