British Columbia, Canada: Welqamex Household Archaeological Project
Situated in beautiful southwestern British Columbia, this project examines how Stó:lō (Coast Salish) political authority changed over the last 500-600 years in the upper Fraser Valley. Ongoing excavations are focused on a range of Stó:lō architectural forms at Welqámex, a large island settlement situated only 200 meters downriver from HBC Fort Hope, an early British outpost. Students will work with an international team of scholars, including cultural advisors and members of the surrounding Chawathil First Nations and broader Stó:lō communities. Curricular emphasis is placed on exploring links between Stó:lō oral history, cosmology, historical texts, and a rich archaeological record.
The Welqámex Household Archaeological Project has been certified by the Register of Professional Archaeologists for meeting the highest professional standards for an archaeology field school. This certification signifies that the program meets RPA’s strictest standards for basic research methodologies, field experiences, reporting activities, and total instruction time per student. Enrolled students can expect to be integrated into a long-standing research program in which instructors and staff maintain a serious commitment to the preservation of Stó:lō-Coast Salish cultural heritage and the pursuit of anthropologically substantive questions.
For more information about RPA professional standards (endorsed by the Society for American Archaeology and the American Anthropological Association), please visit the following web address: http://www.rpanet.org/index.cfm
Course Information
Program Dates:
Jun 20, 2010 - Jul 31, 2010
Enrollment Status: Closed
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