Ancient Suskechewan archaeological site is a victim of illegal manual scavenging

An important archaeological site in Suskechewan has become a goal for illegal manual scavenging.

Âsowanânihk, which means “to cross a place” in Kree, is located near Prince Albert and is estimated to be around 11,000 years old. It keeps a treasure of evidence of indigenous settlements which were present there.

A local ambassador to the site says that national news coverage and general popularity have increased damage from human intervention on the site, including illegal exercises of pot hunting.

“There are potters, or people are actually excavated in the site, unauthorized,” Dave Rondeu, local historians and Metis local 66 said the Cruitwell Counseling Coordinator for Local 66.

Importance of site

According to archaeologists, the ssowanânihk site was used by indigenous people as a long -term disposal.

“You know, this is a window for us, an opportunity and a window for us that we retreat for thousands of years and write the story from the beginning of the settlement for our region,” Rondo said.

Glenn Stewart, an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Suskechewan, describes the site as “one of the oldest in Suscachewan, especially as one of the north.”

Stewart said, “Protecting it for future generations is not only something we want to do as archaeologists, but it is also a fundamental significance for Sturgeon Lake First Nation and other indigenous groups in the field.”

As more attention is paid to the site, Rondeu said that people should help preserve it, it should not harm in search of remains.

“As it becomes better known, there is always a risk that you may have more dishonest people and are going out.”

Pot hunting involves digging artifacts to keep or sell illegally, often without understanding the archaeological value conducted by them. Rondo said that he has seen evidence of this on the site – shovel mark and damage with Riverbank.

“You can corrupt the study,” Rondo said. “What’s good is removing them, you know, lithic material or numerals or rocks or bones if it is just going to a box under your bed?”

Archaeologists such as Stewart are trained to carefully dig and record conclusions to understand the relationship between artifacts in a large context of the site.

“Archaeological itself is a devastating process,” Stewart said. “We spend a lot of time in training our students how to dig a site properly so that it remains all the information.”

A plan for conservation

A university in Suskechewan is working on a conservation plan for site. Using the small core extracted from the area, the team will try to get a certain answer on how far the site extends.

“We want to be able to bring the youth, especially indigenous youth, so they can learn about their own history,” Stewart said. “The Canadian government has done a great job to eradicate that history, so we want to give back now.”

These tests will also help determine how to preserve the site for future generations.

Rondo said that while archaeological research is necessary, it is equally important that the local community, especially indigenous people, are involved in conversation.

Stewart said, “Whatever we do in the context of research will be controlled by Sturgeon Lake and other indigenous groups.”

By working together, archaeologists and indigenous communities are expected to maintain relations with the ancient history of ancestors and land.

“Everyone owns this site. We are all people with treaty, but we require some levels to lack a better period, lead or ability to apply this site,” Rondo said.

Asked for comment, the provincial government made a statement.

He said, “The aste, located to the west of Rajkumar Albert, is on the Archaeological Site Provincial Crown Resource Land.”

“Suskechewan’s government is engaged in the ongoing discussions about the region and will continue to work with the local first nation and Metis communities on the next way to protect this important historical and archaeological site.”