We have excavated at this site (BcGn-15) twice before. In 2024, we did some exploratory Stage 2 shovel testing and Stage 3 1x1m excavation units. In 2025 we did some landscape cultural feature survey and put in some larger units that were informed by our Stage 3 units, placed to hopefully tell us a little more about the structure and the different phases of its life before destruction.
This year, we have two specific goals in our probable last chance to learn from this site: 1. to try and determine the earliest phase of occupation for this site, and 2. elucidate the vernacular architecture of this structure. We have tantalising glimpses into some kind of subterranean architecture, and use of space suggested by aerial photos and orientation of the structure in relation to the road and greater surroundings.
It was overcast and drizzly today, but buoyed by high spirits we persevered. We brought our equipment in and set up. We have replaced our poor old canopies who didn’t survive that windstorm last year with some new and improved models!
This year we have subdivided our crew into four groups, who have chosen a team name. We have Fox, Beaver, Snake, and Ladybug, who each have their own part of the excavation to conduct.
This afternoon we were also fortunate to have a visit from Dr. Amy Scott, our new faculty member in Forensic Anthropology at Trent, and her colleague, Chris Burgess, MA from UNB. They have returned from a project in France, and Chris was kind enough to give a little lecture on how Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) works and a little demo using his rig before heading back east.
By the end of the day today, every group had managed to get their teeth into Context 1 of the site.
We have already started finding lots of artifacts, which means we might get some I-Spy posts later this month! See you tomorrow!
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