<< Sites under Threat >> 7,000-BCE artifacts on occupied land, Caledonia, Ont. Politics and Archaeology.
Submitted by coldrum on Friday, 23 February 2007 Page Views: 3831
Pre-ColumbianAboriginals say the discovery of an ancient village and 9,000-year-old stone tools on disputed land in Caledonia, Ont., strengthens their claim to the former housing development site.The site has been occupied by Six Nations protesters for a year.
A dig of around 18 locations on the occupied land uncovered stones left behind by nomadic hunting groups thousands of years ago and the remains of an 800-year-old longhouse, complete with refuse pit, Ontario's Ministry of Culture told The Canadian Press.
"The people who lived at this site would have gone hunting or fishing from the base camp, gathered various wild plants and harvested maize," said ministry spokesman Guy Lepage. "It was a village that sustained people for a season or two."
While the fragments of pottery and ancient stone tools are of interest to some, Lepage said they don't provide any historical revelations. The Grand River area is "well-known" for such discoveries, he said. "They represent the accumulated debris of day-to-day living," he said. "They're more archeological documents that help tell the story of these ancient peoples."
But to Six Nations protesters who have been camped out on that same land for almost a year, the discovery means much more. The archeological evidence is proof of the historical connection aboriginals have with the disputed land, said Six Nations spokeswoman Janie Jamieson.
While Jamieson said she's convinced there are human remains buried on the site, the Ministry of Culture said no burial grounds or remains have been found.
"It just goes to show you how far back our connection to that territory goes," Jamieson said. "Our connection stems back to our very existence, our creation." "Our creation began right here. The more studies that are done, as time goes one, the more that's proven."
Others disagree that the ancient finds are of the direct ancestors to the modern Six Nations Group. For more on the finds and the politics of Canadian aboriginal land claims see the attached article:
Yahoo News Canada
Note: Caledonia Ontario location: 43.0701N 79.9536W. A site listing will be posted if additional information becomes available.
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