Uncovering Secrets: Archaeology in Southern Alberta RUNS OCT 6 – JAN 13, 2013

 Lethbridge ~ The Galt Museum & Archives digs into the southern Alberta landscape this fall in the new special exhibit Uncovering Secrets: Archaeology in southern Alberta featuring fifteen local and area sites holding the secrets to stories of the past, including Paleo-Indian hunting sites over 11,000 years old, more recent aboriginal habitation and hunting locations, coal mining towns from the early 1900s, ranches in the Porcupine Hills, the North West Mounted Police post at Fort Macleod, and the original site of Fort Whoop-Up.

 Archaeologists, volunteers, and students methodically uncover artifacts using small trowels and fine brushes, record the location and relationship to one another, gather information about the soil in which the objects are found, analyze all of the data, and propose theories regarding their findings.  Archaeologists also study paintings and carvings left on stone, prehistoric rock configurations placed on the prairie, and movement patterns along ancient trails. 

 “People have lived in southern Alberta for thousands of years,” says Curator Wendy Aitkens, “Blackfoot oral tradition preserves ancient stories of their people; written records tell us stories of native and non-native inhabitants from the last two hundred years.  But to discover unknown or forgotten stories, or to add to known stories, archaeologists dig under layers of soil sometimes to a depth of several metres, study artifacts stored in museums, analyze artwork created on stone, and compile previous research. Their findings enrich our knowledge of people who lived in southern Alberta.” 

 Uncovering Secrets: Archaeology in southern Alberta examines 15 sites, some well known to local and area residents and visitors, and others more obscure, including Cluny Fortified Village, Fincastle Bison Kill and Processing Site, Fletcher Bison Kill Site, Fort Macleod NWMP Barracks, Fort Whoop-Up, Indian Battle Park, Kajewski Métis Cabins, Lille Coal Mine Town, Massacre Butte, New Oxley Ranche, Old North Trail, Stone Features including the Majorville Medicine Wheel and Noble Point effigy, Wally's Beach, and Writing-on-Stone | Áísínai’pi National Historic Site.

 “Archaeological sites are often found by landowners, hikers, and children who report their findings to the Archaeological Survey in Edmonton,” says Aitkens. “Others are discovered when archaeologists are hired to conduct a survey of a road or pipeline route or proposed building location. In Uncovering Secrets we also examine who really owns what is found and highlight provincial laws and regulations to help people understand what they need to do when they locate an artifact.” 

 Uncovering Secrets: Archaeology in southern Alberta runs October 6 – January 13, 2013, and officially opens Sunday, October 21 at 2:00 pm with a The Curator Presents… presentation “Uncovering Secrets” featuring fascinating stories about local archaeology, followed by a ribbon cutting.

 Programs reflecting the archaeology theme will be offered throughout the run of the exhibit, including family activities during Saturdays at 1:00 and Top 10 of 2012; presentations as part of Wednesdays at the Galt for ages 55+; special topics during Thursday programs for adults; a new program aimed at post-secondary students, and a special artifact identification partnership program.

 For details visit www.galtmuseum.com, call 403.320-3954, or email info@galtmuseum.com.