Parks Canada Partners with University of New Brunswick to Bring Bioarchaeological Field Program to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
News Release
Providing unique educational experience to students at a national historic site
April 19, 2017 Louisbourg, Nova Scotia Parks Canada Agency
The University of New Brunswick’s Department of Anthropology, in partnership with Parks Canada, will offer a bioarchaeology field program at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site during the summer of 2017. This unique collaboration will document, protect, and preserve 18th century burial grounds at Rochefort Point that are currently threatened by coastal erosion.
Students will have the opportunity to uncover and analyse the remains of the people who lived in Louisbourg during the 18th century, providing new insights into the population’s health and well-being during an important period in Canada’s history.
This project will help develop an expanded interpretive experience at Louisbourg and provide new insights into Louisbourg’s rich history. The partnership will contribute new research avenues to the field of bioarchaeology, protect the remains through careful and respectful excavation, analysis, and re-interment, and increase public understanding of Canada’s heritage through archaeological research.
Parks Canada is a world leader in protecting and preserving cultural heritage at national historic sites and this bioarchaeology work, research, and analysis will help future conservation efforts at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.
National historic sites reflect the rich heritage of our nation and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience and learn more about our environment and our heritage.
Quotes
“I am particularly pleased that this partnership with the University of New Brunswick will allow students to work on this important project and take part in the Government of Canada’s efforts to protect our treasured heritage places for years to come.”
The Honourable Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada
“This exciting field program will offer students a multi-component, hands-on bioarchaeological field experience, including excavation methods and techniques, field data recording and ethical handling practices while gaining unique experience not found anywhere else in Canada.”
Dr. Amy Scott
Field School Director, University of New Brunswick Department of Anthropology
Quick Facts
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The Fortress of Louisbourg is the largest reconstructed site in North America. An average of 82,000 people visit this site every year. The original settlement was founded in 1713 by the French and developed over several decades into a thriving centre for fishing and trade.
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As our country celebrates its 150th birthday in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to learn more about the major events that have shaped their country’s history. Canada’s national historic sites enable us to experience our rich history and heritage in a special way and play a big part in the celebration of Canada 150.
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Rochefort Point, a narrow peninsula extending just beyond the east gate of the Fortress of Louisbourg, was the primary burial ground for inhabitants after 1739; however, sea level rise and coastal erosion have greatly narrowed this strip of land and the burial ground is at risk. Efforts to manage coastal erosion impacts at Louisbourg have prompted this long-term rescue excavation project and analysis of these burials.
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Rescue archaeology is a proactive means of protecting threatened archaeological sites before they are lost or the anticipated impacts cause damage. Parks Canada studies have determined where coastal heritage is at risk and which sites require rescue archaeology to protect our cultural heritage for future generations.
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The University of New Brunswick’s Department of Anthropology has a three-field program that focuses on the human experience past, present, and future and has been a foundational contributor to the Faculty of Arts for the past 50 years. As a part of this dynamic and exciting research project, UNB has established the Bioarchaeological Teaching and Research Laboratory that will provide essential analytical support for this significant project.
Associated Links
Contacts
Caitlin Workman
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
819-938-9436
Media Relations
Parks Canada
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca