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GREAT FIND ON P.E.I.
© Guardian photo by Jim Day //// Helen Kristmanson, provincial director of
aboriginal affairs and archeology, says her exhibit called Digging into the
Past: An Archaeological Discovery in Malpeque Bay, is designed to give people “a
window into the archaeological process.”
Archaeological discoveries provide glimpse into province's Acadian
history
The
find was tiny, but precious.
A
turquoise glass bead inscribed with the capital letters IHS — the Greek
Catholic monogram of the name Jesus Christ.
Along
with the bead, four broken slivers from a reliquary pendant that are the size
and shape of fingernail clippings now lie on a black cloth in a display case.
Helen
Kristmanson calls the piece extraordinary. She holds it among the most
cherished items unearthed in her big dig.
The
person who owned it, she notes, would have been very disappointed to let it
slip through her fingers.
“It
has obviously such personal meaning for whoever lost it,'' she says. “I suspect
this fell between the floor boards in the house.''
Many
items were unearthed from the remnant homestead — a small rectangular house
with an oven fireplace — that was home to the pendant for hundreds of years.
Kristmanson,
the provincial director of Aboriginal Affairs and Archaeology, marvels over
many of the personal belongings and objects associated with an Acadian family
that settled in Malpeque Bay in the early to mid-18th century.
She
and her team dug up more than 20,000 artifacts during archaeological
investigations conducted between 2008 and 2011 at Pointe-aux-Vieux, a
pre-Deportation Acadian site near Port Hill. Among her favourite finds are
little straight pins used in sewing.
A
“wow factor'' discovery is the gun plate that has the outline of an owl with
Goddess Athena on its chest. The item, likely a decorative plate, was found
right at the bottom of the site.
“A
really exciting piece,'' Kristmanson enthuses.
Another
interesting discovery — there was no shortage, for sure — is a lead seal. Two
discs are fused by a strip in the middle and used to clamp onto a bolt of
fabric with a rampant lion carved on one side and cryptic symbols appearing on
the other.
Collectively,
the dig has brought to the surface an informative and intriguing glimpse into
Acadian history on Prince Edward Island.
“It
was an extraordinary dig,'' says Kristmanson.
“I
think that this site will make a valuable contribution to our knowledge of
pre-deportation Acadian life in Prince Edward Island.''
She
believes one of the key messages that comes out of the archaeological record of
the site is that the pre-deportation Acadians in P.E.I. enjoyed a comfortable
life.
“Their
diet was varied,'' she notes.
“They
had access to utilitarian goods, some luxury items. So they were doing well
there.''
A
rich faunal assemblage was unearthed at the site.
The
thousands and thousands of animal bones dug up and dusted off speak to the
hearty Acadian diet.
They
were keeping livestock such as cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and goat. They
supplemented their diet with game like showshoe hare. They also ate shellfish,
shorebirds and other birds.
Many
of the animal bones are on display along with numerous other artifacts from the
dig.
Called
Digging into the Past: An Archaeological Discovery in Malpeque Bay, the display
officially opened earlier this summer at the Acadian Museum in Miscouche.
The
exhibition displays the 18th century artifacts, interpretive panels and
interactive stations to immerse visitors in this important period of Island
history.
The
public's response to the exhibit to date has, for Kristmanson, been quite
heartwarming.
“It's
been overwhelmingly positive,'' she says.
“The
project has received such support from the Acadian community.''
One
woman from Massachusetts, who is actively involved in genealogy, told
Kristmanson that the exhibit was life-changing and a highlight of her trip to
P.E.I.
When
the exhibit closes in January, the artifacts will be accessioned into the
P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Collection.
Kristmanson
hopes to publish on her findings within the next six months.
For
now, the exhibit is one way of sharing her findings with the public.
“This
site has been a very, very special site for me — it's quite a magical place,''
she says of the dig at Pointe-aux-Vieux, which is now designated as a protected
site under the Archeology Act.
“This
work feels so worthwhile,'' she adds
“People
appreciate learning about their past. They appreciate learning about their
history.''
AT A GLANCE
Fast facts
Viewing
hours: The exhibition Digging into the Past: An Archaeological Discovery in
Malpeque Bay will be on display at the Acadian Museum in Miscouche until
January. The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more
information, call 902-432-2880.
About
the dig site: The Malpeque settlement was founded in 1728 by Pierre Arsenault
II, his adult son Charles, and their companion Jean Lambert. Over a period of
30 years, other Acadian families arrived, working together to build a
community. By 1752, the Malpeque settlement had grown to include over 32
households and over 200 people.
Project
support: The exhibition was sponsored by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage
Foundation with the collaboration of the Association of the Acadian Museum.
Major funding was provided by P.E.I. 2014 Inc. with a contribution by Canadian
Heritage as well as donations by several Islanders.
Thanks for posting this! The exhibit is truly top notch!
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