SECTION II - 1997 EXCAVATIONS OF THE LAVASE SITES:
CbGu-1 AND CbGu-5

2.0 THE 1992 and 1997 ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS

Michael Barnes and John Pollock

2.1 1992 UNDERWATER MIDDEN AT LA VASE/BOTHWELL ISLAND, CbGu-5

Present day La Vase/Bothwell Island was once attached to the mainland and formed part of the south bank of the river. Historically high water levels (due to the Chaudière Dam on the French River) have covered a cultural layer/underwater midden located off the northeastern point of Bothwell Island. Artifacts recovered from the initial 1992 testing undertaken on the underwater midden, as well as general surface collections from previous years at the North Bank Site (CbGu-1) have been included with this site report. to provide a complete record of all archaeological activities at the two sites undertaken by Settlement Surveys Ltd (John Pollock). These artifacts were collected by Dr. John Pollock and Peter Bullock as part of the Parks Creek Watershed study undertaken for the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.

Following up on successful excavation seasons undertaken by Archaeological Services Incorporated (1995) and Laurentian University (1996), the 1997 investigations aimed to provide further details with regard to the history and prehistory of the sites previous occupants and details regarding the LaRonde Post. This was accomplished through the 1997 La Vase Heritage Project, funded by the HRDC and sponsored by the Corporation of the City of North Bay. Settlement Surveys Ltd, an heritage resource consulting firm, was awarded the contract for the archaeological supervision and scientific research component of the project which included a public archaeology orientation and historic research by other non-archaeological project staff (see below).

2.2 1997 PROJECT DETAILS

Excavations took place during the months of June through October, 1997. Project personnel included site supervisor Dr. John Pollock, Archaeological coordinator Mike Barnes, and Historical researchers/programmers Cheryl Hollidge, Tammy Lott, Beverly Cunningham,

David Woolven, and Wendy Thorne. All researchers/programmers were involved in both archaeological excavations and educating the public in archaeology and in site history and prehistory. Since the La Vase North Bank archaeological site was located in an urban setting, the public archaeology component of the project was important.

As previously mentioned, one of the LaVase Heritage Project's goals was to inform and educate the public on various topics. This information was relayed through public education programs, volunteer excavations, and on-site tours of the La Vase North Bank site in Champlain Park, North Bay. Each member of the project staff was able to focus on his or her specialized areas of expertise. Public participants had the opportunity to learn about specific fields of study such as those listed below.

• Ecology
• Archaeology
• Geography
• Geology
• Aboriginal lifestyles, such as ceramic design and flint-knapping
• European and Aboriginal Folklore
• Early travel and trade patterns

Through the above activities and programs, the 1997 La Vase Heritage Project Staff interacted with over 1,750 interested persons, including casual tourists and "passers-by". Interested parties participated through pre-arranged visits for school classes (from grade school to university classes) as well as local Senior Citizen groups, Adult Learning Facilities and other Clubs. "Passers-by" included many city and area residents that visited the Champlain Park for recreational purposes.

2.3 RESEARCH GOALS AND QUESTIONS

The main goal of the 1997 LaVase Heritage Project project was to provide for the systematic recovery and recording of artifacts and features at two sites (CbGu-1 and CbGu-5).

Below is a list of some broad scientific and cultural questions that were addressed by the 1997 excavations:

• What is the age and cultural affiliation of each site?
• What new information was gathered in 1997 in regards to cultural occupations (components) at the two sites?
• Were any new details obtained pertaining to vertical or horizontal stratigraphy?
• Did the 1997 excavations reveal any special activity areas and features, e.g. lithic workshops, hearths, food preparation (e.g. fish drying racks) areas?
• Do the 1997 faunal remains indicate the season of the year for site occupation?
• Do any of the artifacts recovered in 1997 indicate trade or cultural contacts with other groups?
• What is the artifactual evidence for the dating of the La Ronde Post?
• What are the areas of the North Bank Site that are least disturbed and suitable for further excavations?

2.4 EXCAVATION METHODOLOGY

The methodology for the 1997 excavation at the North Bank Site (CbGu-1) was the responsibility of Dr. John Pollock and Michael Barnes. The main objective was to "fill in the gaps" of previous archaeological work over the three previous seasons. Past digs had centered around the historical monument, with a random placement of excavation units producing a checkerboard pattern. By "filling in the gaps", the 1997 excavations produced a solid twenty-four square metre floor plan, excavating the units by-passed by previous excavations. Essentially this "total picture" approach helped identify various features such as hearths, débitage pits, post-mould holes, and other significant areas of interest and/or activity.

Due to high levels of disturbance from construction and earth-fill activity in Champlain Park, cultural layers and feature areas were difficult to follow due to numerous variables disturbing the site (see "Site Preservation"). Thus, in order to get a direction for future excavations, we placed two test squares (487/190 and 487/186) just south west of the monument, as this area had been relatively untested. These were outside our block excavation area (see Figures 2 and 4).

Excavation strategy at the La Vase/Bothwell Island site (CbGu-5) was also prepared by Dr. John Pollock and Michael Barnes, in collaboration with Dr. Patrick Julig of Laurentian University. The general consensus was to rely on results of past excavations of the site resulting in the selection of four units with high artifact potential. Furthermore, units were chosen to test the extension of possible La Ronde Post wooden structures which were originally discovered by Laurentian University during the 1996 excavations.

In order to confirm the location of the La Ronde Trading Post on the island, we decided to further test Laurentian University's proposal regarding the Post's placement on the island. We used the following information:

1. ASI's discovery of a large amount of daub in unit 313/400 and 313/404 which was believed to be the remnants of a chimney.
2. Laurentian University's discovery of a squared timber in unit 312/398
3. Laurentian University's magnetometer survey results which indicated a rectangular structure north of the modern Bothwell Cottage (see Figures 3 and 4).

2.5 ARTIFACT RECOVERIES CbGu-1 and CbGu-5

The following table lists all of the 1997 artifacts recovered as well as the artifacts collected by J. Pollock and P. Bullock during initial site testing at CbGu-5 prior to the 1997 excavations.

Table 1. Artifact Recoveries, La Vase River Sites CbGu-1 and CbGu-5.

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