A Survey Reconnaissance of Eagle Creek: Identifying Place Through the Archaeological Record

Abstract

The Stranraer Terrace is a large geographical landmark located along Eagle Creek in mid-western Saskatchewan. After the identification of the Herschel Petroglyphs (EjOc-3) in the 1960s, the area has undergone numerous small scale archaeological surveys and three excavations. To understand the use and significance of this landmark, a judgmental survey was conducted and the cultural history was established through artifact collections. From the survey 54 new sites were identified bringing the total number of sites within the region to 118. The artifacts identified through collections, excavations, and surface finds show the region has been utilized for several millennia; spanning a time period from at least the Middle Period to post-contact. Understanding the significance of a locale and its role within the cultural landscape first requires a discussion on the formation processes of place. Both wayfinding theory and ecological concepts of patch selection are the building blocks of this type of analysis. If a spot satisfies some biological or cultural need, then there is incentive to return and use the space. It is through this repetition of use, that the locale becomes more than a location on the landscape. It takes on the attributes of memory, meaning, and experience. It is a transformation from space to place. The presence of petroglyphs, alignments, Medicine Wheels, and other sites of special significance indicate the Stranraer Terrace to be one of these places.