University of Calgary Public Archaeology Program

It's been a busy week on site for our ARKY 306 students! Earlier this week we had a site visit from Siksika Elder Vivian Ayoungman and the opportunity to sit and listen to her teachings. Thank you Vivian for spending time with us!

We've also had some great finds, including field school student Jamie uncovering a complete Besant point!

Fun facts: Besant points were used with an atlatl (dart thrower) and represent the last use of this technology (ca. 2,100-1,500 years ago) prior to the introduction of the bow and arrow on the Canadian Plains.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Our ARKY 306 field school, a partnership with Calgary Parks, is in full swing! Working with and guided by Indigenous descendant communities, our archaeology field school provides foundational training for students moving into careers in archaeology alongside numerous public educational opportunities!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Archaeological Field School lets Calgarians dig into city's past Calgary's Archaeological Field School lets volunteers and students ...

In addition to welcoming our first PubArky participants today, two of our field school students, Sydney and Kaylen, found their first ever projectile point!

Fun facts: This projectile point is from a dart thrower or atlatl, and is a style known as Bracken, dating this occupation at the site between roughly 2,100 and 2,800 years ago.

It is made of obsidian (volcanic glass). Most obsidian from archaeological sites in Alberta can be sourced to quarries in Wyoming and Idaho.

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

That's a wrap on our first week for the ARKY 306 field school! We've spent time on campus and out and about, learning from Elders, practicing important archaeological field and lab skills, and beginning in a good way through ceremony.

Next week - things get dirty in the field!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Limited spots remaining!

Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary

Ever dreamed of cosplaying as Indiana Jones, minus the rope swings, b***y traps, and giant rolling boulders? Grab your shovel because this is your moment. The University of Calgary’s Public Archaeology Program is back for 2026 at Edworthy Park!

Soak up the scenery, learn how real life archaeology works, and dig in alongside actual scientists, don’t worry, no fedora required. 🏺🌿

Dig dates : May 21 – June 10
Location : Edworthy Park

How to register : email [email protected] (Limited spots available - 2 days max!)

Can you dig it???
(Spoiler: yes you can-- with supervision.)

More info: https://arts.ucalgary.ca/anthropology-archaeology/about/community-engagement/public-archaeology-program

This Giving Day, help us to tell the diverse stories of the prairie's past by contributing to the Black (Prairie) Heritage Fund. Best of all, your donation goes further on Giving Day, with all gifts matched for double the impact. This project supports community-led research in Western Canada to highlight Black communities whose histories are often overlooked and will allow us to continue this work into the future.

For the past two years, our team has had the privilege of working with Cheryl Foggo and other community members to complete archaeological work at John Ware's Millarville homestead. This year, we will head back to the Ware homestead and will also explore future research opportunities near Maidstone, Saskatchewan. The impacts of this work for communities are clear - By preserving Black heritage sites and sharing their stories, archaeology helps create a more inclusive history.

Giving Day 2026 Be a part of UCalgary Giving Day, April 9-23! Empower students, drive life-saving research and more.

It's Giving Day! There are many ways to support - one through the Indigenous Archaeology Field School Fund! Through this program, we are able to hire and train Indigenous Youth in archaeological field and lab methods, setting them up for employment in heritage and increasing capacity within communities for this type of work.

Your donation goes straight to supporting these Indigenous youth as wages while they complete the program. Donate today at the link below - there are multiple opportunities for matching funding through UCalgary. Make your dollar go the extra mile!

Giving Day 2026 Be a part of UCalgary Giving Day, April 9-23! Empower students, drive life-saving research and more.

If you believe (like we do) that it's not a good day if you don't get dirty, perhaps you should try archaeology! We are excited to welcome Public Archaeology Program participants to excavate alongside our field school from May 21 to June 10 in Calgary Parks Edworthy Park.

For more information and to register, reach out to [email protected] (we hope to see you there)!

https://arts.ucalgary.ca/anthropology-archaeology/about/community-engagement/public-archaeology-program

Where are all the archaeologists? Writing in The Conversation Canada, Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer (UCalgary), Dr. Kenneth Holyoke (ULethbridge) and Dr. Matthew Munro (UCalgary) argue that a labour market shortage identified in the CRM industry is a market need which must be filled to ensure timely assessment and regulatory approval of development projects, as the CRM workforce is needed to complete "nation-building” infrastructure projects.

Canada has too few professional archeologists, and that has economic consequences Protecting heritage in Canada requires training more archeologists and equipping them with the tools and education to do so.

In a newly published open access article in Advances in Archaeological Practice, Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer (UCalgary), Dr. Ken Holyoke (ULethbridge) and Dr. Matt Munro (Stantec/UCalgary) examine the Canadian CRM industry to determine the size of the industry and available labour pool and highlight the challenges faced within the industry that must be addressed for CRM in Canada to attract and retain professional archaeologists.

Check it out here!

Contemporary Cultural Resource Management in Canada: Labor Market Dynamics and Challenges | Advances in Archaeological Practice | Cambridge Core Contemporary Cultural Resource Management in Canada: Labor Market Dynamics and Challenges