Archeological findings at CMHR digs revealed

A report recently released of the archaeological excavations conducted on the building site of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg indicates that more than 400,000 artifacts dating as far back as 1100 A.D. were recovered. The digs were conducted in two stages between 2008 and 2012 by Quaternary Consultants. The first stage was the largest block archaeological excavation ever conducted in Manitoba. The findings reveal important new evidence about the role of The Forks among early inhabitants. Among the significant findings were 191 hearths, which suggest long-term seasonal habitation, raising questions about the interpretation of the role of The Forks as simply a stopping and trading place; five completely new and previously unseen types of ceramic pottery, which suggests different groups from a wide geographic area met at The Forks to interact, trade, form alliances and marry; presence of maize and bean residues on ceramics, scapula hoe fragments and squash knives, supporting theories that farming took place along the Red River; and high concentration of sacred material, which suggests The Forks was a site for peaceful meetings. There is no evidence the site was ever a burial ground. The total cost of the CMHR archaeological excavations was approximately $1 million. Artifacts from the 2008 Quaternary dig now reside with the Historic Resources Branch, Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism.