Archaeology in Newfoundland and Labrador 1997
Edited by K. Nelmes
Burnside Heritage Foundation Incorporated, Activity Report for 1997 Economic Initiative*
Laurie McLean
Burnside Heritage Goals For 1997
Archaeological research is a vital component of Burnside Heritage Foundation (BHF) activities and also contributes to a dynamic tourist attraction by guaranteeing fresh new information to be passed on to tourists each year. Therefore small-scale excavations were conducted at the Charlie site, the biggest section of the Aboriginal quarry, as construction proceeded on the hiking trail.
At the Beaches site a 140′ long fence was to be erected along the edge of a cluster of Beothuk Indian mammateek (house) remains and a short boardwalk was to be built through these former structures in order to permit close perusal by tourists while minimizing accidental destruction of the former houses. Two birch bark covered mammateek replicas were also to be built outside these structural remains to help visitors envision what this former settlement looked like. Picnic tables were to be placed at the site, a toilet was to be replaced and a number of signs explaining the Beaches’ significance were to be painted and hung there. If time permitted, small-scale test excavations were to be undertaken in one of the former Beothuk Indian houses that has not been excavated to date.
This ambitious schedule (and more) might have been completed if the desired projects could have been started in late spring or early summer. The Burnside Interpretation Centre was opened by June 22, but the infrastructure activities did not begin until late July, and although work continued for 22 weeks until December 12, very poor autumn weather limited boat travel to Bloody Bay Cove and the Beaches. The results of the 1997 season are described in detail below.
Figure 1. Burnside Heritage Foundation, Inc.: Study Area
Impact of Bloody Bay Cove Trail on Archaeological Resources
Bloody Bay Cove (BBC) is an immensely rich archaeological area, predominantly concerning artifacts resulting from the primary stages of stone tool manuafacturing that occurred between 5000 and 300 years ago. The BBC hiking trail was built to facilitate the BHF’s long-term management of these cultural resources, incorporating archaeological research with public interpretation/access. The careful design and approach to manufacturing this trail, paying much attention to environmental concerns, are additional selling points that patrons of this sort of tourist attraction appreciate and are interested in supporting.
BBC’s archaeological remains are spread over 18 hectares and much remains to be learned about this quarry. The destruction of any part of this record would reduce our ability to decipher the 5000 years of human activity that are encapsulated there and subsequently impair the BHF tourism product. Excavation of post holes for the boardwalk and steps on either side of the Howard site produced a few chipped stone artifacts and stone flake byproducts resulting from making such objects. These artifacts were collected following procedures used in archaeological excavations and were catalogued accordingly. Their discovery served to expand the boundaries of the Howard site well beyond the three metre diameter it formerly presented within the stream bed. The discovery of artifacts underground on the steep slope north of the Howard site provided additional proof that the BHF path does follow an original Aboriginal route from the stream to the Charlie site.
Similarly, excavations of post holes for the boardwalk near the top of the Charlie steps also produced artifacts. Given the wealth of artifacts known to exist at the Charlie site, their presence was not as surprising as were the Howard site objects. However, in order to maintain the integrity of an archaeological site, all known artifacts must be accounted for so as to confirm the presence or absence of variations in form, material, location and other questions. Also, the new Charlie site steps will actually help protect this resource as visitors and workers will no longer have to walk directly on artifacts lying on the surface of the site.
Another positive impact of the Bloody Bay Cove construction projects was the opportunity for small-scale excavations to proceed simultaneously. One 1 x 1 m square was excavated in a previously untested part of the Charlie talus slope in 1997, yielding thousands of artifacts and stone chips. The location of many artifacts from deep in this square raises the possibility that people were removing stone from this cove previous to 5000 years ago which is the agreed upon date for the earliest human occupations of Bonavista Bay and insular Newfoundland. We know that Labrador has human occupations dating to almost 9000 years ago, but evidence that people lived in Newfoundland prior to 5000 years ago would be very important information.
Figure 2. Aerial Photo of Bloody Bay Cove.
| A | Location of BHF wharf |
| B | Location of first set of steps |
| C | Location of boardwalk |
| D | Location of Bridge over brook |
| E | Location of Howard site steps |
| F | Location of Charlie site steps |
| S | Archaeological sites |
| . . . | Hiking trail |
Conclusions
The BHF’s accomplishments bring it to a level of tourism development sufficient for marketing on the largest possible scale. The completion of the Bloody Bay Cove hiking trail will permit even relatively inexperienced outdoors people to enjoy the archaeological and natural qualities of this location. This trail is a key element in a network of facilities, including the Long Chute Lookout, the BHF Interpretation Centre and BHF wharves in Burnside, Bloody Bay Cove and the Beaches, that lead tourists along an increasingly detailed explanation of aspects of Newfoundland heritage. Finishing touches applied to the Long Chute Lookout in 1997 will enable tourists to obtain an informative introduction to the BHF tourism package and encourage them to visit the Burnside centre and subsequently participate in the archaeological boat tour.
A number of characteristics combine in offering a unique tourist experience at Burnside:
- Important archaeological sites, including the Beaches where human occupations have been radiocarbon dated to 5000 years ago, making it the oldest known archaeological site in Newfoundland. Information gathered from the Beaches and neighbouring sites, including the Bloody Bay Cove quarry, which is one of the largest Aboriginal quarries in the province, reveal some of the incentives that first resulted in people staying in this region and remaining until present times.
- The unspoiled natural environment of the BHF study area makes the boat tour attractive for people only marginally interested in archaeology and heritage-related issues.
- The BBC trail includes impressive woodworks over rugged terrain that many people will find interesting.
- The BHF’s environmental concerns, including protecting the natural environment while providing public access to unspoiled areas and building the 90 m long retaining wall at the Beaches to eliminate erosion of this important site, are activities that strongly appeal to the type of tourists expected to patronize the BHF.
- The BHF attempts to deliver quality public interpretation, including detailed discussions with their staff archaeologist and interpreters. The latter are are Eastport Peninsula residents, many of whom have been with the Foundation since 1994 and have a good grasp of culture-tourism issues, espectially as these relate to the BHF. Also, the use of local people as interpreters provides the opportunity for visitors to learn about life in traditional Newfoundland from its current residents.
Future BHF Activities
BHF tourism is a dynamic attraction whose message changes from year to year as new archaeological information is obtained. The Foundation’s ability to deliver this message has improved each year as required infrastructure was added in key areas. The Foundation plans to maintain this developmental course over the next few years through the following projects:
- Further archaeological excavations at the Beaches, the Bloody Bay Cove quarry and other archaeological sites.**
- Continued surveying of the coast and mainland around Burnside, verifying the presence or absence of archaeological sites at specific locations.**
- Extend the Beaches site retaining wall approximately 10 m to protect a section of the site where erosion continues.
- Build a number of mammateek replicas at the Beaches site.**
- Build a protective fence at the Beaches site.**
- Build a boardwalk to mammateek remains at the Beaches site.**
- Build a viewing platform on a high hill overlooking the Beaches site.**
- Build a visitors shelter in Bloody Bay Cove.
- Build a new interpretation centre in Burnside.
Notes:
* The present text is a much abbreviated version of the actual report submitted under the same title. Editor’s note.
**Planned for 1998.