Reflections and My Early Experiences
Revitalizing Wilfrid Jury’s Museum of Indian Archaeology and Pioneer Life – Phase 1
The first phase in revitalizing Wilfrid Jury’s museum involved changing reporting responsibility for the museum as a non-academic unit of The University of Western Ontario … With the appropriate research and exploration, we decided to establish the museum as a UWO research centre which would accomplish what we had learned through Professor Ames, in that it would be a separate company with its own charitable registration.
Wilfrid Jury’s Museum of Indian Archaeology and Pioneer Life in 1976
This was state of affairs at the museum at that time. I assumed the position of Executive Director in February 1976 and began the challenge of its revitalization as an archaeological research centre committed to field work, analysis, and reporting of sites in southwestern and southcentral Ontario. It was a daunting task, but one which was rewarding and productive for more than 20 years.
My Early Years at The University of Western Ontario
It was with this background knowledge that I took on the job to dig the Draper site, which was a vital component in the revitalization of Wilfrid’s Museum, in part because it demonstrated the ability of archaeology to continue to attract large contracts to the university. It is also part of the narrative in understanding how the opportunity arose for me to become Executive Director of the Museum without a university salary.
Our Lands Speak: Reflections on a Half-Century of Changes in Ontario Archaeology – Part Two
Happy New Year and welcome to part 2 of my reflections. I am especially grateful for the opportunity of time and resources to impart the vast information I’ve acquired working in this field for 50 years. As you might know, I strongly believe it is meant to be shared...
Our Lands Speak: Reflections on a Half-Century of Changes in Ontario Archaeology – Part One
This year marks the 50th anniversary of my beginning to excavate three archaeological sites for research for my Ph.D. dissertation and I have paused to reflect on the massive changes which have taken place in those 50 years when archaeological investigations were much...
OLS Reflections: Excavation of Armstrong Burial Mound, Rainy River, Ontario
Thanks for joining me again this week, as I share with you my discoveries around the excavation of burial mounds. Burial mounds are a unique burial practice of a few pre-contact Indigenous peoples in Ontario. These groups would bury their dead in, or under, mounds of...
OLS Reflections: Pukasaw Pit Underwater Archaeological Survey, Lake Superior
Welcome back. Here’s another walk down memory lane. You may recall in my previous post, I described Professor Roger Deane’s underwater geological survey from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island during the summer of 1965 in which I was one of the divers. Once we completed...
OLS Reflections: 1965 Underwater Geological Survey, Tobermory to Manitoulin
In this post, I’m pleased to share with you an excerpt from my unpublished memoir, continuing my exploration of underwater geology. Enjoy these reflections of the past. After testing our underwater survey techniques in Lake Superior and doing a recreational dive in...
OLS Reflections: Time Off from an Underwater Geological Survey in Northern Ontario
When I was a young man of 15, I became a NAUI certified scuba diver, which led me into underwater archaeology initially. As I got older, I became fascinated by the work of George Bass, exploring Bronze Age shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea. With my diving...
Our Lands Speak Reflections Blog Series: Fifty-four Years and Going Strong
July 2018 marks the beginning of my 54th year doing archaeology in Ontario. I have had an amazing career; and it is now time to reflect on my accomplishments and a handful of challenges facing Ontario archaeology. Highlights include: Working in the field as a student...