Tse’k’wa (“Stone House” in Dane-Zaa) located in Charlie Lake, north of Fort St John is the oldest known archaeological site in the interior of the province, and it is a designated National Historic Site. Also known as Charlie Lake Cave, the site was excavated by Simon Fraser University during the 1980s and 1990s. That research revealed a 12,500 year history of Indigenous use of the area, along with evidence for changes in environment and resources. At the invitation of the Tse’k’wa Heritage Society the UNBC Archaeology Field School has been working at the site since 2022, with a focus on exploring the subsurface area away from the cave. This presentation summarises the work and findings from the combined projects, and illustrates the importance of this site, and of the deep Indigenous history of the province.
Contact Information
- Website: www.unbc.ca/anthropology
