Archaeology and Plants

Course description

Plants are fundamental to the food systems, and technologies, used by First Nations in BC in archaeological contexts. In this session, you will learn about perishable technology, which includes things like animal hair weaving, leather items and many plant-based items such as wooden arrows and cedar clothing. We will explore how plant-derived items and living plants themselves provide evidence of past human lifeways on the landscape. We will also look at the shaping and creation of landscapes by humans and investigate why plant technologies are often overlooked in archaeological investigations, and how this can be compensated for when analyzing data.