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Archaeology in Kingston and Eastern Ontario, Canada
People have inhabited the area that is now Kingston for thousands of years. The region was home to native groups as early as 7000 B.C.E., to French traders and soldiers during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, to British and British-American settlers in the eighteenth century, and finally to some of the major figures of early Canada in the nineteenth century. Each of these cultures left its mark on the land; their various legacies contribute significantly to the Kingston of today, and in no field are those legacies more conspicuous than in that of archaeology. Read more…
About Archaeology
Archaeology informs us not only of the so-called "antiquities", but also of human development, society, technology, art and ideas; it enhances our understanding of the past. Read more…
Education
The mandate of the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation focusses on education and research, and we have a strong commitment to providing educational programes for all ages and skill levels. Read more…
Cultural Resource Management
Archaeologists with the Foundation are fully licenced to practice in Ontario and have extensive experience in a wide range of consulting activities. Read more…
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CARF News…
New Facilities for the Kingston Archaeological Centre
March 9, 2009/ — The Kingston Archaeological Centre has moved to a new facility at 611 Princess Street. For details, please see the Kingston Archaeological Centre section of our website. Read More…
Job Opportunity: Archaeological Camp Counsellor
June 5, 2009/ — We are looking for a dynamic person with field school experience studying either Archaeology or Anthropology to fill the position of Archaeological Camp Counsellor with our summer excavation camp, "Can You Dig It?". You must have been a fulltime student in the previous semester and be intending to return to school in the fall to be eligible to apply. Full details are available here. Resumes should be forwarded to:
The Kingston Archaeological Centre
611 Princess St., Kingston, ON, K7L 1E1
Attention Hannah Roth
Archaeology Public Day 2009
March 11, 2009/ — We will be holding our annual Public Day on Wednesday, July 29 beginning at 1:30 pm. You are invited to Point Frederick, near the Memorial airplane along the Cataraqui River, to explore our excavation of the Naval Cottages. The excavation is part of Eastern Ontario's only archaeological camp, Can You Dig It?".
Meet both professional archaeologists and camp participants, and join them for fun archaeology-themed games and refreshments. This will be an excellent opportunity to ask our staff questions about archaeology, the camp, and about the history of a site that helped make Canada. Please contact us for more information.
The Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation Governance and Policies
May 5, 2009/ — We've recently made available for download our governance and policy documents. If you have any questions about our governance and policies, please contact us.
Community Memories: Lost Way of Life
December 1, 2008/ — One of the projects that the Foundation is involved in creating this season is an exhibit focusing on lost ways of life within the Kingston Community. The purpose of this project is to show lifestyles that are no longer visible in our community. This will not be shown in a continuum, rather as snapshots of time throughout nearly 300 years of Kingston history. There are five areas that will be shown, however the common thread of the exhibit is to show excavated artifacts that are no longer in use or no longer seen in everyday life in current times. Archaeology provides a second chance to see a lifestyle that has long since disappeared from the Kingston community. The project will also utilize photographs, maps and textual information, along with the excavated material to provide tangible evidence for the existence of people and their way of life.
The periods which will be focused upon include people and conventions from French and British soldiers at Fort Frontenac; the Mohawk matriarch Molly Brant (Koñwatsitsiaiéñni), known for her good works as a go between for the British and Iroquois, accomplished through her unique way of blending two cultures; the Fort Henry Garrison Hospital which will incorporate a medical perspective showcasing early medicine and medical practices which are vastly different than the way medicine is practiced today; the Naval Cottages which will illustrate early 19th century domestic lifestyle in Kingston at the Royal Navy Dockyard; and the final area will illustrate early commercial aspects of Kingston's Market Square.
This project has received financial support from the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) and will be available to visitors on the CHIN website as and on the Foundation's site as well. Expected completion is later this winter.
Susan Bazely Honoured by the OAS
December 7, 2007/ — Local archaeologist Sue Bazely's achievements over the past 25 years serving Kingston through public archaeology were honoured at the 2007 Ontario Archaeological Society's Symposium, in Kingston earlier this month. Bazely, executive director of the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation was the sole recipient of the 2007 Peggi Armstrong Award for Public Archaeology.
Heather Stronach, president of the Ottawa Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society, a province-wide organization dedicated to promoting archaeological knowledge and sponsor of the award, presented it to Bazely at the symposium's opening. Read More…
OAS Symposium 2007 a Great Success
November 7, 2007/ — Our thanks to everyone who attended OAS Symposium 2007, held in Kingston from November 2 to 4, 2007. Information about the Symposium that appeared on our website has been archived. Read More…
Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation Profile
December 21, 2006/ — We have published our foundation profile, and have made it available for download directly from this site (1 MB PDF).
Fields of Fire: Fortified Works of Kingston's Harbour
December 4, 2006/ — Available now is the Kingston edition of Ontario Archaeology, entitled Field's of Fire: Fortified Works of Kingston's Harbour. This soft cover publication has been guest edited by Foundation Executive Director Sue Bazely with contributions from area archaeologists. This journal goes to each member of the Ontario Archaeological Society, but we have additional copies of this landmark edition. Pick up your copy right here at the Centre or give us a call or send us an email about having a copy sent to you. Also available at Novel Idea and Fort Henry National Historic Site. It will make a great present at any time of the year but since there are only a limited number printed make sure to get your copy soon.
