The Archaeology of 1858 in the Fraser Canyon

Abstract

The events of 1858 led to the formation of the mainland colony of British Columbia, and have had a lasting impact on the trajectory of the province into current times.  Archaeology has the potential to examine histories when the written record is incomplete, biased, or both, and is especially powerful when combined or contrasted with primary source material.  Archaeological investigations at Lake House, Kopchitchin, a CMT site (DkRi-74), and Tuckkwiowhum in the Fraser Canyon have produced direct physical evidence of the gold rush and war of 1858, information related to ideology, food habits, and military tactics of the miners, and evidence related to Nlaka'pamux resiliance following the incursion of first the gold rushers and then the colonial governments of Canada and British Columbia.