Welqámex Archaeological Research Project
Canada
June 22 - August 2, 2008
Archaeology Canada Location
Accommodations
Field school accommodations will be at the Telte-Yet campsite where students will stay under the canopy of an old Douglas fir grove on the banks of the scenic Fraser River. Formerly the location of an historic Stó:lo village, the Telte-Yet is owned and operated by Chawathil First Nation, and the site features hot showers, laundry facilities, and a kitchen for preparing meals. Students are within a five-minute walk of cafés and modern-day conveniences in the small and charming town of Hope, British Columbia. In the summer, Hope is a crossroads for many travelers, and students will interact with an international community during their stay.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided by the project on workdays (Monday – Saturday). Cooking duties are shared, and lunches and dinners are communal. Students are responsible for their meals on Sundays.
Please let us know when you apply for this program if you have special dietary needs, as well as any medical or physical conditions. We will advise you accordingly.
Excursions
We will make at least two field trips to important archaeological sites in the upper Fraser Valley and lower Fraser Canyon regions of southern British Columbia. These include the large, fortified Late period village of Xelhálh, the island village of Lhilheltalets, and an earlier pithouse settlement at Sxwóxwiymelh. Another field trip will be led by a renowned Stó:lo heritage scholar and entails the slow navigation of a 20-kilometer stretch of the Fraser River. Students will learn how Stó:lo cosmology and social order were mapped onto natural features along the most intensively traveled water corridor in the region. This program has limited free time for independent sightseeing. Please consult with the faculty about independent travel during the program.
