Social identity in historic Fish Creek: An archaeological investigation

This study is an archaeological examination into social identity in an historic settlement context. Focussing on two Calgary homestead sites first settled in the late nineteenth century, the research concentrates on discerning facets of past social identities from the material remains of daily activities. Architecture is included in this study along with excavated materials that have been categorized according to function. From functionality a recreation of past activities and lifestyles has been realized. And from these behaviours, working under a postprocessual framework, a more comprehensive understanding of ethnicity and gender roles, coupled with better detail of the socioeconomic status of those living and working on these two farms, has been gained. The field and laboratory component of the research were largely performed by avocationals through the Programme for Public Archaeology, which worked to draw connections between past and present and fostered a sense of community within this western Canadian city.