11,000-Year-Old Settlement in Canada Challenges Indigenous History

A newly uncovered website in Saskatchewan, estimated to be 11,000 years outdated, is altering views on early Indigenous civilisations in North America. The website, named Âsowanânihk, which means “a spot to cross” in Cree, has been discovered throughout the Sturgeon Lake First Nation (SLFN) territory. Discoveries on the website recommend the presence of a long-term, organised settlement reasonably than a brief encampment. Stone instruments, firepits, and bison stays have been recognized, indicating steady human occupation. The settlement’s significance lies within the proof of sustained habitation, contradicting earlier notions of early Indigenous teams being primarily nomadic.

Evidence Points to Long-Term Occupation

According to a study carried out by researchers on the University of Saskatchewan, charcoal from a fire throughout the settlement has been radiocarbon-dated to roughly 10,700 years in the past. Archaeologist Glenn Stuart, who’s concerned within the analysis, stated in an e-mail to Live Science that folks settled on this location as quickly because it grew to become liveable following the final ice age. Findings point out that ancestral First Nations communities lived within the area west of Prince Albert for 1000’s of years. The excavation has revealed a considerable firepit, suggesting that the location was revisited and occupied a number of occasions over an prolonged interval.

Cultural and Historical Impact

SLFN Chief Christine Longjohn emphasised the historic and cultural significance of the invention, stating that the location serves as tangible proof of Indigenous presence and resilience within the area. As reported, the location is being studied collaboratively by archaeologists and the Âsowanânihk Council, which includes Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and educators. The council is actively working with stakeholders to make sure the safety of the location, which was initially found because of erosion alongside a riverbank. Concerns have been raised about potential threats posed by ongoing logging actions within the space, prompting efforts to protect this traditionally vital location.