Field School 2017

Excavating ‘The Pebble’: MUN Archaeology Field School in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, 2017

(Field School Poster: )

Field school site in Anse à Bertrand, St. Pierre et MiquelonThe Department of Archaeology’s 2017 field school will take place in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon located off the southwest coast of Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula.

This field school will take place just outside the city of Saint-Pierre, at Anse à Bertrand. This site was occupied between the 17th and 20th centuries, and according to historic maps several fishing buildings, potentially a chapel, and a fort were present in Anse à Bertrand. The 2017 excavations are the first to be undertaken on this site and should lead to a better understanding of the early occupation of the territory by European nations during the 17th and 18th centuries. The digs will also allow us to gain knowledge on Saint-Pierre's small fishing settlements located in Anse à Bertrand during the 19th and the 20th century.

This year’s field school will teach students a variety of skills crucial to the practice of archaeology including archival research, geophysics, survey, excavation, conservation and cataloguing.

Saint-Pierre et Miquelon offers a fantastic setting for a field school as participants will develop not only their archaeological skills, but they will also be immersed in an international context enhancing their intercultural competencies. Saint-Pierre et Miquelon is offering a “go abroad” experience, and it is close enough to Newfoundland to make it possible to keep this experience affordable.

Location: Anse à Bertrand (island of Saint-Pierre), Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Requisite Courses:

  • ARCH 3583 Archaeology Field School Orientation, on campus, Intercession 2017, May 8th to June 21st. This course takes place 2 times a week, each lecture lasts 3 hours (therefore class meets 6 hours each week). This course is a prerequisite for taking the field school.
  • ARCH 3585-3586 Archaeology Field School, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, Summer Term 2017, June 28th to August 9th. The class meets each day from 8am to 5pm. Over the course of the field school 2 weeks will be spent in St. John’s, the other 4 weeks will take place in Saint-Pierre (specific dates for the stay in Saint-Pierre are to be determined).

Contact info: Dr. Catherine Losier (closier@mun.ca)