Exploring Indigenous Involvement in the Fur Trade at the Bridge River Pithouse Village, British Columbia

Author

Rebekah Jean EngellandFollow

Year of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Anthropology (Cultural Heritage Option)

Department or School/College

Anthropology

Committee Chair

Dr. Anna Prentiss

Commitee Members

Dr. Cheyenne Laue, Dr. Dave Beck

Keywords

fur trade, indigenous, fire-cracked rock, British Columbia, archaeology

Publisher

University of Montana

Subject Categories

Anthropology | Archaeological Anthropology

Abstract

Much research has been done on the Fur Trade period occupation of Housepit 54 at the Bridge River site. This thesis investigates the cause of resource intensification seen in the increase in projectile points, faunal remains, hide scrapers, and fire-cracked rock (FCR). In order to determine the impetus of this change, I compare the fracture patterns of FCR, the size of FCR, the densities of FCR, deer NISP, and slate scrapers, and the population estimate from the fur trade floor and roof to the last floor and roof of the previous occupation. This will determine whether the resource intensification was due to the occupants producing hides for trade or because they had to feed and clothe an extra-dense population. Through this study, we can observe how a hunter-gatherer-fisher household exercised their agency during the Fur Trade either through acting as procurement specialists or by choosing to focus singularly on internal needs.

Recommended Citation

Engelland, Rebekah Jean, "Exploring Indigenous Involvement in the Fur Trade at the Bridge River Pithouse Village, British Columbia" (2021). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11757.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11757