Introduction
Information on archaeological materials in this locale first came to the attention of Dr. Nicholson through Doug Jackson, a local artifact collector from Souris. Doug had observed archaeological materials that included bone, ceramics and lithic material that had been exposed by municipal road building activity, northwest of Lauder Manitoba
Environment
The Makotchi-Ded Dontipi locale is located among stabilized sand dunes in the Lauder Sandhills in Southwestern Manitoba, northwest of the village of Lauder. The area is a mosaic of medium grass prairie and copses of aspen poplar and aspen-oak, together with intermittent sedge grass marshes and small ponds. These wetlands are bordered with balsam poplar, water birch, willows and red osier dogwood.
The well-drained upland forest also contains saskatoon, chokecherry, wild current, hazelnut bushes and occasional wild plums. Lowland areas have nannyberries and high-bush cranberry. Wild strawberries grow in lightly shaded areas along trail margins and in open patches in aspen forest.
History of Excavations
The Makotchi-Ded Dontipi locale is a virtual "island" of forest and marshlands in a vast expanse of mixed grass prairie. This archaeologically and environmentally rich area was given the Dakota name Makotchi-Ded Dontipi, meaning "the place where we live".
Summation
Prior to European settlement, the area was a rich environment for hunter-gatherer people. Archaeological investigations from 1992 to 2002 have revealed numerous sites within the locale. Some of these sites have been extensively excavated while others have been identified or tested.
Seven sites that have been identified in this locale range in age from the historic through protohistoric periods and extend into the middle precontact period. The major sites are the initial Middle Missouri Duthie site, the late precontact Jackson, Bradshaw sites and the protohistoric Twin Fawns, Schuddemat and Hollow B sites. The multi-component Vera site includes historic Métis, late precontact Vickers Focus, and middle precontact Besant, Pelican Lake, McKean Complex and Oxbow occupations. Over 230 units were excavated as well as numerous test pits and several extensive surveys.
Scope and Content
Scope and Content
The Series has been divided into seven sub-series, including (1) Duthie site (2) Jackson site (3) Twin Fawns site (4) Vera site (5) Schuddemat site (6) Bradshaw site (7) Hollow B site.
The Duthie site is the first site identified in the Makotchi-Ded Dontipi locale. It was reported to Dr. Bev Nicholson by Doug Jackson, a local collector who had observed archaeological materials that had been exposed during the construction of Maple Hill Road northwest of Lauder. The site is named after the landowner, Randy Duthie.
The initial inspection of the exposed materials indicated that the eastern half of the site had been severely impacted by raising a road grade using an elevating grader. However, an undetermined amount of the site remained to the west, flanked by a low sand dune. Testing and preliminary excavations were conducted in 1992-93. In 1994 a field school added to the excavated sample. The undisturbed portion of the site, west of Maple Hill Road was situated at the base of a low sand dune and had an aspen and willow forest cover. The water table was approximately one meter below surface at the time of excavation. A rising water table has since prevented further excavations.
Two dates on bone collagen were obtained during excavations. These were 880+/-80 B.P. (Beta 62705) and 970+/-40 B.P. cal. 1030 A.D. (TO 13366). These dates are consistent with an Initial Middle Missouri cultural assignment. The site occupation is identified by the distinctive ceramics found there. Ceramics at the Duthie Site are tool impressed with incising and lip modeling with fabric impressions on most vessels. Jill Taylor analysed the ceramics from the site for a Specialist thesis, Brandon University (1994) and a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan. (Taylor 1995).
Analysis of residue from Duthie site pottery by Matthew Boyd recovered corn (Zea mays) phytoliths and bean (Phaseolus sp.) starch grains indicating consumption of these domesticates at the Duthie site. (Boyd 2006)
The occupation of this site indicates a migration of people from the south who were well acquainted with horticultural farming. These people had previously migrated to South Dakota following river valleys into the central plains from the eastern woodlands during late Hopewell times. It appears that they later migrated well to the north into southern Manitoba but there is no evidence that they remained there for more than a single year.
Boyd, M., C. Surette and B.A. Nicholson. 2006 Archaeobotanical Evidence of Prehistoric Maize (Zea mays) Consumption at the Northern Edge of the Great Plains. Journal of Archaeological Science 33: 1129-1140.
Taylor, J. 1994 An analysis of the ceramics recovered during 1992 and 1993 at the Precontact Duthie Site (DiMe-16). Specialist thesis, Brandon University.
Scope and Content
The Series has been divided into seven sub-series, including (1) Duthie site (2) Jackson site (3) Twin Fawns site (4) Vera site (5) Schuddemat site (6) Bradshaw site (7) Hollow B site.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was excavated in 2003 as Crepeele 3. Standard archaeological methods were used to excavate the units. Excavation units were initially numbered as units 10, 11, 12 & 13. These numbers have been changed on the catalogue to XU 110 – 113, due to duplication in 2005. Corresponding documents have been changed to reflect the amended excavation unit numbers, however the field journals may contain the initial numbers.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
Based on the recoveries at the Block H in 1988, further excavations took place in 1991. Nine excavation units were opened next to the previous excavations. Another 250 ceramic sherds were recovered in 1991. Nine vessels have been identified based on rim sherds. Vickers Focus and Woodland vessels have been identified and two vessels similar to Scattered Village Complex were recovered.
The lithic material assemblage is intermediate primarily KRF followed by local cherts. Two features, a hearth and a curvilinear arrangement of rock were recovered during the 1991 excavations.
The high numbers of ceramic fragments suggests a habitation area, rather than hunting or butchering behavior. However, the separation of occupations at the site is difficult to establish and there may be different uses of the site by successive occupations.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position; Field journals are daily records of recoveries, features and activities at the site; Site records include excavation level and unit summaries, feature sheets, profiles; sample records and maps; Artifact catalogues are lists and identifications of all artifacts recovered; Photographs are of excavation units, features, the landscape and personnel.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
Large scale excavations of two block sites took place in 1988 under the direction of Bev Nicholson with Brett Waddell as crew chief and Theresa Hill as assistant. Block H consisted of nine additional excavation units.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Margaret Menzies was born on July 30th, 1920, at a family farm located in Oakburn, Manitoba. She grew up on the family farm and attended school in both Oakburn and Shoal Lake. She married Donald Menzies on June 4th, 1941. Together they had four children. In 1959, the family moved to Brandon, Manitoba, where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Margaret Menzies was a longtime and active member of the International Toastmistress Club (ITC), and was also involved in the Consumers Association of Canada, Seniors for Seniors, as well as being a member of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Central United Church. Menzies did not graduate from high school in her early years, but managed to continue her education and receive a bachelor of arts degree from Brandon University at the age of 70.
Margaret Menzies passed away on June 9th, 2012.
Custodial History
Records in the collection were brought to the S.J McKee Archives on July 13, 2012, by Gerald Brown, on behalf of the family of Margaret Menzies.
Scope and Content
Collection contains of two scrapbooks created by Margaret Menzies. The scrapbooks contain various cards, itinerary's, and other documents associated with Menzies' membership in the International Toastmistress Club. The items in the scrapbooks date from the mid 1980's to the late 1990's.
Also included in the collection are four local history books. The first is a 100 year history of the town of Oakburn, Manitoba, from 1870 to 1970, published during celebrations of Manitoba's centenniary in 1970. Next is a book about the history of the town of Shoal Lake, Manitoba, which was published in 1959 on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the town of Shoal Lake in 1909. The last two books are the first and second volumes of Ripples on the Lake, which cover the history of the Shoal Lake municipality from 1884. The first volume covers the first 100 years of the history of the Shoal Lake region, being published in 1984. The second volume was published in 2007, covering the history of Shoal Lake since 1984, as well as including new information that was not published in the 1984 version of the book.
Finally, the collection contains one photograph of Margaret Menzies receiving her bachelor of arts degree from Peter Hordern, dean of arts of Brandon University.
Notes
Biographical information provided by obituary entry in the Brandon Sun, June 16, 2012. Description by Tyler Warren (October 2012).
Cover of Young School minute book is moderately damaged, but pages are in good condition with only minor water damage and a few ripped pages.
History / Biographical
Dorothy Cox (nee Frost) moved from Elm Creek to Justice in 1946 to work as a schoolteacher. In 1948, she married Laval Cox and together they had four children: Larry, Herd, Rosalie and Heather.
In 1949, Dorothy and Laval purchased Gibb Gillespie's PSV business and began hauling grain, cattle and agricultural equipment. Dorothy went back to teaching in 1959, first at Justice and then Elton Collegiate. After retiring from teaching in 1978, Dorothy started a greenhouse, which operated for 21 years.
All six members of the Cox family were active in community events and organizations. Dorothy was involved in establishing the baby band in 1951; her sons Larry and Herb were members. Along with Laval, Dorothy was a leader of the Cubs in 1955-1956 and again in 1958-1959. Laval was the leader of the local hockey club in 1958, and of a bible study group in 1960. Larry, Herb and Rosalie were avid skaters in 1960-64. Heather and Rosalie were enrolled in senior grades of Sunday school in 1970.
Custodial History
Records were collected by Dorothy Cox, a resident of Justice, over a number of years. She donated them to the McKee Archives on April 4, 2012.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of records related to the history of the Justice district. It includes a history of the Justice Church (1910-1970); minute and expense books for the Justice Hockey Club (1949-1966); a minute and expense book for Young Protestant School (1884-1898); a copy of the Justice 100th Anniversary community history (2009); and four color photographs of Justice Church.
Notes
History/Bio information taken from the content of the collection. Description by James Heaman (2012).
Ena Skafel has studied in Brandon and at the Banff School of Fine Arts under W.J. Phillips, W.G. Clyde, and W. Townsend. She has exhibited at the Brandon Allied Arts Center, the Brandon Library (sponsored by the Brandon Council of Women), Banff School of Fine Arts, Banff Traveling Exhibition, Canadian National Exhibition, Manitoba Society of Artists and at the Galerie Loujetsky, The Hague, Holland. (BU Art Catalogue, 1983).
Dimensions
54 X 69 cm
Size Overall
68.5 X 84 cm
Medium
oil
Condition
Paint loss in area TR 10cm X R 22cm, c.. 0.5cm in diameter. Grungy accretion stains in TL and middle of image. Paint cracks in middle and TM of image, which could be result of blow or pressure from the back of canvas.
Primary Support
canvas
Secondary Support
no backing board; frame - wood and plaster with gild
Inscriptions
Inscription: Presented to Brandon College by Mr. and Mrs. E. Fotheringham, October 1958.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
In 2007 the Brandon University Archaeology Field School was held at the Crepeele site in the Crepeele locale. Denise Ens instructed the school with Kate Decter & Jessica MacKenzie assistants.
Seventeen units were excavated XU30 - 46. Faunal (animal bone), lithics, fire cracked rock, diagnostic lithics and ceramics were recovered from the site. There are over 3050 records in the catalogue.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position; Field journalsare daily records of recoveries, features and activities at the site; Site records include excavation level and unit summaries, feature sheets, profiles; sample records and maps; Artifact catalogues are lists and identifications of all artifacts recovered; Photographs are of excavation units, features, the landscape and personnel.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2005 and 2007 the Brandon University Archaeology Field School was held at the Crepeele site in the Crepeele locale.
In 2008 a small crew returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated with faunal (animal bone), lithics, fire cracked rock, diagnostic lithics and ceramics recovered from the site. There are 455 records in the artifact catalogue.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
In 2007 the Brandon University Archaeology Field School was held at the Crepeele site in the Crepeele locale. Denise Ens instructed the school with Kate Decter & Jessica MacKenzie assistants.
Seventeen units were excavated XU30 - 46. Faunal (animal bone), lithics, fire cracked rock, diagnostic lithics and ceramics were recovered from the site. There are over 3050 records in the catalogue.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. In 2005 and 2007 the Brandon University Archaeology Field School was held at the Crepeele site in the Crepeele locale.
In 2008 a small crew returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated with faunal (animal bone), lithics, fire cracked rock, diagnostic lithics and ceramics recovered from the site. There are 455 records in the artifact catalogue.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position; Field journalsare daily records of recoveries, features and activities at the site; Site records include excavation level and unit summaries, feature sheets, profiles; sample records and maps; Artifact catalogues are lists and identifications of all artifacts recovered; Photographs are of excavation units, features, the landscape and personnel.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2008 a small crew under the direction of Bev Nicholson returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated. As well the Graham site 2008 was also excavated.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2008 a small crew under the direction of Bev Nicholson returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated. As well the Graham site 2008 was also excavated.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
In 2008 Brandon University Archaeology returned to the Crepeele locale to conduct further testing at the Graham and Crepeele sites. Four units (XU 47-49 & 53) were excavated at Graham 2008 in order to collect samples and add further data to previous excavations. The usual excavation methology was employed.
The small crew was directed by Bev Nicholson with Crew of Bill Foy, Andrew Lints & Kim Harrison
Recoveries included faunal (mostly bison), lithics and ceramics.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
In 2008 Brandon University Archaeology returned to the Crepeele locale to conduct further testing at the Graham and Crepeele sites. Four units (XU 47-49 & 53) were excavated at Graham 2008 in order to collect samples and add further data to previous excavations. The usual excavation methology was employed.
The small crew was directed by Bev Nicholson with Crew of Bill Foy, Andrew Lints & Kim Harrison
Recoveries included faunal (mostly bison), lithics and ceramics.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files.
History / Biographical
The Crepeele site was identified from the results of the Casselman survey and excavated in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In 2008 a small crew under the direction of Bev Nicholson returned to the site to gather further samples and verify profiles. Three units (XU 50, 51 and 52) were excavated. As well the Graham site 2008 was also excavated.
The field journals contain information about both the Crepeele and Graham sites 2008.
Scope and Content
Record of daily observations at the site including: excavation methods, items recovered, features, local environment and weather.
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
In 2007 the Brandon University Field School was held at both the Crepeele site in the Crepeele locale. Denise Ens instructed the school with Jessica McKenzie and Kate Decter as teaching assistants.
Seventeen units were excavated (XU3 - 46). Faunal (animal bone), lithics, fire cracked rock, diagnostic lithics and ceramics were recovered from the site.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position.
The Sarah site was chosen for excavation based on the results of the Casselman survey. The survey recovered significant amounts of faunal remains, some ceramics and lithics from the test pits. Excavations took place in 2003 at Crepeele West (Units 1-5) and Crepeele East (Units 6-9). The site was subsequently renamed the Sarah site DiMe-28. In 2004 another 9 units were excavated (Units 10-18).
Based on the recoveries it was determined that the Sarah site is a stratified site with woodland ceramics in the upper occupation and late woodland points in both of the upper occupations. These upper occupations produced abundant bison bone including foetal bone. The lower occupations produced less bone and no foetal bone, although absence of foetal bone in the lower occupations does not necessarily indicate a warm season occupation. This could be due to sample error or perthotaxic factors such as scavenging of the fragile bone by dogs or other carnivores.
The dates from the Sarah site include 550+/-40 B.P.; 1430+/-80 B.P; 2810+/-80 B.P.; 3120+/-130 B.P. The lower occupations did not yield any diagnostic materials although debitage was abundant. These occupations were most productive at the edge of the large sand dune at the southern edge of the excavations. It is assumed that the major portion of these occupations have been overridden by the dune in the past 3000 years. Heavy earthmoving equipment would be required to remove this overburden which limits the possibility of future excavation.
Environment
The Sarah site is a large area located at the eastern end of the Crepeele locale. Ground cover is a mosaic of aspen poplar groves and patches of mesic grass prairie. Excavation profiles indicate that this has been the situation since early precontact times, although as local climatic conditions change (primarily rainfall), the relative size of these areas and where they may have occurred also changed. The soil is aeolian sand sheet derived from delta outwash deposits along the western edge of glacial Lake Hind. The present topography is a variable dune landscape reworked by aeolian activity that creates a mosaic of microhabitats. These include forested patches in the lee of sand dunes with grassland on the southern and western exposures and small damp lowlands that support balsam poplar, willows, red osier dogwood, high-bush cranberry and water birch. There is no permanent water source in the area although a small seasonal stream meanders through a damp lowland to the east of the Sarah site.
Scope and Content
Sub-series has been divided into sub sub series including: Sarah 2003 and Sarah 2004,
