by Britney Weber
There is an archaeological site only a few kilometres west of Brandon. Named the Stott Site, it is a place where Indigenous people have lived and hunted since around 800 A.D., long before Europeans arrived in this area. Stone tools, animal bones, and pottery sherds, among other objects, have been recovered at the site and demonstrate the diversity of activities that once took place.
Blackduck pottery, like that shown above, was commonly decorated with cord-wrapped tool impressions and punctates (holes). Can you see the details in these pieces?
Hunting bison using the “jump” you can see above was an important and efficient way of obtaining large amounts of food on the prairies.
There is much to be learned on a visit to Grand Valley Recreational Park, and anyone can visit the Stott Site there. It is protected by provincial legislation and the Ross family who currently operate the park’s campground.