Harry Johnson (1937-2017)
I am sorry to report that our chapter's founding Treasurer and good friend Harry Johnson has passed away after an extended illness. Always known for his enthusiasm and good cheer, he will be missed. Our condolences go out to his wife, Carol, and his extended family. Details follow...

JOHNSON, Harry
Uxbridge Chapel

Peacefully at home with his family by his side, on Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at the age of 80. Beloved husband of Carol for over 58 years. Loving father of Diane, David (Alexandra) and foster dad to Ashley. Cherished Grampa of Kevin, Tyler and Casey. Harry was a dedicated volunteer in the community and was always willing to lend a hand to someone in need.

Funeral service will be held at the Low and Low Funeral Home, 23 Main Street South, Uxbridge (905-852-3073) on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 10am with visitation for one hour prior. A reception will follow on the lower level.

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On Tuesday Oct. 24 at 7:00 p.m. in Trent University’s DNA Building (Room B104), the Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society presents:

 In his presentation, Mr. Karcich will discuss the importance of the Chemong Portage and seven other trails in southern Ontario to the Indigenous people. He will explain how far back in the past they existed and for how long these portages were in use after the arrival of Europeans, as well as their contributions to our modern roadways.

 These topics are explored in Mr. Karcich’s new book, "The Legacy of Vanished Trails" and will be discussed at the October meeting of the POAS.  Copies of his book will be available at that time.  Mr. Karcich holds a provincial avocational archaeologist’s license and is the Director of Publications for the Ontario Archaeological Society.

 This presentation is part of the Peterborough Chapter’s regular Speakers Series, which is open to the public at no charge, and conducted with the support of the City of Peterborough and the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre.  Light refreshments will be served.  For further information contact: Tom Mohr, chapter president, at mohr@utsc.utoronto.ca or Dirk Verhulst, chapter secretary at dverhulst@cogeco.ca.

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“Archaeological Society Commences New Speakers Series at Trent University”

Above: Prof. William Fox (standing left) and Dr. James Conolly (standing right)

 Members of the public are invited to attend the Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society’s first public meeting of the 2017-8 season on Tuesday, September 26th, 2017 at 7:00 pm in Trent University’s DNA Building, Room B104. (Please note the new location)

 The presentation will feature two archaeologists from Trent University, Dr. James Conolly and Professor William Fox; both Peterborough Chapter members, who recently spoke at the Canadian Archaeological Association’s 50^th Annual Meeting.

 Dr. Conolly will provide new insights into how archaeologists gather and process the data used to establish local archaeological timelines.   

“Our recent work,” said Dr. Conolly,  “examines the fit between 'best guess' estimates of the temporal ranges of the commonly used cultural phases used for Ontario's archaeological record, such as ‘Broadpoint Archaic’ or ‘Early Woodland,’ against absolute dates derived from radiocarbon analysis. The presentation will review the challenges of obtaining and working with this type of data and suggest where some revisions to the best-guess estimates are warranted.”

 Prof. Fox will discuss the changing role of non-professionals in Ontario Archaeology.

 “The investigation of Indigenous and European archaeological sites in what is now the Province of Ontario spans a period of nearly two centuries,” said Prof. Fox.  “While much of the earliest work involved ‘digging for curiosities,’ establishment of the Canadian Institute in 1849 resulted in a more scientific pursuit of knowledge. With the creation of a Provincial archaeologist and the staffing of academic positions, the professional and avocational/collector branches of archaeological activity split in the latter decades of the 19th century; however, both remained active. My part of the presentation will explore how the interplay between them strengthened the still nascent professional branch during the early 20th century, leading to the increased professionalization of the discipline in the second half of the century.”

The evening is part of Peterborough Chapter’s regular Speakers Series, which is open to the public at no charge, and conducted with the support of the City of Peterborough and the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre. Light refreshments will be served. Please note map below for the location of this presentation.

For further information contact:

Tom Mohr, chapter president, at mohr@utsc.utoronto.ca or Dirk Verhulst, chapter secretary at dverhulst@cogeco.ca.

Archaeology Group Looks at Life in Medieval Cambodia

The Peterborough Chapter of the Ontario Archaeological Society (POAS) is pleased to present Ms Sophie Goldberg with a discussion entitled: “Swamps, Suburbs and Sprawl: Exploring the Urban Demography of Angkor, Medieval Cambodia” on the evening of Tuesday, May 23^rd, at 7:00 pm in Room 106 at Gzowski College, Trent University.

When the archaeology of the S.E. Asian country of Cambodia is invoked, most people’s thoughts immediately go to images of the enormous temple complex called Angkor Wat. It has been cited as the world’s largest religious monument. However, it was only a part of the city of Angkor, the capital city of the Khmer state, which flourished from 802 to 1432 CE.

Our May speaker is a second year masters student in the Trent Anthropology program, whose thesis studies have taken her to the site of Angkor,  the “largest ‘dispersed,’ ‘low-density’ city in antiquity” to examine the ecology of this complex stratified society. Her goal was to gain knowledge about social forces required to build and maintain this city of some 750,000 people, and specifically, the role of public health in supporting food production. She further questions if lessons learned here can be applied to other complex, intensive agrarian societies around the world.

From Ms Goldberg:

“In the on-going conversation surrounding Angkor’s settlement archaeology, there has been a call to better understand the lifeways of the agriculturists and other food producers that made up eighty percent of this city’s population--from independent enclaves of rice farmers who largely controlled their own daily affairs, to the fishermen and foragers of forest products, and the bondspeople who were beholden to individual temples or the ruling families---rather than the small segment (less than five percent) of the royal elite and aristocracy that have garnered the greatest amount of scholarly attention. My thesis, and this presentation, examines one particularly understudied topic: the role of health and disease patterns of these different communities within the capital city of Angkor, and what it meant for the resilience, or sustainability, of the state.”

This evening is part of POAS monthly Speakers Series, which is open to the public at no charge, and conducted with the support of the City of Peterborough and the Trent University Archaeological Research Centre. Light refreshments will be served. For further information contact: Tom Mohr, chapter president, at mohr@utsc.utoronto.ca or Dirk Verhulst, chapter secretary at dverhulst@cogeco.ca.