The Role of Archaeology Louisbourg is a site of rare archaeological completeness: it is the only major colonial town in North America that did not have a modern city built on top of its 18th century foundations and structures. To date about one quarter of the original fortified town has been excavated. The remaining area has been left untouched so its archaeological heritage may be passed on to future generations. To many people archaeology is simply the excavation of buried objects. In reality; of course, there is much more involved than the removal of first the earth and then the artifacts. TThe following steps outline the role of archaeology in the reconstruction of 18th-century Louisbourg. The decision is made to reconstruct a particular building or fortification feature. A historian researches and then writes a report on that particular area. For most private dwellings there are no detailed building estimates or plans, so any information such as family size, references to doors, windows or interior partitions, etc.) which can be gleamed from documents is extremely important. An archaeologist reads the historical report and works out an approach as to how to excavate the site to solve the questions left unanswered in the historian's report. Site surveyed, photographed, divided into many sub sections (grid), trenches laid out, crew hired, equipment purchased. The sod is removed; top levels of soil scraped or shovelled away, depending on the circumstances. All aspects of the excavation are carefully recorded (drawn, noted, photographed, surveyed). The artifacts carefully collected, places of origin noted, sent to conservation if need be. When the excavation is complete, the archaeologist analyses the notes, photos, drawings, and artifacts, and writes a report. Archaeologist, historian, architect and others meet as a design team to discuss all the evidence (historical and archaeological). A design for the structure to be reconstructed is agreed upon. The years of archaeological excavations at Louisbourg are now over. But there is still an important role for the archaeologists in the project. The information from the excavations and the artifacts themselves need to be studied in depth because of the evidence they contain of a past culture. In fact, the artifact collection is to an archaeologist what the archives is to an historian. Analysis of the more than five million artifacts is just beginning. Such analysis is essential if we are to understand fully the material culture and varying lifestyles of the 18th century inhabitants of Louisbourg. Research on the artifacts, particularly on those which come from pre-1745 contexts, will tell us much about such things as the domestic routine of households, concepts of fashion and style, whether or not there were wide variations from one social or economic group to another. Working with historians and curators, archaeologists will help piece together as complete a picture as possible of life in colonial Louisbourg.
Facing North Left at the Flank.
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