Obsidian artifacts unearthed in Alberta offer new clues on prehistoric trade routes
Inky black shards of volcanic glass have been unearthed in Alberta, shedding light on the movements of Indigenous people across Western Canada centuries ago. These hand-carved arrowheads and jagged spears made of obsidian, a sharp rock formed by volcanic magma, are remnants of vast prehistoric trade networks that once spanned western North America. With no volcanic activity ever occurring in Alberta, each shard of obsidian found in the province had to be transported here from another location. Using X-ray technology, researchers are able to trace each piece back to its original source.
A recent paper examining artifacts discovered in Alberta’s eastern slopes has revealed that bison hunting in the southern foothills and a complex exchange network along the province’s northern rivers played a significant role in distributing these obsidian stones across the region. Archaeologist Timothy Allan, the author of the report, aimed to gain a better understanding of Alberta’s involvement in a vast Indigenous trade network that covered over three million square kilometers. The research indicates that a single piece of obsidian likely changed hands multiple times, highlighting the extensive nature of the trade network and the connections between millions of people.
The study suggests that communal bison hunts were a key factor driving the obsidian trade among prehistoric communities in southern Alberta and throughout the American Midwest. By unraveling the journeys of these obsidian artifacts, researchers can gain valuable insights into how people traversed the landscape and the intricate cultural relationships that shaped the continent centuries ago. Allan emphasized the importance of this research in contributing to the process of reconciliation by helping to tell the stories of Indigenous peoples.
The Alberta Obsidian Project, a collaborative effort involving researchers and archaeologists, has been instrumental in studying and cataloging more than 1,200 obsidian artifacts in the province over the past decade. These artifacts and the trade networks they represent date back to a period between 13,000 and 300 years ago, providing a glimpse into pre-European contact history. Obsidian’s unique properties, including its sharpness and distinct chemical signature, made it highly prized for tools and weapons by Indigenous peoples. Through X-ray fluorescence analysis, researchers can confirm the origins of each piece of obsidian, offering concrete evidence of long-distance exchanges in the past.
The data collected by the Alberta Obsidian Project indicates that Alberta served as the northern boundary of a vast trade network that extended across the American Midwest as far south as Texas and as far north as Fort McMurray, Alberta. The majority of obsidian specimens found in Alberta originated from sites such as Bear Gulch in Idaho and Obsidian Cliff in Yellowstone National Park, with additional sources in British Columbia. The research suggests that distinct trade routes existed, with natural boundaries like the North Saskatchewan River and the Red Deer River separating different networks.
People in northern Alberta were found to have stronger connections with tribes to the west, while those in the south were more closely linked with groups in the southern plains. The trade of obsidian in these regions was influenced by factors such as communal bison hunts and social networks shared by people living on the plains. The obsidian record in southern Alberta, sourced primarily from locations south of the border, reveals the significance of bison jumps in the distribution of these artifacts.
Todd Kristensen, a regional archaeologist, highlighted the importance of obsidian in understanding how Indigenous groups adapted to different ecological regions and shared resources. The obsidian artifacts serve as a portal into the past, offering valuable insights into prehistoric kinship connections and cultural significance among Indigenous peoples. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding of these relationships and the role of obsidian in shaping the history of Western Canada. By studying these artifacts, researchers can uncover the rich tapestry of human relationships and cultural ties that once spanned the continent.
