The Parks Canada Pictograph Project:
New Technology and Archaeology
Presented by Brad Himour, Parks Canada
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 7:30pm
University of Calgary
Earth Sciences, room 443
Our AGM will follow the lecture. We will be serving cake in celebration of the Calgary Centre's 50th anniversary!
The event is free and open to the public.
Abstract: For the past two years, Parks Canada archaeologists from the Western and Northern Service Centre, Calgary have been engaged in an attempt to preserve First Nation pictographs in the region of Kootenay National Park. The project has two primary goals: first, it attempts to provide a permanent record of pictograph sites in the study area using digital photography. The raw digital images were then enhanced using a software program designed for rock art analysis to further illustrate pigment residues that are often invisible to the naked eye. This digital imaging and recording of the sites provides an inventory that will be kept on file by both Parks Canada and First Nation communities.
The second focus of the project is to record First Nation Traditional Knowledge concerning rock art sites in order to preserve the cultural meaning of the pictographs. This essential component in rock art research seeks to provide First Nation communities with the opportunity to speak for themselves in regards to their cultural history, rather than imposing only western scientific classifications. As such, it is a great privilege to have the opportunity to interview the Elders and learn about this sacred aspect of their culture. This presentation will summarize the results of the project, and illustrate the new software technology that made the project possible.