Diggity Site

GENERAL

Type / Purpose

Historical Indigenous campsite

Location

Diggity Cove, McAdam, New Brunswick

Description

The Diggity Site is a historical Indigenous campsite at the north bank of Diggity Stream in southwest New Brunswick. It is notable for being one of the few known aboriginal occupation sites in the province's interior. It contains several artifacts that belie information about the lives of the local Indigenous communities going back 2000 years.

Heritage Value

For over 2000 years, the north bank of Diggity Stream at its entrance to Spednic Lake was used as a winter camping spot by the Indigenous people in the area. In 1983, the Diggity Site along the bank was excavated. As most sites that had already been excavated were on the coast, the Diggity Site offered a lot of new revelations regarding the people that lived in the region, such as whether they lived in the province's interior year-round or if they migrated seasonally.

The site prominently contains a collection of animal bones. Notably, the majority of these bones come from beavers. It was believed by some Indigenous populations in northeastern Canada that if dogs were to chew on beaver bones, the beavers would be offended. Burning the bones would prevent dogs from chewing on them and had the additional effect of preventing acidic soils from eroding the bones. The prevalence of beaver bones thus suggests the inhabitants of this site shared this belief.

The site provides several other pieces of data as well. Many stone hide scrapers are located on the site, evidence that the processing of hides was an important part of the livelihoods of the people who lived there. Tiny charred seeds were found around the campfire hearths, suggesting that dried berries were an important part of the community's diet. Three pieces of pottery that appear to be from cooking pots were also found near one of the hearths and have had their internal residues tested to determine the ingredients added to them. In short, this site provided a significant amount of new and valuable insight into the cultural ecology and Indigenous history of southwestern New Brunswick.

Heritage Recognition

Historic Sites Protection Act – Historic (1990/12/13)

ARCHITECTURE

Character Defining Elements

- Location along Diggity Cove in southwest New Brunswick
- Role as a former Indigenous winter campsite
- Various artifacts relating to historical use as an Indigenous campsite, including:
- Presence of charred animal bones, with a significant percentage being beaver bones
- Charred seeds, indicating the importance of dried berries in
- Several stone hide scrapers used to process animal hides
- Pottery shards believed to be from a cooking pot

Additions/Major Alterations

The Diggity Site was excavated in 1983

SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

Links/Related Content Photos



Sources Contributors

Gabrielle Byrne

Copyright 2023