Once Upon This Land Archaeology in British Columbia and the Stories It Tells

An archeological survey of important sites in British Columbia.

With evidence of human habitation dating back to the last ice age, British Columbia boasts a fascinating array of archaeological sites. In Once upon This Land, archaeologist Robert Muckle takes readers to some exciting locations to explain what archaeology is (and isn’t), how research is undertaken in BC, and what it contributes to our broader understanding of human history.

This survey introduces readers to some of the most notable archaeological investigations in the province, including footprints left in mud on Calvert Island thirteen thousand years ago, the remains of a First Nations village near Lillooet, and the body of a man frozen in ice for centuries in the Tatshenshini region. He also explores more recent phenomena, such as a World War I internment camp near Fernie, a Japanese logging camp in North Vancouver, shipwrecks, airplane crashes, and even the remnants of COVID-19 left behind in urban landfills.

This is an engrossing look at how archaeology, by telling the stories of our past, connects us to fifteen thousand years of human occupation in Canada.