Unit 9
Retrospect and Prospect

Units 1 and 2 reviewed general archaeological goals and methods and discussed the history of archaeology in Alberta. Units 3 and 4 examined the natural environments and First Nations people of Alberta, and introduced you to methods and theories related specifically to the study of precontact hunter-gatherers. Unit 5 provided an overview of the earliest cultures to live in northwestern North America and reviewed the evidence for the first people in Alberta. Units 6 through 8 covered the prehistory and protohistory of ancient Albertans as it has been reconstructed and interpreted by archaeologists. This final unit looks briefly at the gains in knowledge made by archaeologists in the last 40 years and explores some of the issues that face today’s generation of archaeologists.

Learning Objectives

When you have completed this unit, you should be able to

1. describe the major contributions to our knowledge of Alberta’s Aboriginal people made by archaeologists during the last 40 years.
2. describe three issues that face archaeologists who work in Alberta’s plains region.
3. describe three issues that face archaeologists who work in Alberta’s forest regions.
4. describe three issues that face archaeologists who work in Alberta’s mountain regions.
5. discuss First Nations people’s concerns about the nature of archaeological research.
6. describe the involvement of First Nation people in an archaeological project in Alberta.