The
history of Fort St. Joseph has changed my view of what archaeology means.
Archaeology is not just telling the history of events that happened hundreds of
miles away in various continents. Discovery can happen anywhere! Fort St.
Joseph allows us to explore archaeology right here in Michigan! My name is
Lakenia Payne and I am an undergraduate at Western Michigan University minoring
in Anthropology. I have taken other courses in this field but none as
insightful as Anthropology in the Community. This course offers a hands-on
approach rather than just learning about history and culture. Initially, the
focus was on enhancing our knowledge of New France in the 18th century. Now
were able to apply this information to our research.
My
research partner, Adrienne, and I are exploring the architecture of special purpose buildings
at Fort St. Joseph. I find myself more and more captivated by
18th century history and culture. We plan to examine the ritual practices and
special purpose structures of the Native Americans and French. Our research includes information on wigwams,
tents, sweat lodges, and churches. Evidence from Fort
Michilimackinac (Mackinac Island) and Pontchartrain (Detroit) has helped guide our research. For an
example, at Fort Michilimackinac there is a reconstructed church built on the
site. In addition, at Fort St. Joseph we have found evidence of a few religious artifacts such as pendants and metal crosses. These two sites are in
close proximity, so it may suggest that there was a place of worship at Fort
St. Joseph.
Through research, I have discovered that Fort St.
Joseph was a major 18th century fur trading post in New France. Voyageurs journeyed from
Montreal to partake in the trade. Lakes and rivers acted as a fur
trade highway in the Great Lakes region.
They traveled in heavily laden birch bark canoes carrying goods including metals and clothing.
These good were exchanged with the Native people for
furs. Voyageurs would travel for miles and days in an attempt to reach Fort
St. Joseph. While on their journey, they stayed in wedge style tents. These
temporary structures played a small but significant role during in the trading
era.
Tents acted as a defense against the rainy and snowy seasons. A
standard wedge tent was fitting for the task because of its durability.
Voyageurs would often sleep inside of the canoes and use tents to cover the top
of the boat. On land, to position the tent, three larges poles are placed
inside to form the frame. Thirteen pegs are then nailed into ground. The wedge
style tents stood 7 feet in height.
In American history, I rarely hear about the Native
American people. We decided to examine some of the rituals and practices of the
Native people in the surrounding areas. I discovered, solely through research,
that the indigenous
people have used sweat lodges for centuries! The Native Americans used
these as a ceremonial ritual for purification. The evidence found at the
Schilling site in Kalamazoo, Michigan supports this notion. The structure of
sweat lodges was made using saplings and skin coverings. Water was poured onto
hot stones to create vapors. The native people believe this ritual gave them
both a spiritual and emotional awakening.
 |
| Possible remains of a Native American sweat lodge at the Schilling site. Image from the Midcontinental Journal of ArchaeologyVol. 13, No. 1, published by The Kent State University Press (1988). |
It’s incredible how the people in the community of Niles
are so open to learning about the history. The research we are conducting will
further progress the community’s knowledge. This site is important because it
lets people get a first look at anthropology in the community. As we dig into
more information, we gain a better understanding of the rituals and daily
practices of those who inhabited Fort St. Joseph. By examining the structures
and the correlating artifacts found on the sites, we can directly impact the
legacy at Fort St. Joseph!
Sincerely,
