As we approach the date of the
Annual Aboriginal Gathering and Pow Wow, the recent donation of a jadeite adze found south of Grimshaw area by
Bill Veidt comes at an opportune time.
 |
| Jadeite Adze (on loan from Bill Veidt) |
Jadeite
is a variety of jade, a strong and hardy material characterized by its
distinctive green hue. Its strength lends itself well to tool-making, though
the material itself is quite rare. This adze was therefore most likely an object of great importance and prestige. The crafting
of such an device was a labour-intensive process, with countless hours of
sawing, cutting, grinding and polishing. The product of these efforts is a
long-lasting and high-quality tool that is a testament to the skill and
ingenuity of the First Nations craftsmen. The age of this adze could range from
hundreds to thousands of years old. As you can see, it has withstood the test
of time remarkably!
 |
| Bill Veidt |
While
the majority of jadeite artifacts recovered in Alberta were found in the Peace
River region, most jadeite tools are associated with the west coast of BC. This is
because the First Nations peoples of BC had increased access to quarries and
had developed larger-scale stoneworking and woodcutting practices relative to
the more mobile people of the plains. The geology of BC is also such that
jadeite, a metamorphic rock, forms much more commonly in mountainous regions
raised by plate subduction. It is believed that this stone in particular came
from the Fraser River Valley of BC. So, this tool was likely traded from afar
and had quite a journey before arriving in the Peace Country.
 |
| Example of a completed adze |
Even
more ancient tools can be found in the Archaeology Case in the Peace River
Gallery of the museum, including chert and even black obsidian artifacts.
No comments:
Post a Comment