UCalgary students and city archaeologists uncover ancient artifacts in Edworthy Park, inviting Calgarians to witness history beneath their feet.
Unearthing Hidden Stories Beneath Edworthy Park
A routine stroll through Calgary’s Edworthy Park now offers a rare glimpse into the city’s ancient past. For two weeks, University of Calgary archaeology students have transformed a popular dog park into a live excavation site, revealing stories buried for centuries.
A Unique Collaboration to Preserve Heritage
This initiative is a partnership between the City of Calgary and the University of Calgary, designed to both preserve and showcase the city’s rich archaeological legacy. Unlike most digs, which are hidden away or tied to development projects, this excavation is open to the public, inviting passersby to observe and ask questions as history is uncovered in real time.
What Lies Beneath: Artifacts and Ancient Campsites
So far, the team has uncovered a stone circle believed to be a ceremonial or homestead site, fragments of stone tools, and what may be a bison bone—evidence of a pre-contact Indigenous campsite. These discoveries are helping piece together the lives of those who inhabited the area long before European settlers arrived.
“Archaeological resources are part of a cultural landscape, and they tell a story that most citizens and visitors are unaware of,” explained Laureen Bryant, the city’s cultural landscape planner.
Learning Through Hands-On Experience
The field school, led by UCalgary professor Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer, offers students practical training in excavation and artifact mapping. Indigenous youth and elders are also actively involved, ensuring the dig is conducted with respect and cultural sensitivity.
“Starting with ceremony and having that exposure of the future archaeologists to elders… they recognize the importance of it so they can carry that into industry going forward,” said Bryant.
A Living Lesson for Calgary
Edworthy Park’s history stretches back to the 1880s as a site for markets and farming, but its roots go much deeper. Indigenous peoples have used the land for thousands of years, and sites like this may date back as far as 9,000 years. The public is encouraged to visit, watch the excavation, and connect with the students to learn about the city’s layered past.
Get Involved
The dig continues through the first week of June, offering Calgarians a unique opportunity to see archaeology in action and discover the stories beneath their city.
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