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By Yasmin (Alberta,
Canada)
Photos by Mariana (Brazil)
On November
1, the anthropology students explored Race Rocks with new eyes
accompanied by visiting archaeologist Darcy Matthews. Matthews
is currently studying overground burials on southern Vancouver
Island. Particularly relevant to Pearson, Matthews found a series
of burials on Race Rocks, made by the Straits Salish peoples
So what are burial cairns? And what’s so interesting about
their location?
At first glance, these overground burials, or burial cairns,
simply look like mounds of dirt and rocks – a natural
formation. After closer inspection however, the formation is
a little too perfect. Though not obvious, the cairns can be
found all over Race rocks. They differ in shape, size, and the
type of rock used to build them, each factor with a specific
meaning for the dead and their families.
About 1000 to 1500 years ago, the Straits Salish people who
live near Pearson and in the surrounding area, made the sudden
change from underground to overground burials for their dead.
It was a significant social change, moving from burials in the
village (often between houses), to removed cairns often with
some sort of marker. So who was buried? Matthews has hypothesized
that it was members of the upper echelon of society, about two-thirds
of the people, who were given burial in a cairn.
The 500 year period of significant change in which cairns were
the common form of burial was marked with violence and warfare.
Matthews suggests that the use of cairns, particularly at a
location on the peripheries of society such as Race Rocks reinforced
kinship groups. By clearly identifying their boundaries, as
well as their social identity in a visible way through the cairns,
the Salish reaffirmed their identity.
Many thanks to Laura V., Laura F., Chris, and Darcy Matthews
for making this unusual and enlightening experience possible.
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