Great Marpole Midden facts for kids
| c̓əsnaʔəm | |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
|---|---|
| Type | National Historic Site of Canada |
The Great Marpole Midden is an ancient village and burial site. It is also known as the Eburne Site or Great Fraser Midden. In the Halkomelem language, it is called c̓əsnaʔəm. This important place belongs to the Musqueam people. You can find it in the Marpole area of Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Story of c̓əsnaʔəm
This site was home to the Coast Salish people for a very long time. They lived here starting at least 4,000 years ago. The village was active until about 200 years ago. This was around the time smallpox arrived on the Northwest Coast. During all those years, the village was known as c̓əsnaʔəm. Experts say the "Marpole Culture Type" existed between 2,400 and 1,600 years ago.
Discovering the Past
In 1884, parts of the midden were uncovered. This happened when Garypie Farm Road was being improved. Over the next few decades, people started digging at the site to learn more. This is called an archaeological excavation.
In 1892, a person named Charles Hill-Tout did a lot of digging here. He worked for the Art, Historical, and Scientific Association of Vancouver. His work encouraged others to study similar sites in the area.
Later, from 1897 to 1899, an archaeologist named Harlan Ingersoll Smith visited. He was part of the Jesup North Pacific Expedition. He dug at the Marpole site to find human bones. These bones helped scientists learn about the people who lived there.
In the 1950s and 1960s, a professor from UBC, Charles Edward Borden, also worked at the site. He led "salvage archaeology" projects. This means he tried to save historical items before they were destroyed by new buildings. Professor Borden was the first to connect the things found at the site to the Musqueam people living today.
Protecting the Site
Sadly, a large part of the site was destroyed in the 1950s. This happened when the Fraser Arms Hotel was built.
On May 25, 1933, the Marpole Midden was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is a very important place in Canada's history. Even though the official marker is in Marpole Park, the actual site is a few blocks away. You can find it between Montcalm and Milton streets, just south of Marine Drive.
