A Bit of History
The original Twin Lakes Site was first documented in the 1960s when stone “chips” and tools were discovered during road construction. Over the following years, archaeologists including Dr. W. Irving, Mrs. Irving H. Smith of Churchill, and Dr. W. J. Mayer-Oakes from the University of Manitoba visited and excavated the site, recovering a variety of stone tools.

​In 2024, our team relocated the old excavation areas, connecting the past and present work at this fascinating site.

Twin Lakes sits atop a flat-topped sand and gravel hill, known as a kame, that rises about 20 metres above the surrounding land. Geologists believe it was formed roughly 8,200 years ago, and that about 3,200 years ago, the sea level was near its top. Around that same time, people living in the region used Pre-Dorset-style stone tools, similar to those found at the Seahorse Gully Site on the Churchill west peninsula.

Why This Discovery Matters
Finding worked stone beyond the original Twin Lakes Site suggests that people may have used a larger area of this landscape than we once thought. Areas that haven’t been disturbed by trails could still hold undiscovered artifacts buried just beneath the surface. Each new find helps us piece together how people lived, travelled, and thrived in this region thousands of years ago.

Top left to right: The north rim of the Seahorse gully, quartz stone tool, chert stone tool. 
Bottom left to right: a Pre-Dorset house excavated by Nash in the 1970's, a second Pre-Dorset house at the Seahorse Gully Site, two small stone flakes from the manufacture of a stone tool. 

Monday August 24th 1750
 
Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor Joseph Isbister
 
Wind of this day at S. S.E. & SE with strong gales of rain.   More goods onboard the ship to the number of 12 casks (since the ships arrival our time has been so closely applied to the unloading & loading her that we have not taken any time to do our writings.)  John Peterson having come from the north … in a long boat. I sent back to that place this morning to take care of the powder & geese.
 
Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-36 1750-175

Left is a hafted (attached to a handle) metal point on display at the we saw at the Itsanitaq Museum today. It was exciting to see a hafted version of a similar point that we found on the west peninsula a few days ago. 

Learning, sharing and keeping our hands busy in the classroom today. Started our first day of the culture heritage awareness program with trainees from Thompson and Churchill. Our Arviat trainee got weathered in at home. Weather conditions are a major influence on daily activity. 

​It's not looking good for Shakelton!

Friday August 23rd 1745
 
Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor Robert Pilgrim
 
The first part quite calm & seasonal the latter part a fresh breeze of E & cloud. The armour repairing old guns, the house carpenter & joiner on with the Smith on making of nails, the ship carpenter & sawyer on a Great Boat, the masons on the magazine, the labours yesterday one horse (the other being lame) a bringing water & stone into the yard in the evening light with fire under the lime kiln.
 
Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-28 1745-1746

Team photos over the weeks. 249 years ago (see below) Samuel Hearne reported that the wind and weather wasn't very remarkable. Unlike this year when the weather was hot, cold, wet, foggy, windy or totally perfect all in the same day!

249 years ago
 
Thursday August 22nd 1776
 
Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor Samuel Hearne
 
Wind and weather much the same as yesterday. Tradesmen and people employed as before. Sent two men up the river with nets to catch a few fish. M. Johnston’s boat came on shore for a little firewood and soon returned again. Traded what few furs the Indians brought yesterday and traded them some supplies as usual.
 
Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-92 1775-1776

Top left to right: ​Landscape along the Seahorse Gully Ridge site. Sand and broken seashells across the site reflect the environment when this area was an island. Today, it is one of the highest ridges on the Churchill west peninsula do to isostatic rebound. Kristin holding stone artifacts that are thousands of years old from one of the sites on the ridge.
 
Bottom left to right: A broken cutting tool made from quartzite and chert flakes from making another tool. Holding hands for reassurance during a foggy walk. Marking a successful walk across the bog. 

Matt putting his years of experience to use holding the LIDAR scanner so it doesn't fall over in the wind. Kristen wondering if this sturgeon skeleton smells bad or not. The answer was YES. Donalee demonstrating that there was a depression in the ground - likely a location of a dwelling. 

Today was a hot one!  
We had to leave the site early because a male bear chose this location for a swim and a nap. We left him to enjoy his day!
Top left to right: metal harpoon point, Kristen mapping a tent ring. The grassy area is likely where the door was. An opened storage cache.
Bottom left to right: a blonde wolf. Taking a break on the beach. Teaching drone operating.

On top of Ward Mountain

 ​Wednesday August 19th 1730

​Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor Anthony Beale
 
Wind in the NW Quad, in the forenoon. Clear to W & SW the latter part of the day, but little of it fine weather. Drawing of lime kiln today, 2 men at work about the stove, had killed by the Indians 2 geese and some small fowl. Set a Tickamegg net & took up the salmon net not catching any fish.
 
Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-11  1730-1731

Friday August 18th 1780
 
Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor Samuel Hearne
 
Fine pleasant weather wind variable. People as before in the morning. The wind coming in round to the S.E. and soon after falling calm. The Charlotte [ship] was under the necessity of coming again to an anchor but at 10 P.M. a fine breeze sprung up on which her gale again weighted anchor and sailed out of our river on her voyage to York Fort. Sent all the home Indians to the North point to attend the fall goose swim.  
 
Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-100 1779-1780

284 years ago
 
Monday August 17th 1741

Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor James Isham.
​
Wind W.N.W.  Very fine weather.  Armour overhauling of hunting guns, Smith shoeing horses, and 9 men a making hey, 11 men at woods drafting our winter firing, the rest at home brining of wood to pile brought home on Saturday, and this morning.  Churchill Sloop came into the river when we got her unloaded of ours provisions they received at York Fort… The shipwright a fitting up the boat and at noon 10 men came down the river brough a raft of firewood.

Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-23 1741742

​Monday August 16th 1773

Excerpt from Journal of Prince of Wales’s Fort by Chief Factor Moses Norton
​
Little Wind at East & clear weather. 2 men a hay making, 13 men & 3 Esquemay boys away in the brig, 2 men with the harpooner boiling the oil, 4 men cutting wood for the ship to stow with cargo, the cooper preparing casks for ye oil and to send to the goose tents to salt geese in, sent 6 men up to the cove who brought the Speedwell to the launch in order carry up that salt and casks to go North Point goose tent for ye spring and fall season, 2 men drilling stones. Some of our men sick besides Natives with fluxes, armour repairing hunting guns.

Reference: HBC Archives, Fort Churchill Post Journal B42-A-86 1772-1773