Nearly two dozen UNBC students have been  working on  an archaeological  field study  near the confluence of the Chilako and Nechako Rivers.

The site has  produced more than a hundred  stone artifacts from  the site  just west of Prince George.

The site was selected through work with the Lheidli T’enneh and Nazko First Nations and the  dig is the first university-led archaeological dig  in this part of the province in more than 20 years. The last major archaeological dig in north central BC took place at Punchaw Lake and was led by Simon Fraser University in 1975.

Dr. Farid Rahemtulla, an Anthropology professor at UNBC and the field school director says the site has produced materials that are likely more than 400 years old  “We recovered a number of stone tools, items used for hunting, and some remnants of stones that were likely sourced from hundreds of kilometres away. "

 “There is strong evidence to suggest that First Nations have been in this area for at least 10,000 years and there are a number of potential archaeological sites around central BC that could provide clues about their lives.”

The field school wraps up Thursday. It’s expected that the artifacts recovered during the excavation will be displayed in the Anthropology Teaching Lab at the University of Northern BC within the coming weeks.