Prophecy of the swan : the upper Peace River fur trade of 1794-1823

A unique history of the Canadian fur trade as evidenced by the archeological remains uncovered in the Peace River valley, and supplanted by journal entries made by company clerks. The volume concerns itself with the daily lives of the traders, their housing, hardships, and their impact on the area o Many Written Histories Of The Fur Trade Attempt To Present Both The Events And The Spirit Of The Exploration Of, And Rivalry Over, Western Canada. These Histories Vary From The Fact-ridden Dryness Of Historical Chronicle To The More Popular Romantic Depiction Of A Way Of Life Lost In Time. Prophecy Of The Swan Is A Unique Integration Of Historic Information And Archaeological Discovery, Which Provides A Vivid, Yet Factual, Portrayal Of Life In Some Of The Most Isolated Fur-trade Posts In Late Eighteenth- And Early Nineteenth-century North America. Employing Information Recovered From Over Two Decades Of Archaeological Excavation As Well As From The Few Existing Journals Of Day-to-day Business Written By Company Clerks, The Authors Piece Together A Detailed Account Of The Upper Peace River Fur Trade And Its Posts, The Individuals Who Were Involved In Its Exploration And Commerce, The Intense Competition Between The North West Company And The Hudson's Bay Company, And, Finally, The Shocking 'massacre Of St Johns.' Written By Archaeologists, Prophecy Of The Swan Further Portrays Life On An Archaeological Project - The Endless Hours Of Digging, The Exacting Work Methods, And The Small Rewards Inherent In Discovery. Yet It Also Captures The Mystique And Romance That Surround Such An Evocation Of History. As The Authors Explain, 'when Standing Upon The Hearthstones Of Such Long-abandoned Structures, One Feels The Power Of The Past And Experiences It In Ways That Are Difficult To Describe.'--jacket. 1. Before The Fur Trade -- 2. First Nations Of The Valley -- 3. The Canadian Fur Trade And Peace River History -- 4. Rediscovering History -- 5. Rocky Mountain Fort -- 6. Rocky Mountain Portage House And New Caledonia -- 7. St Johns -- 8. Yale And Mcintosh -- 9. Artifacts Of The Fur Trade -- 10. The Massacre Of St Johns -- 11. Postscript -- Appendix A: Rocky Mountain Fort Journal -- Appendix B: St Johns Journal -- Appendix C: Artifact Assemblages And Spatial Distribution Of Rocky Mountain Fort And St Johns. David V. Burley, J. Scott Hamilton, And Knut R. Fladmark. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [187]-207) And Index. Prophecy of the Swan covers twenty-nine years in the history of the Peace River valley in northeastern British Columbia. A vivid portrayal of life in some of the most isolated fur trade posts, it describes the intense competition between the North West and the Hudson's Bay companies, the individuals who were involved in exploration and commerce, and, finally, the shocking'massacre of St. Johns.'It is unique in its integration of historic information and archaeological discovery, as it combines information recovered from many years of archaeological excavation with first-hand impressions of day-to-day life drawn from the few existing journals kept by company clerks. The authors focus not on the elites and middle management, but on the labourers and tradesmen, the wives and the children, whose lives were affected by the fur trade. Written for both a general audience interested in the history of British Columbia as well as fur trade scholars who will appreciate its innovative approach, this book brings new knowledge and insights to the study of this period in the province's history. Prophecy of the Swan also portrays life an archaeological project -- the endless hours of digging, the exacting work methods, and the small rewards inherent in discovery, as well as the mystique and romance that surround such an evocation of history.