Ancient Mariculture in British Columbia: Documenting the Past for the Future

In coastal British Columbia, as elsewhere, the recognition and re-establishment of traditional mariculture practices are linked to issues of food security, health, economic development, governance, and community engagement in heritage.  Our collaborative team of First Nations knowledge holders, archaeologists, and ecologists focuses on one form of traditional marine resource management.  Locally known as “clam gardens”, these are hand-constructed rock walls and associated cleared and tended tidal sand flats.  In several locations, we have 1) documented the location of clam gardens and associated archaeological sites; 2) conducted ecological surveys and experiments that suggest clam abundance, growth and survival are higher in extant clam gardens beaches than in other beaches; 3) collected zooarchaeological samples to assess ecological changes in ancient clam gardens; and 4) recorded local knowledge about the social and ecological aspects of traditional mariculture.  Inter-disciplinary and inter-community efforts are an effective way to document traditional resource management systems, as well as situating them within current socio-political and ecological contexts.