The Beothuk Institute has just finished planning the activities for summer 2025. We are excited to advise that, thanks to generous donations received, we will be able to continue the Tracing Shanawdithit Archaeological Project. This will be year 4 for the project and the objectives are finalized. The document is now available for BI members.
TRACING SHANAWDITHIT ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT
OUTLINE OF OBJECTIVES FOR YEAR # 4 (2025)
PREPARED BY LAURIE MCLEAN, CONSULTING ARCHAEOLOGIST
Shanawdithit was a Beothuk woman who was born around 1800 (Howley 1915:231). She, accompanied by her step-mother, step-sister and possibly one male, in April, 1823 walked 41 kilometers from Crooked Lake to Badger Bay in a quest for food
This group then traversed another six to seven kilometers crossing Badger Bay in a northeast direction before European-Newfoundland furriers found the step-mother inside a wigwam located on the bay’s eastern shoreline. Furriers encountered Shanawdithit and her step-sister two weeks later in a wigwam also on the east side of the bay. Shanawdithit lived in European-Newfoundland society for six years.
About the Project
The initiation of the Tracing Shanawdithit archaeological project is directly attributable to Pilley’s Island resident and Beothuk Institute member, Perry Moulton. Perry is a former education administrator with extensive archaeological experience. His keen interest in Newfoundland and Labrador archaeology, specifically Shanawdithit’s experiences, and fund-raising abilities led to the first archaeological assessment of her journey in 2022.
Laurie McLean was invited to lead this research. Laurie, assisted by Perry and others as budgets and schedules permit, have assessed parts of Shanawdithit’s trek and adjoining areas in three field seasons since 2022. Summary reports on the findings are listed on the Projects and Reports page on this website.
Note: To access reports and papers you must be a current member of the Beothuk Institute with annual fees paid in full. Membership costs $15/calendar year (January through December).