The Archaeology of Original Insight
Introduction: How Rocks Travel, Delineate Space, and Mark Moments
Before embarking on travels across the Pacific Ocean with J.G., an Anthropology student at the University of Alberta, the three carvings found here were conspicuous companions for previous memorable journeys throughout Western Canada. Meanwhile, the rocks themselves have diverse origins. The rock used for the first carving, entitled the "Rossdale Rattler" (seen in the portrait above lounging on a transparent counter at the Winspear Centre in 2015), was first encountered by the School of One Carver on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, literally "a stone's throw from home" in 2014. The second carving, called "Alpine Ed", helped marked the end of an extremely dull talk at an unnamed taxpayer-supported venue in January, 2015. The rock for this piece originated near Kinbasket Lake, B.C. in late August 2014. The third carving, entitled "Rossdale Muttart Marlin" and visible here on a table at the Moraine Lake Lodge restaurant after a superb meal, was fashioned out of "half of a raw geode" that the School of One Carver purchased from the Muttart Conservatory Gift Shop in January 2015.
These three portraits further confirm how rocks can be used to mark specific moments and delineate spaces, two features of human activity undertaken according to the cycles of seasonal light in the geographical area of Alberta for at least 5,000 years. This corresponding introduction, moroever, not only helps recall the venues where the carvings were situated during solitary moments in time, but also provides insight into some "unseen History", one of the major goals of the Carving Vignettes advanced literacy program used for the HSO Global Art Project. Prior to leaving for Japan with J.G. in Summer 2015, for example, the three carvings already had been marshalled for an Adult Education pilot project at Douglas College, B.C. in Winter 2015; travelled to Athabasca University, Alberta, for Convocation, Spring 2015; were part of a "road trip" which included overnight stays at Calgary's Fairmont Palliser Hotel and Moraine Lake Lodge, Banff, Alberta in and around Summer Solstice, 2015; and even attended the City of Edmonton's Hall of Fame Awards during to opening days of Summer 2015 to help witness the recognition given to a treasured friend and mentor for extraordinary Community Service. These momemnts were also recorded in portaits taken from the unique vocational and cultural perpectives of the resective collaborators who "wielded the rocks" in diverse places and distinct times, once again demonstrating the historical importance of objects for recording individual and collective journeys towards an appreciation of difference. The three carvings were given to J.G. in anticipation of future travels and original insights spanning both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
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For some further History into 2015 Excellence Awards recipients, please see City of Edmonton Excellence 2015
Capítulo I: Alberta Rising Son in Japan
The three carvings are situated on a bench in front of the Police and Peace Officers' Memorial, one of the several monuments in the Alberta Leglislative Grounds which recall key junctures and decisive people according to some of the official, prescriptive Public History provided to inhabitants and visitors to the Province. This moment was part of a very brief pause for reflection during a journey towards a meeting with J.G., who was about to embark on an educational adventure with the the Baikal-Hokkaido Archeology Project to Japan. J.G.'s cultural perspective in the following vignettes is undoubtedly influenced by past educational experiences in Edmonton Public Schools, and, indeed, J.G.'s own family heritage rooted in El Salvador. While the following vignettes clearly reveal a serious interest in Anthopology and Archaeology, J.G. plans to become a Social Studies teacher in Alberta. The journey to Japan was the last time these three carvings travelled together since "Alpine Ed" was given to one of the Japanese professors involved in the progam.
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Information about the Baikal-Hokkaido Archaeology Project and the 2015 Field School may be found at: BHAP
For the location of the Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial (2006) and the Self-Guided Tour of the Alberta Legislature Grounds, please see: Alberta Legislature Grounds
Overburdened Desk, Edmonton
6:30AM, July 14, 2015. 16°C
Thus, the fabled journey begins: To travel to the land of Japan for leisure and work alike, of stout stones and brittle bones, tall towers and many meals. The weather as we left was relatively fair, neither too hot nor cold, but bristling with a sense of anxiousness for a new adventure. We began to prepare for two separate legs of our Japanese journey: one dedicated to exploring the vast metropolitan cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and the other for an archaeological adventure on the island of Rebun in northern Japan. Within my luggage came differing feelings, the first layer of clothing and amenities suited to explore such concrete jungles brimming with hidden gems in the form of unknown cuisines, cultural shock, and undoubtedly for unexpected treks when one is to become lost (as is implied in the act of exploring!). The lower and more vast layer of the luggage would consist of preparing tools for the archaeological dig, with sharpened trowels, specialized cleaning tools, and a fashion line of old weathered clothes ready for exploring Rebun Island’s past. The thought of being gone from home for such a long time would make my heart race, being able to experience such a vastly different part of the world, and to be able to partake in a whole new experience of existing on this world, to be free to see it firsthand and add to some reasoning why this world is so amazing! Thus, I would reach for my phone on my relatively overburdened desk, tuning it to play my favorite song, and take my first steps towards a whole new day.
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Imperial Palace East Garden, Tokyo
11:00AM, July 20, 2015, 27°C
How beautiful this garden is in person! The stark contrast of the garden to the general landscape that is Tokyo offers such a refreshing perspective to the overall experience of Japan thus far. It encapsulates an aspect Japanese persona, respecting space and peaceful coexistence within the very centre of the city itself. It is a welcome trek, to be able to relax, and most amazingly, to relax without the noise of the city to bother you, despite one of the many main city plazas being right outside the walls of the gardens! It is as if the very gardens themselves simply usher such commotion away, and offer a moment of solace for the weary workers, the peaceful elderly, and the growing families. The foundation of a former castle tower spans in the distance to the west in the garden, exuding a sense of serenity and safekeeping now when once it would undoubtedly offer apprehension and prominent patronage. The rock upon which the three brothers from Edmonton sit upon overlooks a small zen pond, so serene and peaceful, yet unknowingly dangerous if one is to perhaps trip on an unforeseen obstacle of great proportions (in this case, a loose pebble) when embarking on this trek to the top of the hill amidst the humid air and the frizzing of one’s hair. Yet from this place, one feels an aura of restful and undisturbed life, yet, if you are to concentrate very hard, be able to hear the separate melodies of the city and gardens alike within the centre of the city of Tokyo, a tune which I will depart from in the coming day for my new adventure in the transfer from the urban sprawl to the natural beauty of Rebun.
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For the official guide and information regarding the garden, pleasee see, Kokyo Higashi Gyoen Garden
Kafuka, Rebun
4:00PM, July 21, 2015. 20°C
Rebun Island, or Rebuntō, is an island spanning about 30 kilometres, most famous for its exotic fauna, some of which cannot be found anywhere else on the world. The flowers, in bloom within the span of late summer, attract many visitors Rebun, much in the same fashion of Canadian national parks. Kafuka, the site from which the three brothers are framed in, is the largest town on the island, lying on the southern end of the island, and the first leg of the journey to our final destination on the northern end of the island. Rumour has it, from what could be understood in layman's Japanese, that this town has an heavenly onsen, otherwise known as a Japanese bathhouse in which one experiences bathing as a way breaking down barriers and getting to know people in a type relaxed homey atmosphere, when one has moved over the cultural shock of these massive bathing operations. The ferry from the main island of Hokkaido is seen leaving in the distance, having its last journey for the day with the fear of bad seas later on in the evening, and rain beginning to set in. The mountain in the distance, the site of the neighbouring island of Rishiri, or otherwise aptly named by my professor as Mount Doom, spans on the horizon, an ever-present feature of the experience of being on the northernmost island of Japan. The first feeling which comes to me when arriving on the island is one of startling amazement, in which one actually feels so far from normality, having been thrown into the rolling land of sweeping hills and ever-present rash waves when before in the rolling expanse of sweeping transit systems and ever-present (but not rash!) ramen shops. This is to be the place for the next two months upon which a chapter of my life will be shaped and moulded, and I cannot wait for such a new experience (also perhaps a bed in the next couple hours)!
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Outside of Hamanaka Community Hall
12:00PM, August 11, 2015. 27°C
Lunchtime, and some much needed break-time after an arduous morning. Today I was working on excavating plot B2-a2 on the Hamanaka-2 archaeological site, digging through a sand-layer. My professor instructed those of us in the B2 plots to plow through this layer, specifically being Layer II-b of excavation, being linked to the late-Ainu culture, in the hopes of reaching Layer III, which would be attributed to the Mid-Ainu culture, and owing more to hopes of much more interesting finds. “Gomi layer”, or garbage layer, is what my fellow Japanese researchers called the layers that my classmates and I were working in, as it held no significant yields other than layers upon layers of small fish bones, an interesting find in any other site, but consider “gomi” within these circumstances when these fish had always existed with the Ainu culture and their aquatic diet. Thus began a day of speedily sifting through layer upon layer of sand, a tedious operation made even mores tiresome with the beating sun and the constant presence of enormous insects, but one which also requires some skill, to have a trained eye at the ready in case….yes!…a dog skull! The excitement of finding such remains or some remarkable stone tool made of agate would always bring an air of excitement to the grid, yet when one would trek out of this plot and into the ones the Japanese researchers were heading off, one would find themselves in Layer 5, which at the moment, contained two sea lion remains and evidence of a large stone hearth, making minds wonder just what might have passed all those years ago. The joy of working in such an area is something unlike anything else, to be able to work together with people from such different walks of life, overcome language and cultural barriers (when not destroying certain grid barriers and causing wall collapses), and simply enjoying some chit-chat over the delicious lunchtime bento. The smells and sounds of the ocean can be felt outside of the community hall, a small tatami mat-filled space called the Kaikan overlooking the ocean. If one is to not take advantage of this hour of lunchtime for napping or otherwise resting, the beach is another option to take advantage off, where one can simply enjoy sitting on the giant concrete wave-breakers and snap a few photos of the Sea of Japan. As the tide begins calm, the local fisherman would to take to the sea, or be return home, once the afternoon announcements and song are made over the intercom system to let people know the basics of weather, news, and optimal yields, a welcome signal to everyone once the Eidelweiss song would come on, a signal for the time to eat and the time to relax on this wondrous tropical island.
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Funadomari, Rebun Island
6:30PM September 8, 2015. 23°C
Here marks the last step of the brothers from Edmonton, having partaken in this adventure alongside me, would be signalled after such a wonderful time through Japan. This being the second last day on Rebun Island, a party is to be had at 7:30 to reunite with everyone who worked on the site, as well as with the locals who have provided us with such great and much-appreciated hospitality. Voices can be heard throughout the town of Funadomari, the “base-of-operations”, so to speak, of the Hamanaka-2 archaeological dig, as townspeople are gathering at the local bar, bringing assortments of snacks, food and liquor to send us off with. The sun is slowly setting on the horizon, as I sit near a lookout site on the beach of the town, my favourite spot on the island to simply enjoy the waves and some much needed silence when work had become overwhelming or if thoughts needed to be gathered. To the right spanned the neighbourhood in which I stayed in, with the local store and cafe looking so solemn now that I was leaving when once I had gone almost everyday to greet the store owners and partake in the variety of Japanese sweets. On the left lies a great span of beach curving along the coast to the point of Motochi, the most northern point of Japan and the island, where some of the best green tea ice cream was to be had if one was to garner the strength to partake in a three hour walk. To the west the sun prepared to set as well, upon which Ryoichi, the carved piece which our local caretaker, whom had let us stay in her home for the trip, had taken to calling left-most piece, would come to see it rise again another day one the island, as he was to stay as a memory of such a journey. As I showed these carvings from Edmonton to the caretaker some weeks ago, she began to name them, out of respect for them being introduced to a new place, and also to attribute some new meaning to their journey here on Rebun. The name “Ryo” was to be attributed to the kanji 遼, meaning “distant” or “far”, as per my journey with the pieces to Japan. The suffix -ichi, I later found out, was the number 1, but in the context of the name, was to mean, “the first son”, the first of the three to leave and the first to begin a journey on its own. Ryo, when I also asked one of my close friends on the trip, also meant to illuminate, an understanding I took to mean as a method of spreading the story of this journey through ramen, a dish which helped me appreciate Japanese culture, Rossdale, pertaining to the robust and face-like Rossdale Rattler and its brother the floaty-geode Rossdale Muttart Marlin, and the journey of the rock now known as Ryoichi, in the hopes of illuminating curious minds and promoting a new type of story to the island of Rebun.
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