Archaeology consists of many sub-fields, three of which are addressed in this thesis. Historical archaeology, urban archaeology and industrial archaeology are all recent additions to the field. These terms narrow the focus and imply integration of two areas of study. However, in most cases only one portion is emphasized. This relegates the other data source to a supporting role instead of an equal partner.
To overcome this the participants in both fields need to understand the methodologies, techniques and values of each discipline to the other. The historical method is a relatively simple technique but one which is virtually ignored by archaeologists. In a similar manner, documents are treated only as information banks when in reality much can be learned from archival material treated as an archaeological artifact.
Brickmaking began on southeastern Vancouver Island less than 10 years after Fort Victoria was established. The manufacturing process, consisting of a variety of methods, changed very little over the centuries Development and organization of the industry in the study area paralleled the growth of the region. From simple estate production to nucleated complex, brickmaking rose and fell mirroring the economic state of the area. Ownership of the industry was almost exclusively British even though the yards were operated mainly by Chinese. This relationship is reflected in the larger society.
A culture can be viewed as a complex system composed of sub-systems each interacting with each other on various levels. Brickmaking can be viewed as a system from two perspectives. The manufacturing process itself is a closed system yet operation of the industry is closely tied to demand from the larger system of which it is part.
Although only one production site remains relatively intact, archaeological investigations of brickmaking are possible at all sites. A well designed research plan is necessary to realize the full potential of the sites and manage the archeological resources.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/3089 |
| Date | 10 November 2010 |
| Creators | Peterson, Joan Teresa |
| Contributors | Mitchell, Donald |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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