New Severn or Nieu Savanne: The Identification of an Early Hudson Bay Fur Trade Post

Abstract

<p>This thesis examines problems inherent in identifying fur trade post archaeological sites dating to the early Hudson Bay trade period (1668-1713). Research focuses on a particular trade post site (G1Iw-1) located near Fort Severn, Ontario. A re-evaluation of the area's early history indicated that New Severn (1685-1690) and Nieu Savanne (1700-1704) were the most probable candidates for the identity of this site.</p> <p>Archaeological and historical data were used to identify the G1Iw-1 site as the former Hudson's Bay Company post New Severn. Evidence for this conclusion included artifact and settlement analysis of the New Severn site and historical accounts from archival and secondary sources.</p> <p>The presence of French material culture items within the New Severn assemblage in conjunction with historical evidence suggesting a dependence on French Canadian fur trade expertise by the neophyte Hudson's Bay Company led to the advancement of a research hypothesis. It states that French and English fur trade posts extant on Hudson Bay between 1668-1713 should be characterized by strongly similar material culture remains.</p>