Prophecy of the Swan: The Upper Peace River Fur Trade of 1794-1823

by David V. Burley, J. Scott Hamilton, Knut R. Fladmark

Many written histories of the fur trade attempt to present both the events and the spirit of the exploration of, and rivalry over, western Canada. These histories vary from the fact-ridden dryness of historical chronicle to the more popular romantic depiction of a way of life lost in time. Prophecy of the Swan is a unique integration of historic information and archaeological discovery, which provides a vivid, yet factual, portrayal of life in some of the most isolated fur-trade posts in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century North America. Employing information recovered from over two decades of archaeological excavation as well as from the few existing journals of day-to-day business written by company clerks, the authors piece together a detailed account of the upper Peace River fur trade and its posts, the individuals who were involved in its exploration and commerce, the intense competition between the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company, and, finally, the shocking 'massacre of St Johns.'
Written by archaeologists, Prophecy of the Swan further portrays life on an archaeological project - the endless hours of digging, the exacting work methods, and the small rewards inherent in discovery. Yet it also captures the mystique and romance that surround such an evocation of history. As the authors explain, 'When standing upon the hearthstones of such long-abandoned structures, one feels the power of the past and experiences it in ways that are difficult to describe.'

213 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book through the "Digging up the Fur Trade" documentary night at the North Peace Museum. The book provides a history of the fur trade in the North Peace region through the eyes of the archaeologists who conducted field work at the sites of 2 of the trading posts. Perhaps it is because I grew in the south of the province but I hadn't been fully aware of fur trading in BC (I grew up learning about the gold rush). I enjoyed learning more about the fur trade and how historians (including archaeologists) piece together histories for a region. The journals were interesting to read (occasionally humorous and occasionally momentous).