A team of UNB Anthropology students descended upon the historic Rochefort Point, a narrow peninsula extending just beyond the east gate of the Fortress of Louisbourg in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Rochefort Point was a primary burial ground in Louisbourg, with an estimated number of burials in the thousands in a period after 1739, and is currently under threat of coastal erosion.

Dr. Amy Scott -- UNB Professor of Anthropology -- and her team of students are tackling the difficult task of collecting and analyzing the remains and millions of associated artifacts to better understand the life of people in the 18th Century.

Dr. Scott and her students hope the unique glimpse they can provide on the past will also enhance Parks Canada's ability to relate to visitors and tourists what life was like for residents of this area during the 18th Century, and expect the project to continue over the next several years.

Amoung the students making the trip to Cape Breton with Dr. Scott were masters students, Jessica Hinton and Mattia Fonzo, recognized nationally with prestigious Canada Graduate Scholarships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Interested in learning more about our Anthropology program? Visit the Anthropology program page on our website.