Working Around Water
Water has always drawn people in. It offered food, transportation, and a place to rest. As archaeologists, we tend to follow the same pull. Creeks, rivers, and lakes are some of the best places to uncover traces of the past–and some of the most rewarding places to work.
After ten field seasons navigating swamps, hopping beaver dams, and trying to keep my socks dry, I’ve learned that water is one of the most rewarding–and unpredictable–parts of fieldwork. Here’s what that actually looks like.
Why Water?
From a research perspective, it’s a goldmine. Hydrology plays a major role in predictive modelling for archaeological sites. In Alberta, areas near water often receive an HRV 5 designation, which means any development there will likely trigger a Historical Resource Impact Assessment (HRIA–if that term has you squinting, we broke it down in another blog).
In short: if there’s a creek nearby, there’s a decent chance someone lived there, fished there, camped there, or at the very least, dropped something worth finding.
And honestly, the system works. Some of the largest and most interesting sites I’ve worked on have been near water. When it comes time to start shovel testing, water often gives you a head start by narrowing down where to look first.
Plus, there’s nothing like a lakeside lunch break to make you pause and think, “Someone else probably sat here 500 years ago too.”
What’s in My Bag
Working near water means being ready for it, and that starts with what you bring.
You figure out pretty quickly what earns a spot in your field pack. Drybags and oversized ziplocks are essential for keeping electronics safe. Anything important, like your phone, GPS, or field notes, should be zipped up or clipped in, just in case things get wetter than expected. I’ve seen waterproof gear hold up just fine, and I’ve also seen it give out halfway across a creek, so I pack like things might go sideways.
One piece of gear that’s become a quiet MVP is a pair of neoprene socks. They’re light, easy to stash, and if your boots fill up or the temperature drops, they can save your feet and your day. It’s one of those small things that doesn’t seem urgent until it really is.
No matter what the forecast says, I plan for wet conditions. If you wait until you’re already soaked, it’s too late to start thinking about gear. It’s always better to be the person who packed the right backup before the water finds its way in.
Getting to Site (and Back Again)
How we access sites near water depends on a mix of factors–terrain, weather, season, and how far the footprint stretches. Sometimes it’s as simple as hiking in or taking ATVs. If it’s looking too wet, we’ll bring Argos, and when temperatures drop but snow hasn’t settled in, heated UTVs are a great middle ground.
When sites are especially remote or cut off by creeks, lakes, or swamps, helicopter access becomes the best option. It might sound exciting–and sometimes it is–but landing zones aren’t always textbook. Depending on the terrain, we might get dropped closer to the site and navigate through wetland, or choose a firmer landing spot farther away and hike in. Both options have their trade-offs, and part of the job is balancing those based on the crew, the gear, and the conditions that day.
Quicksand and Other Surprises
By your tenth field season, not much qualifies as truly surprising. But if you’re new to the work, a lot of it might catch you off guard.
Access plans change, weather shifts quickly, and reroutes are just part of the job. Wildfires in recent years have added even more unpredictability. We’ve had no-fly zones pop up overnight, and trail access that looked fine on paper suddenly blocked by a half-burned bridge.
And then there are the moments that stay with you. During one of my first seasons, a crewmate and I were hiking along what looked like a normal sandy creek bed. I stepped forward and sank almost hip-deep into a patch of soft, silty ground. The creek beside it was barely knee-high, which made it all the more confusing. I was tilted sideways and stuck until my colleague helped pull me out. It didn’t ruin the day, but it definitely ruined a pair of pants.
Most of the time, it’s not about avoiding the unexpected, it’s about learning from it. Every one of those moments, whether it’s a flooded trail or a surprise patch of quicksand, adds to your experience. And half the time, they turn into the stories you remember most.
Looking Back
There’s no perfect formula for working around water. Conditions shift, plans change, and you learn to adapt as you go. But with the right prep, a solid crew, and a bit of flexibility, it’s all part of what makes the work so rewarding.
Over time, the surprises turn into lessons, the detours into stories, and the soaked boots into proof that you showed up and got the job done. It’s not always easy–but it’s rarely boring.
And if you brought dry socks? Even better.
Written by Eric Tebby
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