Fire & Water are two of the so-called classical elements that have been fundamental to the human story for all times and places. Our very existence depends on water – and all the plants and animals we rely on for sustenance require water too. We have built our communities next to oceans, rivers and springs. We’ve piped it, dammed it, dug canals to direct water to our crops. We’ve built canoes and ships to travel on it; and bridges to cross over it. On average, about 60% of our bodies are made of water. Truly, we are one with water!
Though less common and often more contentious, fire is arguably just as profound an element to the human experience – responsible for transforming the earth and shaping how humans interact with those landscapes. Fire was crucial to human evolution, providing warmth and light that extended the day, giving us cooked food, and protecting us from predators. People have used fire and heat to shape stone tools, make ceramics and glass, and forge metal. In today’s world, fire is often viewed negatively and certainly fire has the potential to harm (destroy buildings, take life) but history and traditional knowledge teaches us that fire has been an important positive force in the human story as well.
Our essential connections to Fire & Water make them ideal for our public and community outreach efforts. Here’s just a sample of ideas we’ve put together to get you thinking about what you might create for your exhibit or activity:
Cooking — how have fire and water been used to cook food? This would encompass all cultural traditions – Indigenous, Euro-American explorers and settlers, right up to the present day. Open fire, grilling, earth ovens. How do we recognize cooking methods from archaeology?
Using fire as a heat source to preserve food: e.g., dry huckleberries, smoke meat, fish. How can we learn about these methods of preservation from archaeology, historical documents, and on-going traditions? Which approaches are used in contemporary life?
Harnessing fire to create/transform other materials: blacksmithing, ceramics, glass production, or crafting stone tools, hardening wood.
Harnessing water – for mining (e.g., placer mining), building dams to control flood waters, generate electricity and provide for irrigation.
How do we mitigate harm to archaeological sites that are affected by reservoirs or other wetland projects?
How did people in the past and today capture or collect animals and plants that reside in water? (rivers, ocean, wetlands): salmon, lamprey, beaver, muskrat, and wapato and more.
Forest service fire watchtowers? Historical fire fighting
Protecting heritage resources during (and after) wildfires.
Urban or municipal fire-fighting. What is the history of fires in your community, the harm, the aftermath. How have approaches to fire fighting changed?
Urban or municipal water systems. What is the history of collective water management – piping water for residential or commercial use?
How archaeologists find evidence of the presence of fire and water in the past
How do we distinguish cultural uses of fire and natural occurrences of fire in the archaeological record?
How are fire and/or water used in land management today and in the past?
-Controlled burns or intentional burns
-How have views in western science (and forest service practices) changed in the past 100+ years?
What are some symbolic or religious connections of people to fire and water – as seen in the past and in on-going traditions? In stories and rituals? art? architecture? dance? music?