Silver ring

This piece of silver jewelry was found on a site excavated by archaeologists from the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries in 1984 on the Sydenham River near Dresden, Ontario. This summer settlement was occupied between the late 1700s and early 1800s by Anishinabeg known as the Bear Creek Chippewa. This settlement was likely known as Kitigen, which was visited by the Moravian Missionary Christian Denke in 1801, and was made up of several families living in wigwams. Several trade items were recovered from the excavation, including silver trade items that were usually part of annual gift distributions by the British Indian Department during this period to maintain alliance with Indigenous Nations. This silver ring, with etched design is a rare find, as finger rings like these were only rarely included in British Indian Department gifts, and usually given to community leaders.