The Historical Ecology and Coastal Archaeology (HECA) Lab at the University of Victoria is a multi-disciplinary group of students and collaborators working with Dr. Iain McKechnie and coastal First Nations on archaeological research topics. Our aim is to show that Indigenous archaeological information spanning the past 5000 years has relevance for contemporary conservation, environmental management, and Indigenous governance. We use a variety of methods (geospatial, geochemical, ecological, and osteological) to consider the contributions that dozens of generations of Indigenous peoples have had on coastal environments in British Columbia and the Pacific Coast more broadly. Please explore this site by clicking on the tabs above.

With respect, we acknowledge the Indigenous Nations in whose territories we are fortunate to live and work in and recognize the privilege and responsibility that archaeology has in contributing towards greater understanding of Indigenous sovereignty, territories, and histories.

The lab is currently looking for future graduate students and post doctoral scholars (for Fall 2025). For potential inquiries, explore this blog, particularly what research current graduate students are engaged in and be in touch by email. In addition to making contact electronically, it helps if you can share a bit about your background in a specific document such as a CV, a writing sample, and to consider how your interests intersect with the kinds of research and analyses that the lab and its partners are engaged in. If you are unsure about the graduate school application process check out this publication (but ignore the section on the GRE) and know that graduate students in the social sciences (which anthropology sits within) are comparatively less well funded than programs in the sciences (biology, earth sciences, etc.).

© Iain McKechnie, University of Victoria