1990 Field Report
(Part
3)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Field No:
87JLP-23
Borden No: NbTj-9
The location of this site was certainly not one which would have been
quickly labelled strategic; it was not near a stream mouth nor a narrows
in the lake. In spite of our best efforts in 1987, we only managed to recover 4 pieces of nondescript lithic
debitage. Our 1990 base camp was established on the active beach
directly in front of NbTj-9 and curiosity compelled the principal
investigator to return to the upper terrace with its ideal park-like
setting in order to verify the 1987 determination.
On one of
these visits, a few siliceous argillite flakes were noted on the surface
of the gravels which under the caribou moss cover, at a spot where the
current dry weather conditions had caused a bit of shriking of the
tinder-dry moss. Further investigations revealed large quantities of
lithic debitage under adjacent clumps of moss and some nearby
fire-cracked rocks.
As a result of this discovery it was decided to excavate
two adjacent 2 m x 1 m test units which would encompass much of the
observed debitage scatter. Subsequently, a third 2 m x 1 m unit was
added, for a total of 6 square
metres.
Stratigraphy
The matrix of the terrace
upon which excavation took place is essentially a medium to coarse sandy
gravel. The surface vegetation, comprised main1y of caribou moss, is not
of a type to send down many roots. As a result, there was not real root
mat and humus layer underlying the moss. Instead, the uppermost portion
(about 10 cm) of the terrace matrix contained humic material in the
sand. The vertical distribution of artifacts tended to follow a similar
pattern with most of these being found just under the moss cover and
with decreasing frequency, into the upper 10 cm or so of the sandy
gravel.
Features
Only one feature was uncovered in the small area
excavated. It consists of fire-reddened sands forming a band about 30
cm in width along the west wall of the north half of Unit 2 and the west
wall of Unit 3. A relatively dense scatter of fire-cracked rocks was
found spread on these oxidized sands and to the east of them. The
fire-cracked rocks occurred at the surface of the terrace matrix and
well into these deposits (up to 10 cm).
Calcined bone
fragments were found in and adjacent to the fire-reddened sands, forming
a band 20-30 cm wide around the hearth. Scattered charcoal (about 1 gm)
was collected from within the apparent hearth feature and yielded a
radiocarbon date of less than 100 years B.P. (S-3378). A second, more
substantial charcoal sample was collected in a pocket from the base of
the oxidized sands at the north end of the feature, and yielded a
radiocarbon date of 820±70 years B.P. As the following section clearly
shows, the occupants of the area excavated relate to the Arctic Small
Tool tradition which flourished two millenia earlier than the oldest of
these two radiocarbon dates. Considering the thinness of the deposits,
the highly porous nature of the soil matrix, the lack of substantial
soil development and the fact that the site lies on a well used caribou
trail, we must conclude that downward movement of more recent carbon at
this site is such that charcoal obtained from an acceptable context is
more than likely to have been contaminated.
Artifact Collection
Within the small area excavated, 2982 pieces of
lithic debitage were recovered. This density is even more remarkable if
the distribution is taken into account. In the eastern portion of the
north half of Unit l, there was virtually nothing found beyond a
well-defined arc where the density is extremely high. In a similar
fashion, relatively little was recovered from Unit 3 and the southern
portion of Unit 2.
Although there is a fair amount of
diversity in the raw materials used, siliceous argillite is by far the
most common stone type. Many siliceous argillite nodules, cobble cores
and core fragments were found and suggest that local, secondary sources
were being exploited. The same appears to be true of the some of the
various fine-grained cherts which were found. A number of cortex flakes
were found which clearly demonstrate the primary reduction of chert
cobbles.
A perusal of the debitage shows that the primary
reduction of lithic cobbles and nodules was a very important activity in
the area excavated. However, the recovery of biface thinning flakes and
edge sharpening flakes indicates that this was not the only lithic
process being carried out.
The range of lithic implements
recovered is as impressive as the amount of debitage found. It includes
fragments of three delicate
projectile points, (likely bipointed
varieties), the proximal portion of a stemmed biface, 1 spalled burin and the possible fragment of a second, 10 microblades
or fragments thereof, 4 pices esquillŽes, 16 cores and
core fragments and 3 miscellaneous biface fragments.
Two artifacts were shaped by grinding and polishing the surfaces
and/or edges. The first consists of a large flake with a convex working
edge formed by bifacially grinding. The second is the extremity of a
large biface whose edges exhibit grinding. The implement's faces were
also ground following initial shaping by percussion.
Other Finds
Following completion of
the test units described above, an intensive search of the terrace was
again undertaken. Two additional areas
where fire-cracked rocks formed
small clusters were located within a few metres of the excavated area.
Limited testing revealed the presence of lithic debitage in proximity of
these and we can expect that similar activity areas might be uncovered.
Elsewhere, in the vicinity of the lower terrace, and
especially the low area to the south of it, a number of adze-cut stumps
were noted. Two small depressions were observed near the edge of the
low terrace which may be associated with late prehistoric activities in
the area. Finally, on a level area of the slope in front of the low
terrace, at the point where it turns inland, a few fire-cracked rock
were seen at the surface.
Additional work was carrried out at NbTj-9 in 1992.
