1987 Field Report
(Part
2)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Field No:
87JLP-24
Borden No: NbTj-8
Location: Hyndman Lake
This site occupies the first wide point extending from the
north shore of Hyndman Lake, just west of a small stream in the eastern
portion of the lake. The locality was initially examined on July 10,
during a brief preliminary asessment of the archaeological potential of
Hyndman Lake. At that time, two semi-subterranean features were
discovered along with evidence of fairly recent historic use of the
relatively flat terrace.
At the tip of the point, near the
edge of a low terrace (elevation 1.79 m), a small rectangular depression
(internal dimensions approximately 1.5 m x 1.2 m x 0.4 m) was recorded
(Structure No.2). A low berm was noted on the downslope side of the
depression, towards the lake. The sides of the excavation sloped
steeply upwards. Along the top of the inland side, a partially buried
pole was observed which lay parallel to the long axis of the depression,
and the proximal portion of a caribou scapula was found partly buried in
the sod, about 1 m from the structure's east end.
When
we later moved our entire camp to this locality at the end of July, the
dining tent was set up within metres of this semi-subterranean feature.
Daily trampling of the sod inside the tent soon exposed a few
fire-cracked rocks. In addition, a shallow depression measuring
approximately 50 cm x 50 cm was noticed in the same area. As no testing
was undertaken, the association between these features can only be
guessed at.
A larger semi-subterranean feature
(Structure No.1) was discovered over 76 m north of the first structure,
near the middle of the point's base.
The structure had been excavated into an older terrace which lies over
5 m above the level of Hyndman Lake.
The
limits of this second structure were easily defined on three of the four
sides. The wide berm formed a distinct, continuous ridge on the west, south and east sides. However, the
exact limits of the north side were less obvious. The internal
dimensions of this rectangular structure were found to be 8.5 m x 5.5 m.
The vegetation cover on the slopes of the berm consisted
of a thin covering of caribou moss and grasses while the interior of the
depression was characterized by sphagnum moss with some pieces of wood
jutting out from under the thick carpet.
Four shovel
test pits were excavated; three within the limits of the structure, as
determined by the configuration of the berm, and a fourth near the outer
edge of the berm. All four yielded positive results with the discovery
of a buried humus horizon under thick berm deposits, preserved faunal
remains and wooden structural elements in and under the sod in the
interior of the structure.
The purpose of the test
excavations which were carried out at the end of July/beginning of
August was to determine if this large feature bore any structural
similarities to the smaller, superficially similar semi-subterranean
features we had tested and excavated earlier in the summer (MlTk-2,
MlTk-3, MlTj-2). Those structures share two common features. They
consist of excavated oval to rectangular depressions with sand berms at
least along the sides. Although evidence of such deposits at the ends
of the depression had been detected archaeologically, these
accumulations were not usually visible from the surface. The large
structure at NbTj-8 differs from all other semi-subterranean features
found to date in that it represents an enormous increase in the
potential floor space available for use.
The structure
was quartered by setting up two perpendicular axes which intersected
near the centre of the depression. Measuring from the centre point,
units of 1 m x 2 m (Units A
through D) were initially established so as to encompass three of the
four shovel test pits mentioned above. In this way, the initial
observations could be documented in detail. Subsequently, additional
units (Units E through I) were established so as to provide continuous
profiles through the long and short axes of the structure.
Stratigraphy
The shovel test pits had
provided us with a good indication of the succession of soil strata
which we could expect in the different areas of the structure. At
either end of the east-west
profile, very thick sand deposits (Level II--up to a maximum of 60
cm in the southern berm of Units A and E) can be seen which formed the
berm that was so obvious prior to excavation. Similar lenticular sand
deposits were also found in Units D and B. However, the latter two units
only covered the interior slope of the berms, and so the actual outer
extent of the end berms are not known.
The deposition of
the sands which made up the berm effectively buried the old vegetation
layer (Level III). This level is clearly visible as a relatively thin
humus band under the berm deposits at either end of the profile.
However, this humus horizon is truncated towards the interior of the
structure. Indeed, there is a 3 m gap where the humus level is absent.
Within this central area, the sands, which underlie the much thicker
sod, differ in colour and texture from the sands making up the berm;
they have a much higher silt content. Within the depression,
excavations were soon impeded by ground water seepage into the
excavation units and eventually permafrost was encountered. Both
conditions produced the same result which is quickly revealed by a
careful examination of the profile; excavation should have continued
beyond the point at which it was stopped. Indeed, the situation is
summarized in the August 4 fieldnote entry by one excavator: "Removed
the wood from within the basin--found a crude biface fragment and
extension of red/charcoal deposit continuing under here. Hit permafrost
under water at 135 cm below datum. Also dug holes under water and there
does appear to be a black-stained horizon below water level which cannot
be excavated" (Ludowicz 1987:77).
Extant Wood and Artifact Distribution
Sections of large wooden
structural elements were uncovered in all excavation units. Their
state of preservation varied widely, depending on the matrix in which
the individual elements lay. In general, those buried under the sands of
the berms or within the silty sands of the interior of the depression
were in a much better state of preservation. Conversely, those pieces of
wood found in the thick, wet sod of the interior were given to shreading
at the slightest application of pressure. Many of the poles
measured well over 10 cm in diameter. However, a number of these were
not circular in cross-section but rather had a flattened face indicative
of having been split.
The orientation of the large wooden poles in most squares is relatively
similar. In general, the poles lie along an N-S orientation. This
orientation differs somewhat from what we had perceived from the surface
prior to excavation based on the alignment of the berm. This difference
may be related to the way the superstructure eventually collapsed (see
discussion). Those found along the sides of the depression, under berm
deposits appear in a much more orderly disposition than those in the
ends. Along the south side there is an interesting pairing of the heavy
poles.
Many of the larger pieces of wood found in the
berm sands at the ends of the structure bore evidence of having been
burned. Not only were many of these reduced to charcoal, but the sands
which surrounded them were fire-reddened, suggesting that they burned
after the collapse of the superstructure.
Artifacts were few. These consist mostly of faunal remains,
including large sections of antler with thick cortex. Most of the faunal
remains were recovered from the thin sod or the upper few centimeters of
the berm sands. Also found within the berm sands were two possible
chi-thos, a pièce esquillée and a few flakes.
Flakes and implements were recovered within the buried humus
horizon (Level III), on either side of the depression, which indicate an
earlier occupation. Indeed, a small concentration of large bifacial
debitage and calcined bone in and under the buried humus horizon in Unit
G, and a burin found at the top of the buried humus level, between two
poles in Unit E, attest to cultural manifestations markedly different
from the late prehistoric peoples to whom the construction of this
structure is provisionally attributed.
Discussion
Although the proportion of the large
semi-subterranean structure which has been excavated is much smaller
than Structure No.2 at MlTk-2 or the pit feature of
MlTj-2, the
information obtained is nonetheless very informative.
A
number of observations can be made relative to the superstructure. A
first one involves the arrangement of quite substantial poles parallel
to each other along the long sides of the depression. The stratigraphic
position of these poles under very thick deposits of sand leave no doubt
that this sand had been purposefully placed upon the tightly spaced
poles.
The situation is somewhat different at the ends
of long axis of the depression. There, the sand berm deposits were
thinner and many of the wooden structural elements had been charred or
otherwise reduced to charcoal. In addition, the surrounding sand matrix
had been oxidized by the heat which had transformed the wood. The
fire-reddened sands indicate that much of the oxidation took place after
the collapse of the superstructure, although the fire may have begun
while the structure was still standing. The fact that no evidence of
fire was found along the sides of the depression suggests that the ends
of the superstructure may have been more vulnerable to fire. This could
have resulted from exposure of the poles while the structure was still
standing or following its collapse. The fact that relatively less sand
appears to have been placed at the ends, and that fire appears to have
been able to easily access the wooden poles under the sand, may indicate
that entrances were found in these areas.
As detailed
earlier, most of the artifacts are either faunal remains or ubiquitous
pieces of debitage, most of which were found in the berm sands. The
single scraper, the possible cobble spall scrapers as well as the pièce
esquillée could easily be found in a number of culturally
distinct assemblages. However, as such items are prominent in late
prehistoric Athapaskan tool kits and given the state of preservation of
the wooden structural elements, it is expected that most of the material
found so far can be ascribed to a local expression of that
manifestation. However, the recovery of some debitage attesting to a
clearly bifacial technology as well as a burin showing some similarities
with ASTt burins recovered in the Great Bear Lake area (Clark
1987:figure 4.8), all in Level III or at its interface with Level II,
suggest an older component is associated with the buried humus level and
some of its associated artifacts are to be found in the redeposited berm
sands.
Accepting for the moment that most of the
collection, especially the non-calcined faunal remains, relates to the
later occupation, we can gain some insights into the activities which
took place at this locality. A first tentative conclusion is that fall
caribou hunting was the primary economic pursuit; large antler fragments
with thick cortex indicate late summer/fall kills as the animals
migrated south into the boreal forest. Similarly, the chi-thos and pièce
esquillée suggest that hides, antler and perhaps bone were being
processed on the site. Lastly, the considerable quantities of split and
broken caribou bone indicates that the carcasses were also being
processed on site.
Additional work was carried out at NbTj-8 in 1988.
