Compte rendu 1987-3

1987 Field Report
(Part 3)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

Field No: 87JLP-25
Borden No: NbTj-7
Location: Hyndman Lake

A semi-subterranean feature located at the edge of a bench (7-8 m above lake level) was discovered on the southernmost tip of the wide point on the north shore of Hyndman Lake. Distinct ridges adjacent to the rectangular depression were noted on the east, west and south sides while no such feature could be discerned on the north side. The internal dimensions of the depression are approximately 2.5 m x 1.9 m x 0.3-0.4 m.

We discovered a substantial section of caribou antler partly buried in the sandy bench, a few meters to the east. A fire-cracked rock was also noted in proximity to this find. These two artifacts suggest either an associated activity area or a distinct occupation from that of the semi-subterranean feature.

Field No: 87JLP-26
Borden No: NbTj-6
Location: Hyndman Lake

Fire-cracked rocks were first noted on the surface and later discovered in the thin sod (5-7 cm) which covered light brown basal sand in a shovel test pit on a low bench (approximately 4 m) at the very tip of the long point opposite NbTj-8, on the south shore of Hyndman Lake.

Although this point seems a very likely locality for prehistoric use, since the lake narrows markely, most of it covered with a very thick organic layer which is locked in permafrost. Over the course of our stay across from this point at NbTj-8, numerous caribou and moose were observed using this narrows to cross the lake.

Field No: 87JLP-27
Borden No: NbTj-10
Location: Hyndman Lake

The western shore of Hyndman Lake is comprised of at least three distinct benches. The first two are fairly narrow while the third consists of a broad, well-drained flat surface covered with a thick carpet of caribou moss extending more than 100 m inland. A very open forest of spruce trees occurs towards the back of the bench which is delimited by a hummocky, wetter zone.

It is toward the back of the third terrace that we discovered a semi-subterranean feature. The depression was filled with sphagnum moss and was thus frozen a few centimetres under the surface of the vegetation. The oval depression, flanked by a slight ridge at its northern extremity, measured approximately 2.2 m x 1.9 m x 0.5-0.6 m. Only a few adze-cut stumps were noted in the general vicinity. One of these was located very close to the feature.

Field No: 87JLP-28
Borden No: NbTj-5
Location: Hyndman Lake

Two chert flakes and a few fire-cracked rocks were discovered on a narrow ridge on the east side of the last bend in the stream linking Hyndman Lake and the first small lake downstream. The flakes were initially found in a tree-fall, but subsequent shovel testing failed to produce additional evidence of occupation.

Field No: 87JLP-29
Borden No: MlTj-7
Location: lac à la Truite

In 1986 I had walked along the north shore of the long lake which lies at the foot of the high bench on the south side of the narrows in the middle of lac à la Truite. That shore consists of a narrow ridge about 3 m above the lake level and slightly higher than the land to the north which is hummocky and unsuitable for occupation during most of the year. At that time the only indication of past human use had been the discovery of a small calcined bone fragment in the root system of a tree-fall located near the eastern end of the lake.

I retraced my steps again this summer convinced that more should be found. Indeed, I noted adze-cut stumps all along the ridge. Once at the eastern end, in the general vicinity of the tree-fall which had yielded the calcined bone, a number of shovel test pits were excavated and one produced a small handful of chert debitage near the southern edge of the bench . No additional remains were discovered.

Field No: 87JLP-30
Borden No: MlTk-15
Location: lac à la Truite

On the north side of lac à la Truite there is a high bench (on the order of 10-15 m above the lake level) which lies away from the active shore over quite a distance before again swinging south and becoming an actively eroding bluff of the lake. This intact terrace section is located approximately 1-2 km west of the narrows in the centre of the lake.

At the western extremity of this bench we discovered a semi-subterranean feature near the terrace edge. A number of axe-cut and adze-cut stumps were noted in the general vicinity of the structure. Its internal dimensions measured approximately 4 m x 2 m x 0.5-0.6 m. Well defined ridges occurred on either side of the depression while they were barely visible at the ends.

A shovel test pit was excavated into the southern berm. Underlying the caribou moss sod we found a layer of brown sand (approximately 30 cm thick) underlain by a yellow sand with fragments of wood at its surface. No artifacts were recovered.

Field No: 87JLP-31
Borden No: MlTk-14
Location: lac à la Truite

As we continued along the edge of the terrace, toward its eastern extremity where it met the lake and became an active bluff, it was soon apparent that much of the terrace had been used in one way or another in late prehistoric times. This was amply attested to by the discovery of numerous adze-cut stumps along the top of the terrace and also along the lower bench in front of the high terrace. A number of ravines which cut through the high terrace serve as useful markers for partitioning the terrace into sections exhibiting higher evidence of past use. This site therefore consists of a zone within which 2 semi-subterranean features and a burial were discovered. It also represents an area within which more evidence of prehistoric occupation likely occurs given the concentration of adze-cut stumps and the suitability of the terrace for human occupation.

Near the terrace edge in the western portion of the area, a small square to circular depression with a visible berm only along the downslope side was discovered. Its internal dimensions measured approximately 1.40 m x 1.40 m x 0.30-0.40 m. A marked increase in the number of adze-cut stumps was noted in the area around the structure.

A second, much larger semi-subterranean feature was discovered on the eastern side of the wide ravine which cross-cuts the terrace near the middle of its length. This rectangular to oval depression measured 5.70 m x 2.60 m x 1.50 m. Very distinct berms were noted on either side of the depression but these were poorly defined at the ends.

Numerous adze-cut and axe-cut stumps were recorded in the area surrounding the structure.

At the eastern of the same terrace section, i.e. just before the next ravine, on the slope in front of the terrace edge, we found what appears to have been a raised infant's burial. It consists of two upright poles whose extremities were whittled in order to receive the ends of the split and hollowed log coffin, in the ends of which large holes had been bored. The bottom portion of the coffin was about 1.50 m above the level of the ground. The rectangular cavity in the bottom section of the coffin mesured about 40-50 cm in length and 15-20 cm in width and was fairly shallow (about 10 cm). The lid had been damaged somewhat and was only attached by one of the ends. It dangled over the edge of the bottom portion.

In spite of the absence of evidence attesting to a fairly recent forest fire in the immediate area of the raised burial, the exterior surfaces of the vertical poles were partially charred. One can only assume that this burial is quite old although the wordworking that we observed seems to indicate the use of metal tools.