1988 Field Report
(Part
3)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Field No: 87JLP-21
Borden No: NbTj-3
Situated on a series of benches
cut into the southern
extremity of the long esker forming the eastern end of Hyndman
Lake, this site covered an area of more than 2000 square metres.
Preliminary recoveries in 1987 suggested the possibility of a
microblade component (Pilon 1988:24-25).
In order to obtain additional specimens which could aid in
verifying the presence of the microblade component and provide
additional insights into the activities carried out at the site, a
total of 11 square metres were excavated. These units were located
so as to encompass a particularly productive 1987 shovel test pit.
Initial testing in 1987 had indicated that artifacts would be
found in the thin sod/humus and into the upper few centimetres of
the underlying sand and gravels of the esker. Given the coarseness
of these deposits, it was clear that very substantial downward
movement of artifacts was to be expected and so vertical control
was only maintained in 5 of the 11 square metres in order to verify
this proposition. Otherwise, given the time constraints,
provenance was limited to recording the square metre within which
flake lots and implements were found.
Since the matrix within which the artifacts had been found was
composed principally of coarse sand and gravel, all excavated
matrix, with the exception of the surface vegetation, was screened
through 1/8 inch mesh screening.
Vertical Artifact Distribution
Although the artifacts gathered in any one square metre unit
were lumped together, regardless of the level within which they
were found (with the exception of 5 square metres), excavation
nonetheless proceeded according to each of the three visually
distinct levels; 1-vegetation, 2-root mat/humus, 3-basal
sand/gravel.
Artifacts were found in the lower two levels, but seemed most
concentrated in the upper 10 cm or so of the basal sand/gravel.
The upper portion of this level consisted mostly of sand while the
proportion of gravel and cobbles increased with depth. There were
a number of notable instance when specimens were found up to 15 cm
or more into the sand/gravel. Rather than suggest a distinct
occupation, I believe such depth is due to the nature of the
deposits which could readily allow thin flakes to work their way
down with very minimal trampling.
Whenever a lithic concentration was encountered in the root
mat/humus, a corresponding one was found in the upper sand/gravel
below it, thus suggesting that these were part of the same
concentration. However, the highest
densities occurred within the upper levels of the sand/gravel layer
and not in the root mass/humus.
A very real link between the artifacts found in the root
mat/humus and the upper sand/gravel is demonstrated by the numerous
instances of refitting. At least 5 cases were documented in those
units were materials were separated according to level. Additional
refits occurred in the other units as well.
In spite of the above arguments which suggest that the
artifacts found in the root mat/humus and the underlying
sand/gravel should be considered as a single collection, there is
some reason to be cautious in discussing the relation between the
collection and the behaviour of a single group. The first caveat
is the presence of numerous surface indications of a major forest
fire in the site vicinity sometime on the order of 50-75 years ago
which could have reduced the humus to ashes and thereby mixed
previously separated assemblages. In fact, the greatest densities
were found in thesand/gravel and not the root mass/humus.
This observation corroborates the presumed effect of forest fires.
Were this not the case, the opposite concentrations would have
been found unless the people who used the area were in the habit
of stripping the site of its humic layer before using it.
A second warning against
a simple occupational model for the tested area is the discovery of
a few charred bone fragments in association with fire-cracked rocks
(2) in the humic layers (the fire-cracked rocks were resting in the
root mat while a few charred bone fragments were found in the same
vicinity, but in the humus). These items, along with a thin
scattering of adze-cut stumps in the general site vicinity, suggest
a late prehistoric or historic use of the locality.
In spite of the above warnings, the analysis which follows
does not distinguish between separate occupations, if such is
indeed the case, but must proceed by treating the collection as a
unit. Hopefully the conclusions drawn from this study will reflect
this problem.
Horizontal Artifact Distribution
The expansion of the excavated area was predicated upon the
apparent concentration of material as the work proceeded. Indeed,
the greatest concentrations were found in the southern squares of
unit A and in the northern portions of the adjacent unit C. There
was a marked reduction in the densities of artifacts in the
adjacent units. Once again, cross-mending of linear flakes and
microblades show at least some instances of horizontal movement between
separated units.
Artifacts
The collection recovered from these 11 square metres is the
largest yet found in the southest Anderson Plain. It also exhibits
the greatest densities of artifacts. However, I am certain that
should excavations be undertaken at the Thunder River quarry site,
MiTi-1, that NbTj-3 would pale in comparison. Yet in relation to
all other tested sites in the region, a remarkable amount of
material was found with in a relatively small area. For this
reason the lithic collection deserves careful consideration.
The most important artifact category of course is the
debitage category (1823 pieces including 60 linear flakes and flake
fragments). The next most numerically important artifact is the
microblade and microblade fragment (62). The rest of the collection
is made up of cores and core fragments (43) and variously retouched
or shaped implements (39). The impression gained from the initial
consideration of these figures is that the reduction of cores was
a very important activity at this site.
Blades/Microblades
A great deal of difficulty was encountered in attempting to
determine which pieces of debitage could legitimately be related to
the systematic production of blades and/or microblades. Part of
the problem is that a very significant activity which took place at
this site was the acquisition and processing of lithic raw
materials. Judging from the amount of cortical flakes and nodule
fragments recovered, it would appear that the people were
exploiting a local cobble source, quite possibly the esker itself.
Five items were found which can
unequivocably be identified as
microblades or fragments
thereof (a-e). None represents a complete
microblade. However it is possible to measure their widths and
thicknesses. The values of the former are rather high (mean width
9.09 mm), approaching the practical limit usually employed to
distinguish between blades and microblades (1 cm). All exhibit
very regular parallel margins with 3 similarly oriented dorsal
flake scars, giving them classic trapezoidal cross-sections. The
three specimens which retain their proximal portions intact all
have small, smooth punctiform striking platforms which were
isolated by carefully trimming the dorsal edges of the platforms.
These microblades are accompanied by an additional 57 items
which also share most of the essential characteristics of
microblades. However, they exhibit a greater range of variation in
many of the basic microblades characteristics (both morphological
and metric) mentioned above. For example, although many of the
dorsal surfaces of the striking areas were modified prior to
microblade detachment by trimming, crushing, and grinding, the
result is sometimes a narrow and wide platform remnant rather than
a puntiform striking platform. In either case however, there is a
universal trend to use smooth platforms. These microblades often
exceed 10 mm in width and are usually thicker than the first five
microblades.
The second group includes
a number of complete or
near-complete specimens (f-h). As a result it can be remarked that
the
outlines could stray from the presumed desired end-product of a
thin parallel-sided microblade. In many cases the irregularity of
the outline appears to reflect the stage at which the particular
microblade was detached from the core. In a number of cases,
vestiges of cortex or the weathered exterior of the core were
observed on the dorsal surfaces of some microblades. This presence
of cortex suggests that in certain cases there was no preliminary
shaping of the core prior to microblade production. It is
reasonable to expect these initial microblades to show a greater
tendency to follow surface irregularities and internal flaws.
Following the successful removal of `ideal' microblades it is
likely that a point would be reached at which the physical
conditions necessary for microblade production (for example
striking angle, core size, internal raw material homogeneity, etc.)
ceased to exist within a certain range of tolerance. At this
point, less than ideal microblades might be produced before changes
were made to those conditions which could be modified (rejuvinating
the platform and thus modifying the striking angle). Alternately,
microblade production could simply cease. At this point, the core
may still be useful for other purposes such as flake production or
modification into an implement.
The is a third group of linear debitage which warrants
specific attention. It consists of 25 specimens which were
detached from the corners of blocky, angular cores.
In some cases
there had been at least one previous longitudinal removal prior to
actually detaching the corner of the block. if these specimens
were found in any other context they would not be accorded
particular attention since it is reasonable to expect a lithic
artisan to first removed these angularities when initial shaping a
blocky, angular core. However, given the presence of intentionally
produced microblades, these linear corner
flakes take on a totally
different meaning (i-m). Since they represent some of the first
flakes
removed from blocky, angular cores, they would have set up a
pattern on the flaking face of these cores which would serve to
orient later microblade removals. In their own right they might be
considered blades/microblades, albeit crude ones.
The significant element in this whole discussion is that in
the process of microblade production there will be a wide range of
biproducts. It is difficult to exclude these in the examination of
the present collection, but it is equally difficult to compare the
microblades from this site with those found elsewhere because of
the tendency to focus only on the refined and idealized products as
most researchers conceive these to be.
One final point should be made in considering the linear
debitage in the collection from NbTj-3. It has been discussed
within the context of a single technological orientation, namely
the production of microblades. It is entirely possible that the
desired end-products could just as easily have been parallel-sided
flakes of a range or sizes which included items usually identified
as blades. Alternatively, the collection could very well represent
the remains of different groups separated by centuries or millenia
who shared a common technique but who put the products to markedly
different uses.
In considering either alternate interpretation it is obvious
that a detailed analysis of the existing collection might indicate
a preference for one or the other. Additional excavations under
more controlled conditions could also provide a better basis for
interpretation.
Cores and Core Fragments
The collection from NbTj-3 consists to a large extent of the
biproducts of the initial reduction of large pieces of
cryptocrystalline raw materials. Although finished and evidently
used lithic implements are present, the manufacture of such tools
is not as well represented.
For convenience sake the cores and core fragments have been
divided into 5 groups; 1-pebble nodules, 2-quartzite cores,
3-tabular cores, 4-bipolar cores and 5-exhausted cores/core
fragments.
The first category, split pebbles, is exactly what one
envisions upon hearing the term. They are black, cherty cobbles
(6) which had undoubtedly been selected on the basis of the
reticulate patterns of fractures on their smoothed exterior
surfaces. My own experience on the cobble beaches nearby led me to
systematically look for such surfaces in order to find nodules of
chert. In any case, these particular specimens were totally
unsuitable for further reduction since the removal of one or two
flakes soon indicated an intricate network of internal flaws and
fracture planes such that the flaked surface exhibited a very rough
coarse granular surface. They were abandoned by the artisans.
Quartzite cores (3) have been separated from the chert and
siliceous argillite cores and core fragments since they do not
easily fit into either of the other groups which we have defined
for those raw material types. Indeed, it might be argued that
given the very significant microstructural differences between
chert and siliceous argillite on the one hand, and quartzite on the
other, basic approaches to working with quartzite would have
differed. Such differences might be found in the general size of
the nodules being used, the most efficient striking angles, the
size of the flakes produced, etc. For the moment the basic
descriptive data have been segragated to permit an initial
evaluation of possible differences among the core remnants.
Tabular cores (14) constitute the most important primary raw
material form if the mere frequency of such items in the collection
is a reflection of their use by the site's inhabitants.
A core renmant is deemed to have originally been a tabular
piece of stone by the fact that it retains cortex on two opposing
parallel faces. These cortical surfaces usually indicate a
relatively thick piece compared to the other dimensions. Moreover,
the range of sizes indicates that such tabular cores also included
items which could also be described as blocky or angular cores, the
likely sources of the linear corner flakes described earlier.
In any event, the basic reason for the tabular character of
these cores lies in the that they are all of siliceous argillite
which has internal bedding planes, being a metamorphosed
sedimentary rock.
An interesting feature of the tabular cores is that reduction
often did not proceed beyond a few flake removals, usually from
corners. No apparent internal flaws were discernable and no use
was made of the cores as tools. Could some of these represent
flaking not aimed at actually producing anything useful, something
akin to doodling? Alternately, could these cores represent the
remains of a novice, learning some of the principles of stone
working?
Two cores, ultimately drawn from two of the above groups of
cores (tabular and pebble) appear to have been rested on stone
anvils while flakes were removed from them. In both cases, the
extremity which was in contact with the hard surface consists of a
ridge exhibiting crushing and microflaking. Neither was
extensively flaked and both appear to be of relatively good quality
raw material. It is difficult to entertain the idea that these
items may have served as tools, however, it is also premature to
put aside the suggestion.
Lastly, there are 7 items which have been grouped together as exhausted cores/core
fragments. In all cases it seems clear that the intent was to remove flakes from these pieces
rather than attempt to give them a particularly functional shape. The apparent reason for their
abandonment was that they was been reduced to such a point as they could no longer be profitably
worked or they represent fragments from a larger core. Some of these fragments were undoubtedly
broken by the lithic artisans while others appear to have spalled subsequent to the abandonment of
the core through the action of frost of heat. The following data are provided simply to impart an
idea of the size range of these fragments. No further weight is attached to them.
Pièces Esquillées
Pièces esquillées are not an uncommon
implement on northern archaeological sites
although their ultimate function remains to be
adequately demonstrated for the many different
cultural contexts in which they have been
recovered.
In this analysis, pièces esquillées
are items
which usually exhibit grinding, crushing and
restricted flaking along a pair of opposing
ridges. Some have had culumnar flakes removed
from a lateral edge and may exhibit marked use at
these corners, other do not. The blank can be
just about anything. However, the artisans did
not seem to chose thin or exceedingly thick pieces
to modify. In one case (145a/270), the original
pièces esquillées appears to have split into two
thinner flat pieces which were subsequently used
individually as pièces esquillées. In general
these implement are significantly longer than they
are wide.
There has always been some difficulty in
determining exactly what could and should be
described as a pièce esquillée. In some instances
they can be confused with bipolar cores. However,
not one of the items which have been grouped as
pièces esquillées from NbTj-3 could be construed
as cores. Most are made on flakes and many of
these retain some cortex.
Gouges
For lack of a better understanding of the
following group of implements, the term gouge has
been selected in order to reflect a common trait.
Like the pièces esquillées, these tools tend to be
longer than they are wide, much longer. Some of
them are simply made on long flakes (113,28) while
others might be core fragments or core remnants
(29,107). One (149) is simply a modified pebble.
All of these items have exhibit crushing, grinding
and/or flaking along one of the narrow extremities
which form sharp angled edges. The edge
modification can be bifacial or unifacial. When
viewed from the side these working edges are quite
flat while an end-on view reveals 2 of them as
having marked curvatures.
Scrapers
A total of 8 implements have been identified
as scrapers. The trait shared by 7 of these is a
steeply retouched, convex, working edge. The
unifacial marginal retouch is always located on
the dorsal surface of the distal edges of the
flake blanks. Four of these scrapers are made of
siliceous argillite, two are of quartzite and one
is made of a mottled grey chert. The eighth
scraper, which might more properly be described as
a concave scraper, is made of siliceous argillite.
There was no shaping of the siliceous
argillite blanks. They all appear to have been
made on blades (157, 92, 64) or elongated flakes
with quite pronounced dorsal ridges (157, 133a).
However the latter two siliceous argillite
scrapers (147, 133a) split longitudinally such
that comment on their original shapes or blanks is
tenuous. The chert specimen (146) had two
slightly invasive flakes removed from one lateral
margin, but overall the general morphology of the
tool, an oblong or rectangular shape, was not
affected. The smaller quartzite scraper (187) was
made on an unmodified short but thick flake
retaining an especially pronounced bulb of
percussion. Lastly, the longer quartzite scraper
(267), although incomplete (the proximal portion
and part of one lateral margin are missing), was
retouch along its extant lateral margin possibly
to give it an elongated shape. In contrast to the
other scrapers, this specimen was much thicker.
The lateral retouch may have also been intended to
produce a working edge. Unfortunately the
coarseness of this raw material makes microscopic
determination of this fact virtually impossible.
The concave scraper exhibits steep dorsal
retouch which forms a wide, shallow concavity at
its distal extremity. The chord of this concavity
is markedly skewed from the short axis of the
tool. As such, there was a sharp tip left in the
middle of the distal end. Although limited
retouch is found on the ventral surface of this
tip, the heaviest wear is located within the
concavity and the apparent graver is just that.
Miscellaneous Implements and Tool Fragments
A number of tool fragments, both unificial
and bifacial, were recovered. Since in most cases
these are fairly small it is difficult to
conjecture about the implements of which they were
part. However, it should be pointed out that
although many of these fragments appear to have
been only marginally retouched, some were more
than likely from more formal tools including large
bifaces. This fact is corroborated by an initial
assessment of the unmodified debitage which
includes large biface thinning flakes.
Additional work was
carried out this site in 1990.
