1990 Field Report
(Part 1)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

New Archaeological Sites

Hyndman Lake Region

Given the amount of work that was planned at various known sites on Hyndman Lake, very little site survey was undertaken. In fact, only one new site was found in the region following the ascent of the stream entering the northeastern sector of Hyndman Lake. As we made our way up this tortuous yet swift stream we stopped at two localities where the stream approached high terraces or ridges. Although we failed to find any archaeological sites per se, adze-cut stumps were observed on a ridge which lies immediately north of the ridge upon which NbTj-12 and NbTj-13 had been identified in 1988 (Pilon 1989:8-9).

Field No: 90JLP-8
Borden No: NbTj-19

On the way back from the small rectangular lake at the head of this stream, we examined a NW-SE trending ridge located a few hundred metres east of the third major bend in the stream. Here, along the southwestern flank of the esker-like formation we found a number of adze-cut stumps and eventually a small depression with a ridge quite visible on either of the long sides of the feature. A slight accumulation seemed apparent at the extremities of the depression as well. The depression's maximum dimensions are 1 m 50 x 90 cm x 30 cm while the maximum extent of the surrounding earth ridge is approximately 3 m x 3 m.

Test pits located along the earth ridges (berms) revealed accumulations of gravelly sand (20-25 cm thick) on top of organic layers. At one extremity, the berm deposits lay atop a red sand which seemed to contain minute fragments of calcined bone.

A test unit placed within the depression revealed a fine sand which contained wood fragments. The latter were still found at a depth of 40 cm at which point the test was halted.

A few fire-cracked rocks were noted along the crest of the ridge some 15 m to the south of the semi-subterranean feature.

Simon Lake (Gaitataley) Region

Gaitataley is the Gwich'in name for the Lake which I referred to as Simon Lake in 1987. At that time it was simply a convenience since the lake was unnamed on official maps. The exact meaning of the word is uncertain. Both Willie and Victor Modeste indicated that it refers to "passing through or going through" something. That something is likely the abundant grasses which grow in the shallow waters of the lake. This lake is said to be a good fishing lake, perhaps when fish ascend the Kugaluk River to spawn. In any case, a substantial portion of our brief stay at Gaitataley was spent in examining a number of localities around the lake. Our work, however, was hampered by a lack of watercraft with which to travel on the lake. It was thanks to the kindness of Willard Hagen that we borrowed an aluminum canoe and on several occasions were given lifts in his scow.

Field No: 90JLP-9
Borden No: NbTk-3

Of the four sites found on the west side of Gaitataley, 90JLP-9 (NbTk-3) is by far the easiest to relocate. It is situated at the tip of a long point of the high terrace which dominates most of the west side of the lake.
Structure A

The site is comprised of four semi-subterranean features. The largest of the four structures conforms to the pattern noted elsewhere in the southwest Anderson Plain. It is excavated along the east edge of the terrace, some 40-45 m from the tip of the former point. It consists of a depression of modest size (2 m x 1.5 m x 50 cm) oriented along a N-S axis, surrounded by a ridge of earth which is best seen on the west and north sides. The maximum area covered by the depression and berm is approximately 4m x 4m. A test pit in the south berm revealed 5 cm of sod under which 7 cm of brown sand were found which lay on a 3 cm thick organic layer which in turn was underlain by a brown gravelly sand of unknown depth. In the depression, the thick sod (up to 20 cm) was found to contain numerous cobbles and near its base, wood fragments. This sod was underlain by a grey-brown gravelly sand of unknown depth.


Structure B

The second semi-subterranean structure is located immediately adjacent to Structure A. In fact, it appears to have partially destroyed the western berm of the latter feature, and might thus be a more recent construction.

The depression measures 1 m 60 x 1 m x 20 cm. Its long axis is the same as Structure A, i.e. N-S. A slight accumulation of soil was noted along the north end of the depression, but otherwise there is no easily perceptible berm. Testing within the depression showed 20 cm of sod atop a grey-brown gravelly sand.


Structure C

Structure C is similar to the previously described semi-subterranean feature, Structure B, in that there was no apparent berm deposits on either side of the depression whose internal dimensions are 1.3 m x 1 m x 20 cm. It is located about 4 m from the western edge of the high terrace and its long axis is oriented in a general E-W direction.

A test pit located within the depression revealed a 20 cm thick sod which contained numerous charcoal fragments. The next level was a gravelly sand (20 cm) with a high organic content which overlay the basal brown gravelly sand.


Structure D

The fourth semi-subterranean feature was found 6 m north of Structure C, some 31 m from the tip of the point formed by the high terrace. Like Structure C, it too lacks any visible berm deposits. Its long axis is oriented in an E-W direction and its dimensions are 1 m 10 x 1 m 10 x 20 cm.

The stratigraphy within the depression was as follows: 1-20 cm of sod which contained wood charcoal fragments, 2-30 cm of gravelly sand with scattered wood charcoal fragments (wood fragments were noted at a depth of 50 cm), 3-brown basal gravelly sand of unknown depth.
Field No: 90JLP-11
Borden No: NbTk-4

The north end of Simon Lake (Gaitataley) is bordered on the west side by an esker-like ridge where NbTk-1 is located. East of this ridge is a broad, low, valley-like expanse where additional recent cultural remains were found and which are described further as part of NbTk-1. However, continuing further east another, smaller esker-like ridge is encountered. It trends NW-SE. At the very northwestern tip of this ridge a semi-subterranean feature was discovered. It lies within a meter of the precipitous yet treed north slope of the ridge and less than four meters from the more moderate southern flank of the ridge. The long axis of the feature is oriented generally SW. However, the depression is more-or-less circular with a diameter of about 1.1 m. Slight lateral ridges are evident on all four sides giving the overall structure maximum dimensions of 2.5 m x 3.0 m. The bottom of the depression lies approximately 20 cm below the level of the undisturbed surface. A test pit located within the depression revealed a thick sod layer (20cm) overlying a gravelly sand of unknown depth.

Field No: 90JLP-12
Borden No: NbTk-5

To the south of 90JLP-9 (NbTk-3), the high terrace rise slightly and forms a broad, flat height of land between Simon Lake (Gailataley) and the stream entering it from the southwest. From the point on which 90JLP-9 (NbTk-3)) was found, the western terrace edge swings in a wide arc toward the stream. At the point where the two meet there is a high, steep, actively eroding bank some 10-15 m in height. From this point, one proceeds approximately 200 metres directly east and about 100 meters from the curving high terrace edge. The forest cover is quite open with a caribou moss understorey. Two semi-subterranean features were located in this area. Adze-cut stumps were noted within a wide area surrounding the two structures.

The first semi-subterranean feature, the westernmost (Structure A), exhibits a well-defined berm around an oval depression(measuring about 1.9 m x 1.4 m x 0.3 m. The overall dimensions of the structure are 4.5 m x 4.0 m. The long axis is oriented in a general NW-SE direction. A fire-cracked rock was noted to the west of the feature, projecting slightly above the moss carpet.

Structure B was found 14 meters to the east of Structure A. Its overall dimensions are approximately 3 m x 3 m with the depression measuring 1.3 m x 1.0 m. Slight berm ridges were visible along the sides of the depression but none could be discerned at the ends.

Field No: 90JLP-13
Borden No: NbTk-6

The southeast shore of Simon Lake (Gaitataley) is marked by a point which advances into the lake about 1 km north of the point at which the Kugaluk River enters the lake. Just north of this point is a protuberance of the shore marked by a high terrace (10-15 m) which supports an open spruce-lichen forest growth. This stand of black spruce trees is delimited to the south by a small stream bed and to the north and east by a poorly-drained expanse of treeless muskeg. Three semi-subterranean features were located on this high terrace.

Structure A
Near the point at which the high terrace drops down (about 30 m) to the small stream bed, a number of fire-cracked rock were noted piercing through the moss and lichen ground cover. Limited testing resulted in the discovery of additional fire-cracked rocks, fresh and calcined faunal bone, oxidized sands and one siliceous argillite flake. This hearth area lay approximately 15 m from a large semi-subterranean structure which itself was about 2 m from the edge of the terrace.

The semi-subterranean structure was oriented parallel to the terrace edge and consisted of well-defined lateral ridges or berms along side a central depression with relatively steep sides. No berms were noted at the ends of the depression. The overall, maximum dimensions of the depression are 6 m x 3.5 m. The depression measured 3.5 m x 1.5 m x 0.4 m. Fire-cracked rocks were found in test pits located immediately south and east of the structure. A test pit placed within the depression revealed a thick layer of sphagnum overlying a gravelly sand which itself rested on a layer of burned wood.

Adze-cut stumps were noted in the general vicinity.


Structure B
A second semi-subterranean structure was found some 65 m further north along the edge of the high terrace. Like the first, this feature was located quite close to the terrace edge (5 m) and similarly oriented. Berms were quite visible along the sides of the depression and much lower accumulations were apparent at the ends. The depression measured 2 m x 1.5 x 0.3 m with gently sloping sides. The overall area covered by the feature was approximately 4 m x 3 m. A test pit dug into the bottom of the depression revealed a thick moss cover with some burned wood fragments (20 cm) over a layer of gravelly sand measuring about 15-20 cm, and finally a layer of decayed wood was encountered. A test pit located along the north edge of the depression showed a thin moss cover over 3 cm of gravelly sand which overlay a buried humus level.

Again, adze-cut stumps were observed in the general vicinity of this structure which formed a cluster separate from those apparently associated with Structure A.


Structure C
The third semi-subterranean structure was found approximately 40 m NE of Structure B in a cluster of adze-cut stumps. However, one adze-cut stump was was also found along the south edge of the depression of this structure, thus providing an indication of its age in relation to the nearby Structure B. An additional suggestion of relative age is provided by the fact that the sides of the depression are much more gently sloping than Structure B.

The overall dimensions of the feature are approximately 3 m x 3 m and the depression measures about 1.5 m x 0.75 m x 0.3 m. The long axis of the depression is oriented NNE. A test pit placed within the depression showed a thick sphagnum layer (15 cm) overlying a gravelly-sand of unknown depth. At least one fire-cracked rock fragment was found at a depth of about 35 cm.
Field No: 90JLP-15
Borden No: NbTk-7

The location of this site is the most difficult to describe of all the sites found to date. It was found during a traverse of the high terrace on which 90JLP-9 (NbTk-3) and 90JLP-12 (NbTk-5) were found. After reaching the point at which the high terrace meets the small stream, we followed the edge of the eroding bank until the edge of the high terrace again swung inland, in a general SE direction. At some point, perhaps 1 km from the stream, we encountered a relative clearing in the middle of which we observed a depression measuring 2m x 1.5 m x 0.3 m. Adze-cut stumps were noted in the general vicinity. No lateral berms could be identified. A test pit within the depression showed a thick sphagnum layer (15 cm) overlying a brown sand (10 cm), which in turn was followed by a thin organic layer (5 cm), and finally a basal layer of fine sand of unknown depth. About 50 m further east, a number of fire-cracked rocks were observed and discovered in test pits. However, no artifacts were found.

Field No: 90JLP-16
Borden No: NbTk-8

This site locality was identified by Willie Simon Modeste, Victor Modeste, John Norbert and Gordon Moore. The principal investigator did not visit the site and so a detailed description of its location cannot be provided here. However, the general location was indicated on an aerial photograph and a brief description.

About a third of the way down the from the point where the Kugaluk River enters Simon Lake (Gaitataley), there is a gully which intersects a high terrace. On the north side of this gully, just at the crest of the terrace, a semi-subterranean structure was found. Well-defined lateral berms were noted and the dimensions of the 20-25 cm deep depression are approximately 2.2 m. Its general orientation is N-S.

A test pit excavated in the depression revealed a topmost layer of moss measuring (20 cm), followed by a sandy root mat (15 cm). At the bottom of this second level, charcoal and at least 2 poles were observed. The next level was a fine sand in excess of 50 cm in depth.