1990 Field Report
(Part 2)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

Revisited Archaeological Sites

Field No: 88JLP-17
Borden No: NbTj-17

First discovered in 1988, the meagre collection (12 pieces) nonetheless consisted of a wide array of raw materials (at least 4 distinct types) and implements (a pièce esquillée, 2 burin fragments and a burin spall). At this time, no features had been discovered.

Goals

We returned to conduct intensive testing of the site in order to verify the apparent presence of an Arctic Small Tool tradition (ASTt) occupation, and obtain a more meaningful sample, hopefully including datable materials).

During our stay, 11 square metres were excavated so as to encompass the most productive of the 3 positive 1988 shovel test pits. As a result of our pragmatic extensions of the grid, we appear to have fully excavated a small activity area centered on an equally small combustion zone.

Stratigraphy

The stratigraphy was quite simple and straightforward. The surface layer was dominated mainly by lichens and mosses with some dwarf birch in Unit E and adjacent to Unit B. Underlying this loose surface cover was a compact root mat with a thin layer of humus at its base. It is within this thin humus that most of the artifacts were found. The following level is considered the basal terrace surface and consists of a medium sand in which occasional large stones were found.

The only deviations from this stratigraphic succession was a frost crack described below, and sand lensing which occurred in proximity to the dwarf birch thickets mentioned earlier. These thin, yet distinct layers of fine sand appear to have accumulated near what amount to wind breaks and suggest a period of localized aeolian activity.

Features

The central combustion zone is characterized by a more-or-less circular area of fire-reddened sand (diameter: 30 cm) with an associated, sparse cluster of fire-cracked rocks. No faunal remains were found. Charcoal was collected from the oxidized sands. Although the sample consisted of only 1.9 gm of charcoal, a radiocarbon date of 3470±430 B.P. (S-3377) was obtained.

A possible post-mould was located less than a metre to the west of the hearth area. In plan view, it was slightly oblong (10 cm x 15 cm) and extended into the fine basal sand about 10 cm. The base of the dark stain in profile was rounded.

The only other feature uncovered in our testing was what appear to be a frost crack. This narrow, linear feature had a U-shaped profile (10-15 cm below the surface of the adjacent basal sands) and extended in direction, passing through the hearth area. Lithic artifacts seemed to be more concentrated within this feature, than in the surrounding areas, especially in the southern half of Unit D.

Artifact Collection

The debitage collection is comprised of 698 pieces. The variety of raw materials found in our excavations is even broader than the range noted in 1988. There are a number of different fine-grained cherts which were used (at least 6 varieties), along with siliceous argillite, a coarse-grained metamorphic rock, and a fine-grained, relatively soft stone which was not only chipped, but also ground. The general size range of the debitage strongly suggests that chipping activities at this site, or at least within the area we sampled, were dominated by final tool preparation and tool resharpening.

The inventory of implements includes a complete spalled burin, 1 burin blank, 13 burin spalls made from a number of raw materials, 1 complete bipointed projectile point, 9 microblades or microblade fragments, 5 pièces esquillées, 1 end scraper, 3 biface fragments and 2 retouched flakes.

This site, along with three others in the southwest Anderson Plain (NbTj-8, NbTj-9 and MlTk-2), provided information which served as the basis for an analysis of the Arctic Small Tool tradition in the region.