1991 Field Report
(Part 1)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

New Archaeological Sites

Vidiitshuu (lac à la Truite or Trout Lake)

Father Emile Petitot (1889) published a map of the Northwest which abounds with place names and trails. This information has in some instances proven to be remarkably accurate and informative about the early contact period and even early times (Pilon 1990).

The details of the drainage network of the southwest Anderson Plain indicate that Petitot had not personally visited some parts of it. For example, Travaillant Lake, which measures approximately 13 km by 18 km, is, on his map, the same size as the next downstream lake, known locally as Andrew Lake. In reality, Andrew Lake is about 1/5 the size of Travaillant Lake. On the other hand, other details indicate that the sources of his information for this region were relatively dependable in terms of physical relations between water bodies and the overall shapes of these. For example, to the northeast of Travaillant Lake, there area two lakes connected by a trail. The westernmost of the two, which he names lac Tènlén, compares quite well in outline with Vidiitshuu (lac à la Truite) except that the western lobe of that lake is missing. The stream which heads straight north from the west end of his Tènlén corresponds quite well with the Kugaluk River (Vutediujik), although he does not have it emptying into the Eskimo Lakes. Petitot has a trail which leads from the north shore of the curving east end of his Tènlén to the southwest end of a lake which conforms with the outline of what is today called Tenlen Lake and whose name he gave as lac Despinè.

In 1985, a trail had been found 50 m or so east of Locality 1, MlTj-3, a late prehistoric site just east of the mouth of the stream entering Vidiitshuu from Tenlen Lake (Pilon 1985:23). This trail was followed to a small lake a few hundred metres east and presumably continues on to Tenlen Lake.

During our stay at Vidiitshuu this past summer, Willie Simon Modeste and myself attempted to locate Petitot's trail and other trails which may have existed in the area. In the process, additional portions of Vidiitshuu were surveyed.

Field No: 91JLP-1
Borden No: MlTj-8

The eastern portion of Vidiitshuu is comprised of two wide, curving bays which form a pincer-like appendage reaching towards the northwest end of Tenlen Lake. The southeast end of the broad, hilly peninsula which separates these two bays is marked by a narrow, elongated spit. Along the south-facing edge of this spit, artifacts were found eroding from the low terrace at two localities.

The first find spot is approximately 30 m from the tip of the spit. Calcined bone and fire-cracked rock were found eroding from the edge of the terrace which was about 2 m above the waters of the lake. Shovel test pits were excavated within 2 m of the eroding material and resulted in the discovery of additional fire-cracked rock and calcined bone as well as a single large siliceous argillite flake. Test pits placed further away from the terrace edge failed to recover any artifacts.

About 50 m further west, a single chert flake was found in a shovel test pit placed very near the eroding terrace edge. Some 2 m or so in from this test pit, a slight squarish depression was noted which measured approximately 2 m square and 10-15 cm in depth. A test pit placed within this depression yielded a piece of antler which appears to have been worked and fragments of a chert cobble which appears to have been broken by direct percussion.

At both localities, the artifacts occurred at the base of the sod (5-7 cm) which overlay a fine sand matrix of unknown depth.

Field No: 91JLP-2
Borden No: MlTj-9

Our search for a trail leading to Tenlen Lake began in earnest along the east shore of the easternmost bay which forms the east end of Vidiitshuu. In particular, a broad, flat, low-lying area was felt to offer the best terrain for a trail connecting these two lakes.

We began by first slowly cruising along the shoreline a short distance out from the lake's margin in the hope of glimpsing either a blazed tree or even the trail itself; we assumed that a major trail would likely have been maintained over time. This, however, proved fruitless. We then landed and began to criss-cross the area, again with the hope that we might note signs of a former trail. Although some promising paths were found, when followed they had more of the winding quality characteristic of game trails rather than ones made and used by people for overland travel which are usually fairly straight. This assessment was based on Willie Simon Modeste's evaluation, who as a trapper has travelled extensively on trail systems by dog team as well as by snowmobile, and has of course observed innumerable game trails. Indeed, when a number of trails were located during the course of later investigations, his basic dichotomy proved to be quite reliable.

During the course of our transects, the remains of an early to mid-twentieth century camp was found some 300 metres or so north of a small stream located in the southern part of the area.

This camp consists of the remains of at least two tent structures lying about 25 m from each other. The northernmost of the two consisted of a slight rectangular depression measuring about 5 m x 3.5 m with a series of inward lying short poles (about 1.5 m in length). Visible among these poles was a pair of short, notched and charred logs which would have served as stove supports. An empty can of OGDEN'S Fine Cut Tobbaco was observed lying near one side of the structure.

The second structure also consists of a rectangle of short inward pointing poles with others which seem to define the edges of the rectangular area. The short poles may represent poles to which the edges of a canvas tent roof were attached and the longer ones along the perimeter may have been placed at the base of the wall to hold down that portion of the tent.

It dimensions were approximately 4.5 m x 3 m. Notched log stove supports were also found near the centre of the structure. Nearby, a moose hide beaming pole was noted.

All the stumps in the general vicinity of this camp had been cut with a steel axe.

Field No: 91JLP-4
Borden No: MlTj-10

This site actually consists of a trail leading from the shores of Vidiitshuu to a small lake to the north of the easternmost of the two bays in the eastern portion of the lake. At the water's edge an old blaze is clearly visible on a large spruce tree. Immediately beside this tree, from the correct angle, a relatively clear path can be seen heading directly towards the small lake. A few axe-cut stumps were noted at the Vidiitshuu end of the trail and a few were scattered near the small lake. Where the trail met the small lake, a path could be followed around the south end of it. Midway along the east side of the small lake, a broad and perceptibly different trail continued towards Tenlen Lake. Here the ground surface appeared to have been disturbed and trees were knocked over as if bulldozed. The trail at this point was about 5-7 m in width while on the south side of the small lake it was on the order of 3-5 m in width. As we returned to our boat, we encountered a second trail leading to Vidiitshuu which was qualitatively similar to the apparently bulldozed portion we had just seen. Its terminus at Vidiitshuu was only a few metres away from the narrow trail we had first seen.

In attempting to interpret these two markedly different trails, it occurred to us that there had been one occasion when heavy equipment might have actually found itself in the area. During a 1985 survey flight over the next lake east of Tenlen Lake, we stopped at the east end of the lake known locally as Cabin Lake. There we found a wellhead (C.D.R. Tenlen A73) and the bulldozed remains of a former drilling camp. It is possible that the drilling equipment was skidded into Cabin Lake during the winter and that the broad trail which we found is the remains of the road used. The first and narrower trail on the other hand, with its blaze and axe-cut stumps was used and maintained for dog team and perhaps even foot travel. Although there is nothing to indicate that this is the trail shown on Petitot's 1889 map, it is worth noting that the trail leaves Vidiitshuu from the middle of the north shore of a broad, arcing bay in the east end of the lake, just as on Petitot's map.

Field No: 91JLP-20
Borden No: MlTk-27

The arcuate remnant of a former river terrace is located directly opposite the very tip of MlTk-2, on the east bank of the Kugaluk River (Vutediujik). The course of this river has since swung slightly westward and at present is actively eroding the tip of the MlTk-2 point. Along the south edge of this terrace feature, which measures about 80 metres in length, the steep face of the former river bank is quite visible. On either side the break in slope, is no longer as easily perceived. Instead, one only notes a gradual change in slope between the now stranded riverine terrace and the modern bank of the river. The vegetation on the terrace remnant reflects the well-drained nature of the feature with an open stand of tall spruce trees and an understory composed predominantly of lichens (the elongated clump of trees just below and to the left of the aircraft's wing tip). Behind the slightly raised beach crest, drainage is today poor and a thick layer of sphagnum is found with a reduced tree cover.

A series of 11 positive shovel test pits were excavated along this feature. These allow us to conclude that prehistoric remains occur along its entire length. Artifacts were found not only in the well-drained areas in relative proximity to the beach front, but also further back where water-saturated sphagnum deposits occurred. One may wonder if this does not indicate a change in the ground water and permafrost regimes, perhaps linked to a change in the location of the actual shore of the river.

At least three separate concentrations of fire-cracked rock were identified within a 35 metres stretch of the beach terrace. Test pits yielded a broad array of materials including tools and tool fragments, but no single item of truly diagnostic significance. Contemporaneity between the separate areas of combustion activities cannot be assumed.

Test Pit NumberContents
13 pieces of debitage, 1 faunal remain
252 pieces of debitage
3 21 pieces of debitage, 1 faunal remain
46 pieces of debitage
55 pieces of debitage, 1 end scraper
62 pieces of debitage, 1 biface fragment
71 faunal remain
81 piece of debitage
91 piece of debitage
101 piece of debitage
119 faunal remains

The most interesting area was found at the southeast end of the feature where chert debitage was found in significant quantities (Test Pits 1-5). Cherts are not frequently recovered from southwest Anderson Plain sites. The only systematic exception for which good evidence is readily available is the Arctic Small Tool tradition. In the manufacture of small and delicate implements such as projectile points and burins, these people frequently sought out fine cherts or highly silicified pieces of siliceous argillite. Although there was nothing found at this site to suggest their presence, it should be noted that 91JLP-20 (MlTk-27) is located less than 100 metres from the "East Point" area of MlTk-2, where a good Arctic Small Tool tradition component was excavated this summer.

Field No: 91JLP-21
Borden No: MlTk-28

The existence of a trail in the west lobe of Vidiitshuu was brought to my attention by Willie Simon Modeste. He knew of this trail from stories of "Old Moses" who used to make extensive trips in order to follow his trapline and used the trail which we identified here. Mr. Simon Modeste himself also used the trail in the relatively recent past during the winter.

The trail is marked by blazed spruce trees in a slight embayment along the north shore of the west lobe of Vidiitshuu. From here the trail leads straight back to the first of four small lakes which form a chain linking Vidiitshuu and Lure Lake through a low lying relict valley. Evidence of temporary camps were especially abundant at the Vidiitshuu end of the trail, where at least one recent historic tent emplacement was noted, numerous axe-cut stumps and the occasional tin can. The north end of the trail ended near the shore of the first small lake. Presumably this indicates that the primary use of this trail was made during winter when it actually continued onto the surface of the lake.

Near the apparent terminus, a rather large deadfall was found. The condition of the wood suggested some antiquity and Willie thought it had probably been made by "Old Moses". It was probably intended for a wolverine or a wolf.

The trail itself has not seen any intense use since several decades but in spite of this it is relatively easily followed, being marked by occasional cut trees, and presents a relatively firm walking surface, compared to the adjacent surface. One can only suppose that trail systems such as this have been in use for centuries.

Field No: 91JLP-22
Borden No: MlTk-29

Before leaving the northern portion of the west lobe of Vidiitshuu, we followed the shoreline to the east. Inside a small embayment we observed a high kame-like hill approximately 100 metres from the lake. Although the object of our inquiry there was initially the hill, a semi-subterranean structure located at the very base of this hill took up most of our time.

The semi-subterranean structure is excavated into a slight terrace cut into the very base of the hill. The matrix of this hill and the terrace is a coarse gravel with numerous cobbles and occasional boulders. Similarly, the ridges which surround the depression of the structure, consist of coarse gravel and some cobbles.

Adze-cut stumps were noted in the vicinity of the structure, but evidence of a forest fire within the last 40-50 years may have destroyed others.

The oval to rectangular depression measured 2 m x 1.10 m and 0.30 m in depth while the overall dimensions of the berms were 3.40 m x 2.70 m. A number of shovel test pits were excavated into the low berm or gravel ridge surrounding the depression. At the lakeward or south end, which is presumed to have been the entrance to the structure, a burned humus horizon, containing many fire-cracked rocks and faunal remains (these appear to be the remains of hare) was found under 20 cm of gravel and cobbles. Along the east berm, faunal remains, fire-cracked rocks and a large siliceous argillite flake were found under about 15 cm of large cobbles and sand. Finally fire-cracked rocks were found at the base of the sphagnum about 2 metres west of the semi-subterranean structure.

Field No: 91JLP-45
Borden No: MkTk-9

Our decision to investigate the south side of the west lobe follows reports of the existence of a trail which linked Vidiitshuu with Travaillant Lake (J.Cinq-Mars, personal communication). Interestingly, Petitot's 1889 map has a stream linking these two water bodies rather than a trail.

A trail was found which began immediately east of a small stream which drains a series of small lakes to the south of the west lobe of Vidiitshuu. This trail runs along the east side of the stream for perhaps 100-150 m then crosses the swift but narrow stream. This crossing is quite distinct since on either side of the stream there are high willows which have yet to obscure the narrow path. Upon crossing the stream, just at the top of a former lake terrace we noted the remains of an early to mid-twentieth century tent camp. The trail then proceeded directly to the first lake upstream by following the foot of the slope leading to the high plateau which encasses the stream valley. At times, especially nearer the small lake, the valley is quite narrow and the trail runs quite close to the stream.

Evidence of historic use is evident all along the course of the trail which we followed, in the form of axe-cut trees and blazes. The trail itself is relatively narrow, being able to accomodate a dog team or a snowmobile, but not much more. As with the trail at 91JLP-21 (MlTk-28) the path of the trail is still fairly compact compared to the adjacent land surface.

Willie Simon Modeste believes that once at the first small lake that we reached, the trail might have led through a string of larger lakes to the west and eventually entered the Travaillant River in the vicinity of Crossing Creek Lake or what is locally also known as David Lake.