1991 Field Report
(Part
6)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Field No: 85JLP-44
Borden No: MlTk-4
First discovered in 1985, the complexity of
MlTk-4 was increased
to in 1986 when a semi-subterranean structure was added to the
inventory of cultural remains present at this locality in the
southern portion of the western lobe of Vidiitshuu. Similarly,
upon returning to the site during the 1991 field season we
recovered remains which broaden our understanding of the former use
of this site.
A single shovel test pit was excavated into the southern berm
of the semi-subterranean structure. Under the berm deposits, 3
fire-cracked rocks were observed in the buried humus horizon. In
another test pit placed immediately east of the structure, 1 single
fire-cracked rock was found at the base of the modern sod which
overlay the terrace matrix.
Approximately 8 metres east of the 1986 excavations, a large
white glass bead was recovered from a shovel test pit, thus
confirming the historic use of the locale.
Finally, shovel test pits placed on the first bench above the
active beach resulted in the discovery of siliceous argillite
debitage and fire-cracked rocks.
Lure Lake (lac à l'Aigle)
Field No: 88JLP-6
Borden No: MlTk-16
When first brought to this site by Mr. Willie Simon Modeste of
Arctic Red River in 1988 (Pilon 1989:24-26), we documented a
semi-subterranean structure with an exterior hearth feature located
less than three metres to the east and a collapsed pole structure
about the same distance to the west. These features were strung
along a relatively narrow bench located between the active beach
and the slope to the plateau behind the site.
Upon returning to Lure Lake to conduct a more thorough
reconnaissance, we set up our base camp at MlTk-16 and thus were
provided with the opportunity to further investigate the site. As
a result, we identified additional scatters of fire-cracked lying
imbedded in the thin sod east and west of the features located in
1988. Very careful and limited testing of the area within the
collapsed pole structure resulted in the discovery of a quartzite
flake and fire-cracked rocks.
The condition of the wood poles suggested
some antiquity.
Those portions which lay above the sod were badly
weathered and cracked. Removal of the sod cover revealed that the
wood lying under the sod was in an advanced state of decomposition
but could nonetheless be followed and the shapes of the poles could
be discerned. Consequently, following the discovery of the
artifacts within the confines of the apparent structure, it was
decided to return to this site over the course of the summer and
excavate this feature.
An important motivating factor lay in the possibility that
this structure had been occupied in either late prehistoric or very
early historic times when the manufacture of stone tools and the
use of boiling stones were still elements of the local culture. An
additional factor was the relative paucity of pre-twentieth century
surface structures from the southwest Anderson Plain.
A quadrant system was laid over the
apparent collapsed pole
structure with the intersection located in the centre of the poles,
as determined from surface indications. The units were then
enlarged as appropriate in order to fully encompass any poles found
under the sod.
At
least three distinct hearth features were encountered. The
longest one located in the northern part of the excavation had both
lithics and calcined bone (including many identifiable fish
elements) associated with it, along with some fire-cracked rock.
The large circular hearth located along the centre of the east wall
contained numerous fire-cracked rocks and fresh (i.e. non-thermally
altered bone) faunal bone refuse, of which hare was noted. Nothing
could be definitely associated with a
fire-reddened stain in the
southern portion of the excavation.
The excavations confirm our preliminary interpretation of this
feature as the result of the collapse of a conical or "tipi"-like
tent structure. The base of a number of substantial poles form a
semi-circle and it appears the tent poles fell in the direction of
the lake.
While the placement of the circular eastern hearth would
coincide with a presumed opening of
the tent feature, the other two
combustion areas would have been located dangerously close to the
sides of such a feature. However, in no instance can we be certain
of the contemporaneity of any of these hearths with the tent
structure which once stood at this location. Similarly, the
artifacts consist of lithics, faunal remains or fire-cracked and
unfortunately do not allow any separation between what is surely a
series of re-occupations.
Whirl Lake
Field No: 86JLP-18
Borden No: MjTp-7
Human remains were found here in 1986 (Pilon 1987:83-84). We
returned this field season in order to adequately document the
remains of the collapsed burial platform which had only been made
apparent upon returning to the site in 1986 with the R.C.M.P. in
order to retrieve the skull which had been found.
The western end of the platform had been hidden from view by
a fallen spruce tree. Upon removal of the tree, the
support
cross-piece still had segments of the vertical poles held in place
with wooden wedge in the two large holes
which had been made in
either end of it. Large logs which presumably formed the platform
were also noted.
Mackenzie River
Field No: 86JLP-21
Borden No: MhTn-3
Our two days at the mouth of Tree River (Dachan chuu gehnjiga)
were made all the more special by the presence of more than 12
people. Returning, as she has for so many years, to make dryfish
was Marca Bulloch (née André) and Effy Niando of Inuvik. Also with
Marca were two of her daughters and their children, and one of her
sons. Alestine André, her sister Agnes Mitchell and her two
children Candice and Bryan were also spending some time there
before moving downstream to Dea-het-angil to continue their fishing
there.
This virtual crowd and the reason which brings them here year
after year, net fishing of whitefish and cony (Inconnu), are
eloquent testimonials to the importance of this site over the
course of many generations.
During our brief visit, the Mackenzie
River bluff edge immediately upstream from the mouth of Tree River
was examined. Faunal remains including of course fish but also
large mammal (either moose or caribou) were recovered from an
eroding buried hearth feature. In direct association was a square
cut nail.
The location of this hitherto unreported portion of this
extensive site, itself first documented in 1986, is just below the "Tree River" sign which overlooks
the Mackenzie from a height of about 10-12 metres. It is also the
edge of an eroding terrace of which little remains today. Mrs.
Bulloch recounted how people used to camp up on this terrace and
exploited birch trees for their bark in the area to the southeast.
Field No: 86JLP-23
Borden No: MhTq-1
During the survey of
the Mackenzie River below the mouth of
the Travaillant River, we stopped at the mouth of Pierre's Creek in
order to further test the high terraces located there. Additional
shovel test in the vicinity of the cabin
observed in 1986 failed to
yield any artifacts although a complex stratigraphy was noted. The
foundation of an older cabin was noted less than 5 metres from the
standing structure in a southwesterly direction.
A recent camp (within the last 10 years or so) was noted on
the plateau edge behind this cabin. Remains are strewn about an
area centered on a tent frame and work tables.
We also examined the active beach and discovered lithic
artifacts and faunal remains in the debris of an
ice scour located
approximately 15 metres from the mouth of Pierre's Creek and less
than 5 metres from the shore of the Mackenzie River.
Although the faunal remains could very well be relatively recent,
the lithic specimens are not. These include two complete chert
bifaces, core fragments and debitage. Shovel test pits were
consequently excavated near this ice scour.
Although most were negative, one test pit, located two metres
from the ice scour revealed the remains of a hearth feature. The
feature consisted of a basin apparently
excavated into the fine
sand matrix of the beach. The upper edges of the
hearth deposits rested on fine silts. Also along the periphery of
the feature, large quantities of charcoal
were found which included
large pieces of charred wood. These occurred in the fine silts.
The upper layer of the basin-shaped deposits consisted of finely
crushed calcined bone. Underlying this layer was a thick band of
orange silt. The last layer consisted of hardened silt which
contained wood charcoal.
The hearth deposits around the edge of the feature were first
encountered at a depth of approximately 25 cm and the bottom of the
feature extended an additional 15 cm below that.
A piece of thick ferrous wire was found in what might be a more
recent disturbance near one edge of the feature. Still, this
artifact occurred at a depth of approximately 20 cm below the
surface.
The artifacts from the ice scour and the hearth feature
located nearby clearly indicate the possibility that even active
beaches along the Mackenzie River may still retain evidence of
prehistoric and early historic use. In this case, the slight point
on the east side of the mouth of Pierre's Creek, combined with the
strong discharge of that stream, and the resultant eddy appear to
afford the active beach some protection agains the ravages of
spring flooding. Scouring, although present at a number of spots
on the active beach, is not extensive, and may only due to
exceptional circumstances. Instead, overbank deposition of
Mackenzie River silt appears to be a major agent of site
preservation. Thus the potential for discovering sites, even on
active beaches along the Mackenzie River should not be discounted
out of hand as has been suggested (Hanks and Winter 1991).
This site was revisited in 1993 by Luc Nolin
and additional testing was carried out.
