1991 Field Report
(Part 7)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

Discussion

The continued search for archaeological sites in the southwest Anderson Plain this summer provided additional site information from Vidiitshuu and especially Lure Lake where only two sites had been previously reported. However, perhaps the most interesting aspect of these surveys was the documentation of trails. There is every reason to believe that the trails which we identified have been in use for centuries. The discovery of late prehistoric semi-subterreanean features near each end of the Lure-Vidiitshuu trail--from 91JLP-14 to 91JLP-21--strongly supports such a suggestion. Trails systems, by their very nature as corridors of movement between resource harvesting areas have the potential of shedding important light on land use patterns. They can only be discovered through very intense ground surveys which ideally should be combined with information from elders who actually used these overland routes.

It is hoped that a study specifically designed to acquire such information will take place in 1992. In this way, a much more robust model of at least late prehistoric and historic site distributions will be possible. Certainly, the absence of such systematically obtained data casts a significant shadow over our archaeological results.

The archaeological reconnaissance along the lower reaches of the Mackenzie River was highly satisfying in that sites were found in a wide range of localities. These discoveries suggest that it is possible to document the prehistoric use of the resources of the Mackenzie River and that all has not been obliterated. There can be no argument that the very dynamic nature of that river has destroyed a very large proportion of the evidence of its prehistoric use. However, in particular situations, such evidence has been preserved; at the tops of strategic draws leading up to the plateau, on high terraces located at tributary mouths, and even on low terraces where the river configuration actually permits overbank deposition rather than scouring to take place during seasonal episodes of high waters.

These observations should be verified in a systematic fashion by conducting an intensive survey along a well-defined stretch of the lower Mackenzie River which encompasses a broad diversity of potential site locations, such as the mouth of a major tributary, a number of draws leading to the plateau, and low terraces located near eddies and protected by river configuration from the destructive effects of ice rafting. Hopefully, such a survey will be undertaken during the 1992 field season.

The excavations at the Edge Test Unit of MlTk-2 provided a good illustration of the repeated use of a favoured locality over the course of centuries. Unfortunately, datable materials were not recovered, nor were additional microblade-related artifacts found.

The East Point area of MlTk-2 surprised us with the presence of an ASTt component and has expanded the distribution of this cultural entity in the region.

The discovery of not one, but two adzes in close proximity to the semi-subterranean structure tested in 1987 posed more problems that it resolved. Although initially quite pleased to have finally found such artifacts, especially in light of the number of adze-cut stumps which occur around thesestructures, the potential hazard of associating these artifacts with the late prehistoric dwelling are clear. Beside the large adze we recovered boulders apparently thermally fractured to produce blanks, and flakes of the same type of coarse-grained raw material as the adze. In addition, two microblade fragments and a possible microblade core rejuvination tablet lay in the same humus layer. Near the second, smaller specimen, we found what appears to be a microblade core face which may have been burinated.

Flakes of coarse-grained raw materials were found associated with micro/macroblade-related technology at NbTj-3 (Hyndman Lake) and in the 1987 investigations of the Edge Test Unit of MlTk-2. Coincidentally, lanceolate points were also found at both of these sites. It is thus not impossible that the adzes recovered this summer relate to an occupation which pre-dates the building and use of the semi-subterranean dwelling.

Lastly, the excavations of the collapsed conical structure at MlTk-16 illustrate the very frustrating problems posed by subarctic soils. Although the very small area excavated had obviously been used more than once, the separation of the two components is only based on circumstantial grounds--one does not place a fireplace beside a wall in a skin or bark covered tent.

In the absence of the remains of the poles, there is scant little to suggest the kind of structure which stood on the site. Indeed, we cannot even be certain that the large circular hearth with the associated fresh bone is even associated with the conical tent structure. Yet again, circumstantial lines of reasoning suggest this might be so. This excavation might thus be taken as a potential model for understanding lithic scatters found about small hearth features elsewhere.