1992 Field Report
(Part 1)
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

Field No: 87JLP-23
Borden No: NbTj-9

Recap

 This site was originally discovered during a brief reconnaissance of Hyndman Lake in 1987. It is located in the northeastern portion of the lake and cultural remains were noted in two distinct areas; on the first, low bench adjacent to the lake and on a relict beach feature some 100 metres inland. Information relating to the use of the relict beach by the Arctic Small Tool tradition was recovered in 1990.

Goals

In 1990, a dense scatter of lithic debitage and tools was found surrounding the remains of a hearth feature (Area A). Although only 6 square metres were excavated, more than 3000 specimens were nonetheless recovered. In returning to NbTj-9, I wished to investigate two additional fire-cracked rock clusters which had been observed in 1990 on the same relict beach feature as used by the Arctic Small Tool tradition occupation.

To achieve this goal, the 1990 grid was extended to the northwest, or in a direction which followed the long axis of the beach feature. Two separate excavation areas were established so as to partially encompass the fire-cracked rock clusters which were apparent from the surface.

Area B

Only 4.5 square metres were exposed in this area which nonetheless yielded much higher artifact numbers than the nearby Area C. This is the first of two areas noted in 1990 to have fire-cracked rock protruding from beneath the thin surface layer of moss. The units were placed so as to expose only a portion of the possible hearth feature suggested by the fire-cracked rocks.

Artifacts and fire-cracked rocks were highly concentrated in the southern 2.5 square metres. Only two pieces of debitage and not a single fire-cracked rock were found in the northern two square metres--much to the chagrin of the excavator!!

The stratigraphy consisted of a thin surface layer of lichens and moss, with a slight accumulation of humus at its base (Level I), for a total thickness of no more than 2-3 cm. Some material was found in this layer.

The following layer, over most of the surface of the Area consisted of the in situ relict beach deposits. Artifacts occurred in the upper few centimetres of this layer. However, two distinctive layers were restricted in distribution and occurred stratigraphically above the gravelly sand.

The first consisted of a fine, dark brown sand (Level II) which contained the majority of the artifacts found in this Area. This deposit formed a kidney-shaped area bisecting the dense concentration of fire-cracked rock in the southern 2.5 square metres. Moreover, the density of fire-cracked rocks is markedly less within the area covered by these Level Ia deposits. Underlying these deposits was a basin-shaped, reddish-brown deposit covering a smaller surface area. This layer contained a few pieces of debitage and charcoal flecks. It appears to represent oxidized beach gravelly-sand.

Artifacts

The sizeable debitage collection (357) from this Area is predominantly comprised of chert and siliceous argillite. There are also significant quantities of metamorphic rock debitage, perhaps greywake. The use of this raw material has been noted at other ASTt sites in the region, namely NbTj-17 and MlTk-2, East Point. Many cortex flakes of this raw material were found which show that the occupants were reducing locally obtained cobbles. Biface thinning flakes of this material also demonstrate that it was being used to produce refined, albeit large, implements. Unfortunately we recovered no examples of these.

Among the implements recovered (8),none were complete save a diminutive biface. This artifact (middle one which is quite similar to one (bottom right) found in the 1990 excavation area. It appears to have been made from a fine chert burin spall. Its plan is lanceolate with a straight base, which retains the spall's original, unmodified platform. Steep edge retouch tends to be found on the ventral face only. However, the edges adjacent to the pointed tip can be said to be bifacially retouched. The most striking characteristic of this complete implement is its size. It measures 1.18 cm x 0.4 cm x 0.16 cm. It is inconceivable that the tool was hand held. If then hafted, only the very tip would have extended beyond the haft. I can only conclude that the tool served as a graver of sorts. Another burin spall exhibits bifacial distal retouch at its tip, but lacks the lateral retouching. It also suggests use as an engraving tool.

Lithic debitage Found in 1992 at NbTj-9

Area BArea C
Chert14110
Siliceous Argillite544
Silicate1018
Metamorphic Rock451
Quartzite66
Sugary Quartzite81
Basalt20
Total35730


Burin spalls, microblades and microblade fragments, and a large biface extremity portion were also recovered. The single burin fragment (see below, top right) is a distal portion which exhibits extensive reduction of the tip thickness by using the burin facet as a platform for driving off flakes from the burin's dorsal surface.

Lithic Implements Found in 1992 at NbTj-9

Area B Area C
Bifaces-chert21
Bifaces-
siliceous argillite		11
Unifaces-chert12
Unifaces-
siliceous argillite		12
Cores/Nodules-
siliceous argillite		32
Totals86

Area C

A total of 6 square metres were excavated in this area. From the surface, two large, possibly thermally altered rocks had been noted along with a smaller fire-cracked specimen.

The surface vegetation consisted mainly of mosses and lichens underlain by a thin layer of decomposing organic material. This layer averaged 5 cm in thickness. It is within the lower portion of Level I, that the majority of the artifacts were found.

The next level (Level II) consisted essentially of the relict beach matrix; a light brown-orange gravelly sand. Flakes were occasionally recovered from the uppermost 3-4 cm of this stratum.

The fire-cracked rock found within this excavation area lay at the base of the sod (Level I) or on top of the mineral level (II), although some were found imbedded within the latter.

Within the centre of the loose fire-cracked rock cluster, was a slight accumulation of relatively fine sand of a brighter orange colour than the surrounding mineral soil. This lens reached up to 2 cm in thickness and was underlain by the same gravelly sand (Level II) as elsewhere.

The only other stratigraphic anomaly noted in this area was found in the northwest corner. It consisted of a humus lens buried under about 3 cm of gravelly sand. The pocket extended roughly 20 cm along both the north and west walls of the unit and rose to meet the modern sod level. Its origin remains a mystery.

Artifacts

Artifacts were relatively few within the area excavated, especially when compared to the density recovered just metres away in 1990. The total collection consists only of 36 specimens, of which most are non-descript debitage.

The two bifaces were of particular note. The first is a small bifacial bipoint manufactured of fine-grained chert (top left). Although the flaking exhibits refinement, the classic ripple flaking of ASTt bipoints is lacking. However, the craftsman may have experienced difficulty in thinning the piece which remained quite thick in the lower half of the tool.

A second biface of note was also recovered in Area C. It appears to be manufactured from a large cortical flake of poor-grade siliceous argillite (bottom left). It has a marked plano-convex cross-section resulting from most of the shaping having been performed on one face, but the edges are bifacially retouched. The implement is lanceolate in shape with a straight, thick base, and a rounded distal tip. The tip confers an apparent asymmetric plan to the implement. Both faces of the tool exhibit extensive wear of all arrisses. Rather than being indicative of use or even the intentional grinding by the artisan, this attrition has the appearance of having been produced by water tumbling or perhaps simply as a result of having been carried around in a skin bag for quite some time. As undiagnostic as it may be, the association with the Arctic Small Tool tradition occupation is good and there is no evidence to suggest occupation by any other cultural tradition at this specific locality.

This site, along with three others in the southwest Anderson Plain (NbTj-8, NbTj-17 and MlTk-2), provided information which served as the basis for an analysis of the Arctic Small Tool tradition in the region.