1992 Field Report
(Part 1)
by
Luc Nolin
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian
Museum of Civilization
Fishing Bear/Whirl Lakes
We spent 17 days
in the Fishing Bear/Whirl Lakes area
(between 11th and 28th of June). Because break-up was later than
usual it was impossible to land a float plane on Whirl Lake to
establish our camp. Fortunately Canadian Helicopter had a
helicopter (B-212) able to carry a large quantity of equipment
and passengers. The camp was set up at the northern end of Whirl
Lake. Excavation of the Area C began in June 15th.
Fishing Bear-Whirl Lakes are located at about 20 km north-east
of Arctic Red River. These two lakes are part of the
headwater lakes which drain into Pierre's Creek and the Mackenzie
River. The region is part of the traditional
harvesting ground of the Gwichya Gwich'in of Arctic Red River.
It is known to be a good place for trapping beaver during the
winter and also a good fishing place (I.N.A. 1976). The Gwich'in
names of Fishing Bear Lake, Shoh K'adh, which means bear fishtrap
and Whirl Lake, Chuu Tsilk'adh (splash water fishtrap), are
evocative of the importance of these lakes fisheries (André &
Kritsch 1992:46, 53). The results of the zooarchaeological
analysis of the faunal remains collected on Area B of MjTp-3 in
1986 indicates the diversity of other species available in the
area (4 mammal, 7 avian and 3 fish species)(Still 1992).
Physiographically the region is part of the Peel Plain
Lowlands (Ritchie 1984) and can be caracterized as rolling hills
(max. 125 m asl) covered by numerous lakes and peat bogs.
Excavation of Area C of MjTp-3
MjTp-3 is located on a sandy/gravelly ridge situated on a
hill approximatively 260 m west of the creek joining Fishing Bear
and Whirl Lakes and at 150 m from Fishing Bear Lake.
The site is about 20 m above the level of
Fishing Bear Lake. The hill is more densely forested
in comparison with the surrounding poorly drained terrain. Three
distinct areas (A, B and C) were identified during the 1986
survey and test excavations (Pilon 1987:76-81).
In Area C, the archaeological crew discovered a circular
depression along a trail leading down to the creek connecting
Fishing Bear and Whirl Lakes). From the surface, the
depression had an oval shape which covered approximatively 2.50
X 2.75 m. The centre was approximatively 50 cm below the
surrounding surface. A low earth berm, less than 10 cm high, was
visible along the top edge of the depression, except on the
southern were we noted it's absence.
A visual inspection of the surface of the site resulted in
the discovery of historic period remains. These are: a dog
harness bell (#147), 4 iron axe-cut branches with round nails
(#148, 149, 150), 4 pieces of a tongue and groove wood boards
which we likely part of a wooden box (#151) and a strainer or a
ice scoop made from a cut coffee can nailed to a stick (#152).
The last object is known to have been used to remove ice from
holes made on lakes or rivers when trapping fur bearers. We also
noted the presence of a notched tree trunk lying a few metres
southeast of the depression, which like the historic artefacts,
was covered by moss. The tree trunk had a length of
approximatively 1.80 m and was probably part of a stage used to
store perishables and equipment.
Finally, some trees, probably
cut during the winter with an iron axe, were visible inside a
diametre of 20 metres around the depression. Most of the
artifacts were found at the south side of the trail on the east
side of the depression. Based on the general appearance of the
historic objects, I believe they were abandoned on the order of
approximatively 50 years ago and were likely part of the same
occupation.
a) Excavation Techniques
We began the excavation by laying out a trench (0.75 x 5.0
m) in 5 excavation units, roughly oriented north to south,
passing through the longest axis of the depression. We excavated
another series of units perpendicularly through the centre of the
first ones to obtain a stratigraphic profile in four directions.
Later we extended our excavations to cover the pit feature for
a total of
11.75 m2.
Every change in the soil aspect was noted and drawn to scale
on the pertinent floor plans. Each artifact, flake and faunal
remain was plotted on separate floor plans for each stratigraphic
unit and collected separatly by level and soil type. Precise
coordinates were recorded for worked or significant items. Each
excavator kept field notes about his/her daily discoveries.
Finally, every level of soil excavated was screened through a 1/8
in. mesh screen.
b) Stratigraphy and Vertical Distribution
When we started the excavations June 15th, the
soil was
frozen beneath the sod in the southern units and we had
to plan
the digging in relation to this. Three of us also started
excavating simultanously 3 units in Area B of the site, located
approximatively 80 m west of Area C, to allow the ice to melt.
The soil matrix of the site was mainly composed by a
gravelly sand. A maximum of 10 cm of vegetation (sphagnum moss,
polytrics and patches of cladonia) and sod (Level 1) covered a
thin humus (2-3 cm) which became thicker (max. 20 cm) inside the
depression (Level 2). The thick humus which filled the
depression, contained a large proportion of spruce needles, in
an advanced phase of decomposition, found as intermitent lenses.
A large decomposed tree stump (± 25 cm in diameter)
was discovered in the inside edge of the depression (northeast
corner of Unit L) next to a 30 x 80 cm patch of spruce needles.
This rotten tree root is very likely the remains of a tree which
started growing in the depression after the abandonment of the
site by its occupants. We believe that this tree is probably the
source of the appreciable amount of spruce needles found inside
the depression. The presence of this large tree stump suggests
that the time length involved is at least many centuries.
Level 3 was composed of a number of different mineral soil
types which have a different origin. We can separate them in two
groups to facilitate the discussion. Two of them are specific to
the depression and the other ones were found only outside the
limits of the feature. Inside the limits of the depression, an
orange sand mixed with humus and less than 4 cm thick occured
under the modern humus in the northern portion of the depression.
This layer contained stone flakes and faunal
remains. Secondly, a thick layer of sediment (max. 30 cm)
composed of a mixture of brown, orange and grey sand was found
underneath the orange humic sand. Seen in profile, this thick
layer was dish-shaped and extended horizontally approximately
1,80 x 2,25 m. Cultural material was also recovered
from this thick layer of mixed color sand. Underneath it, a
frozen grey-beige gravelly sand was encountered. This gravelly
sand appeared to be the same as the one found outside the limits
of the depression, but did not present the bands of humic
gravelly sand. We were only able to excavate 25-30 cm in this
gravelly sand because of the permafrost.
Outside of the limits of the depression, we observed 3
different layers of soil below the sod and humus. These were: a
brown sand mixed with humus (±10 cm thick) which contained lithic
material, an orange sand (±20 cm thick) which appear to be a
natural layer of soil and finally, a brown clayish sand (±12 cm
thick). A short trench (app. 35 x 70 cm) dug with
a shovel made at the eastern end of Unit F to verify the
stratigraphy, showed that the orange sand and the brown clayish
sand tapered outside of the immediate limits of the excavation
bloc.
There are certain statements that we can make as a result
of the analysis of the stratigraphy:
- 1- the natural soil sequence of the site (sod, humus, orange sand
and a grey gravelly sand) is
truncated at the edge of the
depression which had relatively steep walls (between 50-70 degrees)
and confirm that the feature is the result of
digging;
- 2- inside the depression the natural soil sequence was replaced
by a thick humus, an orange sand mixed with humus and a mix of
brown, orange and grey sand which appear to have been the
infil
of the material previously excavated;
- 3- a reworked brown
sand mixed with humus or a beige sand
overlayed a former humus level only along the edge of the
depression;
- 4- a hearth feature
located at the top edge of the depression and
characterized by fire-reddened soil, calcined bones and
fire-broken rocks was found under a disturbed soil (mix of brown sand
with humus). This clearly demonstrates that it is not posterior
to the abandonment of the structure. Hearth features
were previously found in similar situations along housepits in
the southwest Anderson Plain (Pilon 1991:101). This pattern
suggests that they were possibly associated with the house
occupations.
Wooden poles are regulary discovered in such depressions and
can be used as stratigraphic references to understand the mode
of deposition of different soils. It is important to mention that
the absence of structural remains in this feature limits our
analysis and interpretation of the stratigraphy. Nevertheless,
we think that the differences of soil types (colors and textures)
redeposited from human activities that we observed inside and in
the immediate periphery of the depression, is possibly partially
the result of some natural process (ex. modification of the level
of permafrost caused by the presence of the depression, larger
accumulation of organic material inside the depression than
outside, etc.) modifying some of its caracteristics after the
abandonment of the site by the its occupants.
In the excavation area the sod and the vegetation layer
(Level 1) contained 6 stone flakes, 1 retouched flake, 6
uncalcined bones, a few calcined bones, 2 fire-broken rocks, some
wood chips cut with an iron axe, a little piece of worked wood,
1 possible dowel, 3 wire cut nails, 7 nuts and bolts and a
homemade ice scoop or a strainer.
The humus layer (Level 2) revealed archaeological remains
which appear to be exclusively from the pre-contact period. We
discovered a complete bone
awl, 1 unifacially retouched flake,
1 bifacial tool fragment, 1 chi-da-tho found in 4 pieces (large
tabular stone scraper) 22 stone flakes, 84 uncalcined bones and
a few calcined ones, 1 core and 26 pieces of fire-broken rocks.
It is interesting to note that the fire-broken rocks were mostly
concentrated at the edge of depression in Unit L. Most of the
faunal remains were found in Unit H, i.e. slighly inside the
depression. It is also worth noting that the small
and large mammal bones were found nearly exclusively in or in
contact with this soil layer (Level 2). This was not the case for
the fish bones which were mainly recovered from the base of of
the mix of brown, orange and grey sand (Level 3).
Most of the artifacts recovered were found in the first
cm of the in situ mineral soil (Level 3). Their distribution has been
summarized in the table below. Some other
artifacts were also found in the mixed soils (reworked)
recovering the undisturbed one. The majority of the tools and
the debitage were discovered along the edge of the depression.
The stone flakes and the stone tools were mostly concentrated
in the immediate periphery of the hearth feature in Unit A or
in Unit I; i.e. 187 stone flakes and 10 stones tools. Some
tools and stone flakes also occured in the centre of the
depression (Unit C).
MjTp-3, Area C: Artifact Distribution by Stratigraphic Unit
| Debitage | Faunal
Remains |
Tools |
|---|
| Level 1 | 6 | 6 |
1 |
|---|
| Level 2 | 22 | 84 |
5* |
|---|
| Level 3 | 315 | 548** |
29*** |
|---|
| Total | 344 | 618 |
35 |
|---|
*including 1 core
**including 100 calcined bones
***including 3 cores
The largest proportion of faunal remains were found
inside of the depression (Unit C) (n=391) while another large
number was collected from around the hearth feature (71
calcined bones collected)(Unit A). Forthy-eight uncalcined
bones (fish bones) were also found in Unit H. It
is interesting to establish that the majority of the fish
bones recovered inside the depression and in Unit C were
mostly located between 60-68 cm below the surface at the base
of the mix of brown, orange and grey sand. The remainder of
the fish bones were found in Unit G and H.
In Unit C (centre of the depression), 19 pieces of birch
bark were found between 47-82 cm below the surface of the
mineral soil (mix brown, orange and grey sand and the grey-
beige gravelly sand); i.e. almost to the maximum depth of our
excavations. Some other pieces were also found
inside of the limits of the depression (Unit G, 3 pieces and
D, 1 piece) but not in a such abundance. Some pieces of birch
bark had sharp edges as if they had been cut, but none had
holes showing that they were stitched together to make
containers or for any other use. A few bits and
pieces of wood charcoal were also observed and collected
(#211, #212) inside the depression (Unit C) in association
with birch bark, fish bones, a uniface and debitage. Inside
the depression the association of fish bones and birch bark is
quite clear and suggests that the birch bark was possibly used
to store fish and disposed of inside the depression and below
the permafrost table. Very similar association was noted by
Gordon and Savage for the prehistoric housepit (MjTp-1)
excavated in Whirl Lake (Gordon & Savage 1974: 177).
On the other hand we can exclude the possibility that the
birch bark and the fish bones were simply rejected as garbage
inside the depression during the occupation. Unfortunatly we
were not able to reached the bottom of the original depression
because of the permafrost.
The artifacts found in Level 3 comprise 26 unifacial
tools, i.e. 24 retouched or utilized flakes, 1 end-scraper and
a possible spoke-shave. Three cores were also unearthed. Only
nine pieces of fire-broken rocks were found in Level 3 and
four pieces were discovered slightly outside of the main
fire-reddened soil area (Unit A). The five others were distributed
in five different excavation units.
We spent 17 days
in the Fishing Bear/Whirl Lakes area
(between 11th and 28th of June). Because break-up was later than
usual it was impossible to land a float plane on Whirl Lake to
establish our camp. Fortunately Canadian Helicopter had a
helicopter (B-212) able to carry a large quantity of equipment
and passengers. The camp was set up at the northern end of Whirl
Lake. Excavation of the Area C began in June 15th.
Fishing Bear-Whirl Lakes are located at about 20 km north-east
of Arctic Red River. These two lakes are part of the
headwater lakes which drain into Pierre's Creek and the Mackenzie
River. The region is part of the traditional
harvesting ground of the Gwichya Gwich'in of Arctic Red River.
It is known to be a good place for trapping beaver during the
winter and also a good fishing place (I.N.A. 1976). The Gwich'in
names of Fishing Bear Lake, Shoh K'adh, which means bear fishtrap
and Whirl Lake, Chuu Tsilk'adh (splash water fishtrap), are
evocative of the importance of these lakes fisheries (André &
Kritsch 1992:46, 53). The results of the zooarchaeological
analysis of the faunal remains collected on Area B of MjTp-3 in
1986 indicates the diversity of other species available in the
area (4 mammal, 7 avian and 3 fish species)(Still 1992).
Finally, some trees, probably
cut during the winter with an iron axe, were visible inside a
diametre of 20 metres around the depression. Most of the
artifacts were found at the south side of the trail on the east
side of the depression. Based on the general appearance of the
historic objects, I believe they were abandoned on the order of
approximatively 50 years ago and were likely part of the same
occupation.
Level 3 was composed of a number of different mineral soil
types which have a different origin. We can separate them in two
groups to facilitate the discussion. Two of them are specific to
the depression and the other ones were found only outside the
limits of the feature. Inside the limits of the depression, an
orange sand mixed with humus and less than 4 cm thick occured
under the modern humus in the northern portion of the depression.
This layer contained stone flakes and faunal
remains. Secondly, a thick layer of sediment (max. 30 cm)
composed of a mixture of brown, orange and grey sand was found
underneath the orange humic sand. Seen in profile, this thick
layer was dish-shaped and extended horizontally approximately
1,80 x 2,25 m. Cultural material was also recovered
from this thick layer of mixed color sand. Underneath it, a
frozen grey-beige gravelly sand was encountered. This gravelly
sand appeared to be the same as the one found outside the limits
of the depression, but did not present the bands of humic
gravelly sand. We were only able to excavate 25-30 cm in this
gravelly sand because of the permafrost.