Archaeological Potential Along the Lower Mackenzie River,
N.W.T.
NOGAP Survey Methods and Results
Pilon (1991:31) has discussed the choices which
led to focussing research efforts towards the interior of the southwest
Anderson Plain. Aware of the potential importance of the Mackenzie
River for past occupants of the region, he undertook brief surveys along
this river during the 1986 and
1991 field seasons (Pilon 1987; 1992).
The objective was to visit and test as many different types of potential
localities as possible below the mouth of the Travaillant River. It was
hoped that such an approach would somehow better reflect the range of
possible site locations. Included in this list of situational contexts
were: high terrace systems located at the mouths of tributary streams,
the edge of the high plateau where the latter was bisected by ravines or
gullies, low terraces near tributaries (Pilon 1992:83). Nolin's brief
1993 survey continued this work by testing 6 predetermined localities
which presented a similar variety of geomorphic characteristics (Nolin
1994).
Our field methods
were no different from those usually employed during survey. Once a
potential area was identified, we initially proceeded to visually
inspect any eroding surfaces. We then would excavate a series of
randomly-located test units, usually on the order of 50 cm x 50 cm. The
randomness of our testing should be qualified. In our minds, we did
actually divide a potential site locality into different areas, and
attempted to sink a number of test units in each of these: near the
Mackenzie, near a tributary or gully, back of the terrace, middle of the
terrace, etc.
The depths of the
test units would vary markedly depending on the kind of feature we were
testing. For example, where we knew there was significant soil
development, we would continue our test pits as deep as possible. This
was the case especially on the terraces located at tributary mouths.
Although we usually stopped at permafrost, we did often manage to
excavated to depths on the order of 1 m. A practical limit was found to
be the length of one's arm. Invariably, river terraces exhibited an
unending sequence of thick bands of silt separated by thin layers of
organic material. Often the latter would be old stable surfaces which
had allowed the development of a distinct humus horizon before being
once again buried under a heavy overbank deposit of fine silt. In other
instances, distinct horizons of flood debris were noted, which suggest
shorter exposure of a surface before the accumulation of more silt.
Compared to the testing of most
subarctic sites, work proceeded at a greatly reduced pace, and
significantly greater energy was expended.
These surveys shed new light on the archaeological potential of
the Mackenzie River. Up until then, no sites were known along the river
between the mouth of Travaillant River and Rengleng River. Together,
these three short reconnaissances resulted in the discovery of 25 sites
in a wide range of situational contexts.
