Civilization.ca - Overview of the 1992 Field Season-Jean-Luc Pilon

Overview of the 1992 Field Season
by
Jean-Luc Pilon
NOGAP Archaeologist
Canadian Museum of Civilization

Summary of the 1992 Field Season

During the summer of 1992, archaeological excavations were carried out at three localities in the southwest Anderson Plain under the auspices of the Canadian Museum of Civilization NOGAP Archaeology Project. At NbTj-9, two suspected ASTt related activity areas were tested and found to indeed relate to this cultural manifestation. At NbTj-1, definitive identification of the occupants could not be ascertained. However, the discovery of two pieces of native copper, along with earlier discoveries of Cape Bathurst Peninsula vesicular clinker and a distinctive low- grade clinker similar to material found along the lower Anderson River, combine to suggest interesting northern and possibly eastern connections. At the third site tested, MlTk-27 on Vidiitshuu, no diagnostic material was recovered, and both the identity of the occupants and the site's chronology remain unknown. Finally, two sites near Campbell Lake were revisited for assessment as part of planning for a proposed Campbell Lake Territorial Park. Additional remains were discovered, demonstrating the potential sensitivity of the region, and the need for systematic archaeological survey.

Objectives

The fieldwork which I anticipated undertaking during the 1992 field season was comprised of additional testing and excavations at three previously discovered archaeological sites in the southwest Anderson Plain (NbTj-9, NbTj-1 and MlTk-27). Essentially, these excavations were aimed at verifying hypotheses concerning these sites which derived from earlier work.

At NbTj-9, excavations carried out in 1990 revealed the area had been occupied by the Arctic Small Tool tradition (Pilon 1991). A rich inventory of lithic implements and large quantities of lithic debitage were found adjacent to a combustion area. Prior to leaving the site in 1990, two additional hearth areas were discovered on the same relict beach feature, some 10 and 14 metres away from the tested area. By returning to this locality, I wished to verify the cultural affiliation of the users of the two other combustion areas, which I suspected were also related to the Arctic Small Tool tradition.

NbTj-1, although first discovered in 1987, had received only scant attention (Nolin 1991). It was decided to return to conduct additional testing in light of the 1990 recovery of a large vesicular clinker flake, apparently of Cape Bathurst Peninsula origin. To date, this distinctive raw material has only been found in Arctic Small Tool tradition contexts at Hyndman Lake and Vidiitshuu.

A third site, MlTk-27, appeared to offer the potential of documenting an additional ASTt occupation in the southwest Anderson Plain. It was discovered in 1991 (Pilon 1992). At that time, a number of test pits excavated into a relict beach feature produced artifacts which included a broad range of raw materials. In the southern portion of this geomorphic feature, a number of pieces of chert debitage were recovered in proximity to some kind of combustion feature. The bearers of the Arctic Small Tool tradition placed a strong emphasis on the use of fine-grained cherts in the manufacture of burins, projectile points and microblades. Although chert was not exclusively used by this cultural tradition, the prevalence of cherts in the test pits suggested an ASTt affiliation. Additional testing was thus warranted in order to verify this proposition.

The second aspect to my summer's plans involved continued archaeological site reconnaissance in the lower Mackenzie Valley. In particular, I wished to spend some time further south in the Marion Lake and Moraine Lakes regions, in order to gain a better understanding of an area outside of the Anderson Plain. A second area which has always appeared in need of the attention of an archaeologist was the Dolomite Hills area between Campbell Lake and the town of Inuvik. Lastly, at the request of Jimm Simon of the GNWT Department of Tourism and Economic Development, I re- examined two localities near Campbell Lake which lie within the boundaries of the proposed Campbell Lake Territorial Park. This investigation was primarily aimed at determining the need for additional systematic archaeological work and the potential interpretive value of any heritage resources which may be found there.

Itinerary

To implement the relatively modest list of objectives described above, a crew of four assembled in Inuvik on the 23rd of June. In addition to myself, the team was comprised of Diane Cockle, an archaeology graduate student from the University of Alberta, Willie Simon Modeste, a resident of Inuvik who had previously worked with me in 1988, 1990 and 1991, and Fulgence Belcourt, a volunteer from the Sudbury area.

Our first task was to obtain supplies and equipment in Inuvik to last for the next four weeks. Our first camp was at Whirl Lake where Luc Nolin, NOGAP Archaeologist, had been working since the second week of June. Shortly after our arrival there, his crew was to relocate to Arctic Red River and begin excavations. We would proceed to Hyndman Lake and undertake testing of NbTj- 9 and NbTj-1. We would be taking most of our camping gear from Monsieur Nolin's camp since his crew was to be billeted in Arctic Red River. Because of the nature of the site being excavated at Whirl Lake (MjTp-3), this large camp (then comprising 9 individuals) did not relocate until the 29th of June. While at Whirl Lake, we contributed to the ongoing excavations directed by Nolin. We also undertook the reconstruction of a scaled-down version of a semi-subterranean dwelling. This reconstruction was aimed at producing a superstructure which could account for the archaeological information we had collected from such structures since 1985. As it turned out, this experiment allowed us to revise and update our thoughts about what the dwellings would have looked like. In addition, the entire process was video- taped and will hopefully serve as an important educational tool.

Our stay at Hyndman Lake lasted until the 10th of July. At NbTj-9 we excavated a total of 11 square metres in two separate areas. However, time only permitted the excavation of an additional 1.25 square metres at NbTj-1. On July 10, we moved our camp to MlTk-2 on Vidiitshuu (lac à la Truite or Trout Lake), located to the southwest of Hyndman Lake. There, we excavated a total of 6 square metres at MlTk-27, located across the mouth of the Kugaluk River from MlTk-2.

Willie Simon Modeste left Hyndman Lake on the 3rd of July in order to leave Inuvik with a boat and motor needed by Dr. David Pokotylo's crew at Vihtr'iitshik (MiTi-1 or Thunder River). As a result, our crew size at Hyndman Lake was reduced to three individuals, of which one (Fulgence Belcourt) had no previous archaeological experience.

Although I had originally planned to relocate to Inuvik on the 19th of July, floatplane transportation could only be assured for the 17th and so our departure was two days early. Because of the longer stay at Whirl Lake and in view of the slow pace of the work at Hyndman Lake, the week of archaeological reconnaissance which had been anticipated in the Marion Lake-Moraine Lakes region, had to be cancelled. Instead, the last week of the field season was spent based in Inuvik.

From Inuvik, we examined some localities near Campbell Lake (NbTq-2 and NbTq-3) for the GNWT Department of Economic Development and Tourism. We also conducted a helicopter survey of the Dolomite Hills with the intention of undertaking a foot survey of selected portions of that feature. However, weather conditions and the availability of an aircraft precluded this.

Also during our stay in Inuvik, we travelled to Arctic Red River in order to examine the work which had taken place there and confer with both the archaeological team, and with Alestine Andre and Ingrid Kritsch who were conducting a traditional knowledge project under contract for the NOGAP Archaeological Project.

Lastly, on the 24th of July, I presented a paper at the Inuvik Science Forum, held as an activity of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.

As I had maintained regular contacts with David Pokotylo who was conducting excavations at MiTi-1 (Vihtr'iitshik or Thunder River) I was made aware of the constraints which this lithic quarry/workshop was imposing. As a result, it was decided to send Willie Simon Modeste to join the Vihtr'iitshik crew on the 19th of July and remain there until the end of the month when he would return to Inuvik with the boat and motor borrowed from the Inuvik Research Laboratory.

Overall, many of the research objectives were met, with the important exception of the reconnaissance planned for the Fort Good Hope area.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories, and in particular the staff of the Inuvik Research Laboratory, Gary White, Les Kutny and Mabel Logan for their kindness and efficiency. It is certain that the essential service provided by them is critical to the conduct of our work. It is equally true that their readiness to help and their genuine kindness makes the process of research in the Inuvik region a pleasant undertaking. The Science Institute is also to be congratulated for a well-organized Science Forum, held as part of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference. I would also like to acknowledge my gratitude to the Polar Continental Shelf Project for daily radio communications. The importance of this safety net cannot be understated. Mr.Wally Firth kindly invited me onto his radio programme "Blue Ice Afternoon", and thus gave me a precious platform from which to reach out to the population of the western Arctic, and share our work with them. Finally, I would like to acknowledge my field companions, Diane Cockle, Fulgence Belcourt and Willie Simon Modeste for their good work and their good cheer.