Archaeological investigations in the Quill Lakes region, east central Saskatchewan

Archaeological research was carried out in the Quill Lakes region of east central Saskatchewan using data derived primarily from surface collections augmented with site survey. In all, 15 collections, representing an estimated 35 000 to 45 000 artifacts, were examined. From this, 1291 diagnostic projectile points and 17 ceramic vessels were identified. These diagnostic artifacts served as the focus of this thesis. The results from this study indicate a long occupation of the Quill Lakes region. The Agate Basin complex initiates occupation in the area some time after 12900 B.P. (10 500 rcybp). Cody complex and Terminal Paleo-Indian complexes are also identified. Distinctive, large corner-notched projectile points represent the transition between the Paleo-Indian and Middle Plains Indian periods. These points, manufactured primarily from Knife River Flint, have yet to be described in the archaeological literature. Large corner-notched points of this type contain characteristics of both Paleo-Indian and Middle Plains Indian lithic technologies. The Middle Plains Indian period is the most intensively occupied period with the largest number of components and projectile points of any period. Diagnostic artifacts are identified from the Mummy Cave series, and Oxbow, McKean and Pelican Lake complexes. The presence of Besant series projectile points marks the start of the Late Plains Indian period. A large Bratton component was identified, the first such component since initial descriptions of this point type. During the Avonlea phase, the Quill Lakes region was the least intensively occupied. Ceramics were also notably absent from the collections. Finally, the role of the aspen parkland as a zone of transition and/or interaction between forest-and plains-adapted groups during the past 3000 years was explored. Data from the collections indicate no evidence of any interaction between these two groups of people. Diagnostic artifacts for this period fit well within existing culture historical schemes outlined for the Northern Plains. These findings are in accordance with those of Meyer and Epp (1990)

MOBILITY AND LANDUSE PATTERNS OF THE CODY COMPLEX IN SASKATCHEWAN

The Cody Complex is a late Paleo-Indian complex found throughout the Great Plains of North America. In Saskatchewan, material of the complex is mostly found as surface finds and therefore out of its original context. In situ Cody Complex material has only been recovered from three excavated sites in Saskatchewan. While various archaeologists (professional and avocational) have collected and recorded Cody material from surface finds throughout the province, the results of their efforst have not been widely disseminated. These issues have led to a situation in which little is known about the Cody Complex in Saskatchewan. This thesis attempts to begin correcting this problem, firstly by acting as a reference source by compiling as much information as possible on the Cody Complex material found throughout Saskatchewan. Included in these reference materials are pictures, measurements and find locations of the projectile points and Cody knives whenever such information is available. Secondly an attempt is made to determine possible Cody Complex mobility and landuse patterns within the province. Mobility and landuse patterns were determined based on the lithic material types used to make the Cody Complex projectile points and Cody knives. In particular the find locations of various specimens was compared to where the material could be acquired. Cody Complex projectile points and the associated knives were focused on due to most Cody Complex material in the province being surface collected. Based on the lithic types used to create these tools, the Cody Complex people in Saskatchewan were practicing a highly mobile and non-local landuse pattern, with a particular focus of interactions with more southern areas such as the Knife River Flint quarry area of North Dakota

McKean Lithic Resource Utilization at the Wolf Willow and Dog Child sites, Wanuskewin Heritage Park: A New Look at Saskatchewan Raw Materials.

The scientific importance of Wanuskewin Heritage Park lies in the number and diversity of archaeological sites present in a single area. Wolf Willow and Dog Child are multicomponent occupation sites located in the Opimihaw Valley and both contain McKean components. McKean Complex sites are relatively uncommon on the Northern Plains which makes the cluster at Wanuskewin Heritage Park important. McKean lithic materials are mainly locally produced with very few exotics. Materials from McKean assemblages have a heavy reliance on local lithic materials such as chert and quartzite. McKean levels at the Thundercloud, Cut Arm, and Red Tail sites, all located in Wanuskewin Heritage Park, are consistent with this pattern of lithic resource utilization. The presence of exotic lithic materials can allude to territory, trade networks spanning vast amounts of land, or even show preference for an exotic material over locally available tool stone. This thesis will allow Wolf Willow and Dog Child to be understood in the broader context of McKean sites on the Northern Plains. Secondarily, Eldon Johnson’s 1998 “Properties and Sources of Some Saskatchewan Lithic Materials of Archaeological Significance”, a popular and highly utilized thesis, is updated here with new information concerning raw materials found in Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Advancing Boreal Forest Archaeology: Intrasite Spatial Analysis of the Eaglenest Portage Site

This thesis presents the results of an intrasite spatial analysis study of an archaeological assemblage from the Eaglenest Portage site in the Birch Mountains of northern Alberta. In this region, many sites consist of a seemingly random accumulation of stratigraphically mixed artifacts created through repeated occupations. Challenges arise for archaeologists who work in the region, due in part to physical and biological processes that move artifacts from where they were initially deposited, resulting in a general lack of stratified sites. These challenges make it difficult to understand both the vertical and horizontal spatial relationships between artifacts. Research in northern Alberta has primarily been conducted by consulting firms to make way for new industrial developments. Due to the perceived mixing of artifact assemblages, consulting archaeologists do not map all artifacts found in situ; instead, it is common to shovel-shave excavation units in arbitrary levels. Ives (1985) attempted to overcome the challenges of the boreal forest environment by collecting three-point provenience measurements (north, east, and depth below datum measurements) for each artifact collected from the Eaglenest Portage site and subsequently conducting a spatial study on the distribution of finished artifacts. The research presented in this thesis shows that carefully controlled excavations, with emphasis on three-point provenience measurements and spatial analysis (surface interpolation, nearest neighbour analysis, kernel density, k-means, and hot spot analysis) of an entire artifact assemblage, offer an objective method by which to identify temporally related clusters of artifacts and potential features that otherwise would be missed using the typical excavation practices in place today. A total of 25 clusters were identified in the four blocks that were excavated at the Eaglenest Portage site. The clusters allowed a range of discrete activities and potential features to be identified. This study and the study of Ives (1985) before it emphasize the importance of three-point provenience data in the interpretation of sites with limited stratigraphy. With this in mind, archaeologists and archaeological regulatory bodies should rethink what are deemed to be adequate excavation practices in the boreal forest

An archaeological reconnaissance of the Lake Diefenbaker region in south central Saskatchewan

In 1958, an initial archaeological assessment of the central portion of the South Saskatchewan River began in anticipation of the construction of two massive rolled earth dams along the South Saskatchewan and Qu'Appelle Rivers. Once completed, the Gardiner and Qu'Appelle Arm dams, respectively, created a vast freshwater reservoir suitable for irrigation, the generation of electric energy, and recreation. At the same time, the formation of Lake Diefenbaker spurred several independent investigations of the region's cultural history and the localized impact of reservoir development on archaeological resources. The 1995-1996 Lake Diefenbaker archaeological project attempted to summarize the results of previous investigations carried out within the region and to provide contemporary data through field research. The project attempted to address three major objectives: to provide a comprehensive analysis of the cultural history of the region; to assess the impact of the development of Lake Diefenbaker on the archaeological resources of the South Saskatchewan River valley; and to provide data and analysis for the ongoing management of heritage resources affected by the reservoir. A thirty-five linear kilometer survey was completed along the eastern margin of Lake Diefenbaker during the 1995-1996 field seasons. Eighteen archaeological sites, representing twelve precontact and six contact period occupations, were recorded. At the same time, the rates of erosion for various landforms along the eastern shoreline of the reservoir were measured at several of the heritage site locales. I determined that monitoring of the full extent of the reservoir is necessary to prevent the undocumented loss of archaeological materials and that salvage excavation is required where partially intact archaeological components are threatened by fluvial erosion. I further suggest that a geoarcharchaeological study of the landforms in the region be carried out in order to provide the data necessary for the interpretation of precontact settlement patterns within the South Saskatchewan River valley

The Norby site : a mummy cave complex bison kill on the northern plains

In the summer of 1988, a Mummy Cave Complex bison kill site, was discovered on Avenue M South, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was subsequently radiocarbon dated to about 5800 BP which placed the site within the Early Middle Prehistoric Period to the time of the Altithermal climatic interval. At one time, researchers thought that the Plains region was abandoned during the Altithermal as a direct result of extreme drought conditions. The results of this study, however, attest to human occupation of the Plains during this climatic interval, especially along major water courses. It is also suggests that subsistence patterns, and bison procurement in general, did not change from that of the previous time period. Details of the discovery, excavation and analytical techniques applied at the Norby site are presented. The analysis of lithic materials indicates that two projectile point styles are present at the Norby site. The first are side-notched projectile points typical of this time period and the second is a stemmed projectile point, termed a "Manitoba" point. Some "Manitoba" projectile points, discovered in surface sites, were previously associated with Paleoindian assemblages of about 8000 years ago, but the in situ discovery at the Norby site suggests that this projectile point style may have a somewhat later temporal span. Faunal remains are studied in terms of attritional factors, element counts and distribution, and the sexing and aging of skeletal remains. The role of various taphonomic processes in the destruction and distribution of elements at the Norby site is discussed. Bison population dynamics and bison procurement are discussed in an effort to define the subsistence patterns and practices of the Norby site occupants. This type of information has not been abundant for the interval represented by the Early Middle Prehistoric period

A Spatiotemporal Analysis of the McKean Complex on the Northern Plains

Characterizing hunter-gatherer mobility has been problematic in archaeological research (Anthony 1990). For pre-contact cultures on the Northern Plains there is no documentation of the human decisions involved in movement processes. This thesis examines the known information available regarding the McKean Complex on the Northern Plains. Using radiocarbon ages and known site locations, Kriging analysis was used to create a predictive model to examine spread of this archaeological complex, directions of movement, and origins. This thesis re-examines existing theories regarding origin and migration with regards to this model. The geographic distribution of projectile point styles, floral remains and faunal remains are also examined. This research provides a comprehensive database of stratified sites with McKean components as well as a comprehensive database of McKean radiocarbon ages associated with McKean projectile points. This study offers new information regarding subsistence and expansion of the complex, providing a preliminary model towards re-examining the McKean Complex. The model will benefit from future research with regards to the McKean Complex as more radiocarbon ages taken from McKean sites can only help improve the current model and help provide a greater understanding of this Complex on the Northern Plains

Lithic technology at the below forks site, FhNg-25 : strategems of stone tool manufacture

The Below Forks site is a deeply stratified multicomponent archaeological site situated two kilometres downstream from the confluence of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers. The lowest cultural occupation has been dated to 6000 rcybp. Projectile points diagnostic of the Mummy Cave series were recovered from excavations. The site was an open campsite situated on a middle level alluvial slope of the Saskatchewan River valley. A broad-spectrum fauna exploitation was represented at the site. The lowest component was occupied in late winter or early spring, based on immature bison elements. Collection and reduction of river cobbles into lithic implements was an important activity at the site. Debitage was the largest artifact class recovered from the site and deserved the greatest analytical attention. Lithic technology, specificially the methods of tool manufacture, was the central theme of study. A variety of analytical techniques were used, including the separate analyses of cores, debitage, and tools. These analyses were placed into a spatical context with geographic information systems. Three components were represented in the eastern area of the Below Forks site. A lithic reduction workshop and some habitation debris were contained in the upper occupation. Evidently, the middle component appeared peripheral to a habitation site. The lower occupation evidenced significant knapping activities within the confines of a habitation site. Interpretations from various analytical techniques were placed within a chaîne opérafiore framework and fully documented the lithic technology. Certain types of material behaved in slightly different ways; individual knappers would have taken this into account and appropriately modified their technique. The thermal alteration of Swan River chert was an important component of the lithic technology. Bipolar technology had a prominent role in the production of flake blanks. Platform grinding was a commonly observed form of platform preparation. Platform flaking increased in importance with later stages of reduction. Ideally these preparations would allow flint-knappers to improve their control of intended flake detachments. In sum, lithic tools were manufactured within a myriad of technological sophistication. The properties of lithic fracture were controlled with great precision, preparation, and foresight in the manufacture of implements at the Below Forks site

Geochemical Characterization of Brown Chalcedony During the Besant/Sonota Period

Suitable lithic material for toolmaking is fairly common across the Northern Plains and often can be found within the glacial till that still blankets the area. However, high quality toolstone tends to be limited to specific and well-known quarry locations such as the Knife River flint quarries of North Dakota. Archaeologists have long identified high-quality brown chalcedony found in archaeological sites as Knife River flint (KRF) based on a visual inspection. This material has been found throughout the Northern Plains region and is believed to have been a highly desired trade item. However, the discovery of local sources of high-quality brown chalcedony that is macroscopically identical to KRF has called into question whether this material was traded as widely as previously assumed. Samples of visually identical brown chalcedony from source locations across the Northern Plains, specifically Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, along with KRF from the Primary Source Area in North Dakota, were collected in order to undergo geochemical characterization. This analysis was designed to determine if these source areas could be distinguished from one another and what elements aid in this differentiation. It was found that while similarities between a number of source locations exist, certain source areas such as the KRF Primary Source Area and source areas in Alberta, North Dakota and South Dakota can be distinguished from one another. For this reason further analysis into the archaeological implications of local varieties of high-quality brown chalcedony material were undertaken. The use of high-quality brown chalcedony seemed to have peaked during the Besant/Sonota time period (c. 2100 – 1100 BP) on the Northern Plains. Artifacts from well-known Besant/Sonota archaeological sites across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba were selected to undergo geochemical characterization using laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). This analysis has resulted in the discovery that local source areas of brown chalcedony were being exploited by Precontact groups rather than the KRF quarries in North Dakota. The implications of this are discussed in terms of trade and exchange relationships, ethnic/cultural landscapes, and economic efficiency