View north of a large site located at the narrows between Lac de Gras and Lac du Sauvage

Jean Bussey of Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd. directed archaeological investigations for BHP Diamonds Inc. in its claim block north of Lac de Gras. Bonnie Campbell of Points West and Robert Beaulieu, a member of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, assisted. The fieldwork consisted of an archaeological inventory as well as a tour for Edward Camille and his interpreter, Jonas Lafferty, representatives of the Dogrib First Nation. Previously recorded and newly discovered archaeological sites were visited during the tour.

During the archaeological inventory, eight new archaeological sites were discovered, bringing the total number of known sites in the BHP claim block to 170. Stone tools or the fragments (flakes) removed during the manufacture of stone tools characterize the eight new sites. The majority of the artifacts are white or gray quartz, but some chert and siltstone specimens were also discovered. In addition a tent ring and several battered quartz veins were encountered. No development activity has been identified in the vicinity of these sites; thus, there is no potential for conflict.

Elder Edward Camille at a possible natural blind at the narrows between Lac de Gras and Lac du Sauvage.

Two of the new sites were found adjacent to a river flowing into the east side of Achilles Lake in the northeast portion of the BHP claim block. One was associated with an esker and the other with an esker remnant. The other six sites were found at the narrows between Lac de Gras and Lac du Sauvage, in the southeast corner of the claim block. All six are likely associated with caribou hunting since the narrows represents an important caribou crossing. Two sites, one to either side of the narrows, each yielded a small biface suggestive of the Arctic Small Tool tradition. The presence of these artifacts suggests that the narrows represents a significant location utilized through time. There is high potential for additional archaeological sites in this vicinity.