Arthur S. Dyke standing beside a late Paleoeskimo (Dorset) longhouse east of Berkeley Point that measures approximately 21 x 6.5m.

Archaeological surveys were carried out in July 2001 on two areas in the Amundsen Gulf region of northwestern Victoria Island, Cape Ptarmigan and Berkeley Point. The surveys were conducted to determine the types of prehistoric sites present in these areas, and their age. No artifacts were collected, but several samples of charcoal and other material suitable for radiocarbon dating were collected from several features. Approximately 20 archeological sites, including Paleoeskimo (4500 – 1000 years before the present), Thule (approximately 1000 – 200 years before the present) and historic Inuit sites were recorded. This number of sites is much smaller than in comparable areas further south on Victoria Island that we have surveyed, and may reflect either a) smaller prehistoric Inuit population levels in these northern areas, or b) possibly the erosion of many prehistoric sites due to rising sea levels at some point in the past.

Arthur S. Dyke standing behind a Thule sod house depression north of Berkeley Point.