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View northwest of Arctic
Small Tool tradition site
at theLac de Gras – Lac du Sauvage narrows
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For the ninth consecutive year, Jean Bussey of Points West
Heritage Consulting Ltd. directed archaeological investigations
for BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. in its claim block north of
Lac de Gras. Carol Rushworth of Points West assisted, as did
a number of summer students working at the Ekati Diamond Mine™.
The fieldwork consisted of an archaeological inventory as
well as a tour of archaeological sites associated with the
Ekati Diamond Mine ™ and the Tibbitt to Contwoyto winter
road. The first tour involved elders from Lutsel K’e,
Madelaine Drybones and August Enzoe, along with their researcher/interpreter,
Nancy Casaway. The second tour involved Inuit elders, Tom
Kopak and Walker Bolt, and their researcher, Amanda Niptanatiak.
In addition, previously recorded sites near development areas
were revisited as part of an ongoing monitoring program.
During the archaeological inventory, thirteen new archaeological
sites were discovered, bringing the total number of known
sites in the BHP claim block to 183. Stone tools or the fragments
(flakes) removed during the manufacture of stone tools characterize
the thirteen new sites. The majority of the artifacts are
typified by white or grey quartz, but some chert and siltstone
specimens were also discovered. The majority of recorded sites
in the claim block are associated with eskers, but sites are
also found on other terrain types, usually in the vicinity
of the larger lakes. Nine of the sites found in 2002 were
associated with two eskers, locally referred to as the Duchess
West and Exeter eskers. The other four sites were found near
the Lac de Gras – Lac du Sauvage narrows, where eight
other sites have been recorded. No development activity has
been identified in the vicinity of these thirteen sites; thus,
there is no potential for conflict.
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| One of seven sites
on Exeter esker north of Ekati Diamond Mine™ |
The twelve sites in the vicinity of the Lac de Gras-Lac du
Sauvage narrows are likely associated with caribou hunting
since the narrows represents an important caribou crossing.
One of the four new sites in this area yielded a number of
small chert tools suggestive of the Arctic Small Tool tradition.
This is the third site at the narrows with such tools. The
presence of these artifacts is strongly suggestive of the
narrows representing a significant location through time.
There is high potential for additional archaeological sites
in this vicinity.
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