View west of subsurface testing by Henry, Aaron   and Olivia at KiNp-1.

Points West Heritage Consulting Ltd. conducted archaeological investigations for De Beers Canada Inc. at their Gahcho Kue Project in 2005.  The study area is located at Kennady Lake, which is approximately 300 km east/northeast of Yellowknife and 80 km southeast of Snap Lake.  Jean Bussey directed the field investigations and was assisted by Olivia Donaher, also of Points West, and Henry Basil and Aaron Catholique of the Lutselk’e First Nation.  The archaeological work was conducted under a Class 2 NWT Archaeologists Permit and was primarily concerned with the assessment of previously recorded archaeological sites associated with a proposed diamond mine and its ancillary facilities.   

In 2004, 26 previously recorded sites located within 1 km of the proposed Gahcho Kue mine were relocated and subjected to preliminary assessment.  Subsurface testing and/or detailed surface examination was conducted at sixteen of these sites and resulted in a more accurate evaluation of site significance.  In the 2004 report it was recommended that the remaining 10 sites be assessed and this site evaluation was completed in 2005.  In addition, 10 sites located near two proposed gravel pits were also assessed through intensive surface examination and/or subsurface testing.  In the process of accessing previously recorded archaeological sites, three new sites were discovered in 2005.  All three were sufficiently near proposed development areas that detailed evaluation was conducted.  As follow-up to another 2004 recommendation, an archaeological site located along the winter road route to Mackay Lake was also evaluated.  Two previously recorded sites located near possible winter road routes for the gravel pits were revisited, but were not assessed since they are avoidable.

View northeast of subsurface testing at newly discovered KiNp-73.

All recorded archaeological sites located within 1 km of proposed development areas associated with the Gahcho Kue project have now been assessed in detail.  Sites located along the winter road to camp and near proposed winter roads within the project area have been evaluated for impact potential.  The majority of the sites along the roads are avoidable.  Sites located near the open pit mines are more likely to be affected and such sites were tested.  The number and depth of these tests varied based on the size of the landform, amount of vegetation cover evident, surface yield and characteristics of the subsurface deposits.  In the process of site assessment, a number of small surface sites were essentially mitigated, while at other archaeological sites sufficient data was collected to provide suitable mitigation recommendations in the event that avoidance is not feasible.