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 Ed Jones, Fort Resolution, explains the early use of mineral exploration equipment at Damoti Lake. |
Damoti Lake A proposed development is a small underground gold mine on the southwest shore of Damoti Lake, northwest of Yellowknife. Areas slated for development were examined for sites of archaeological and cultural interest by Brian Ronaghan of Golder Associates, with assistance and advice provided by Jonas Lafferty of Rae. The proposed facilities are a small surface plant, a camp, two access roads, an airstrip, a tailings area, and a source of sand for building on a small island in the lake.
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Four small archaeological sites were found on an esker on this island. They consist of scattered remains of flakes of stone from making tools. One site is located on a high ridge with a good view of the lake; two are on the exposed sand of the eskers at the south end of the island, and the fourth is along the west shore of the island. The sites yielded only a few artifacts and all had been disturbed by erosion. Except for two small flakes, all the artifacts found are made of white quartz that occurs commonly in the area.
No sites were found on the mainland where most of the construction will take place; and no sites of importance to local communities were identified. Because of the good supply of fish in the lake and the fact that the caribou herd migrates past the island in early spring, it is not surprising that precontact people favoured the esker island over the mainland.
Norman Wells
Richard Kaul of Calgary received permission to conduct a visual search of lakes in the vicinity of Norman Wells to locate three submerged aircraft. The project was cancelled due to lack of funding.
