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The flood mountain research project : investigations at FlQs-35, an early prehistoric period site in the postglacial environment of the Upper Peace Region, Alberta

Description

The Flood Mountain Site (FlQs-35) was identified in 2016 during an Historic Resources Impact Assessment (HRIA) of a proposed forestry cut block. A projectile point was recovered with typological... More ≫

Description

The Flood Mountain Site (FlQs-35) was identified in 2016 during an Historic Resources Impact Assessment (HRIA) of a proposed forestry cut block. A projectile point was recovered with typological similarities to Early Prehistoric Period points referred to as “stubbies”. Buried in situ sites of this period are quite rare and consequently the Flood Mountain Research Project was proposed as a follow-up investigation of the site in 2017. This paper discusses the results of the research program as well as the palaeoenvironmental constraints during the Early Prehistoric Period in Alberta that would have influenced exploitation of the postglacial landscape. FlQs-35 reflects a short-term campsite occupied by people who exploited the highly dynamic postglacial environment of Alberta’s uplands during the Early Holocene.

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Advancing archaeology : industry and practice in Alberta, 2019

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The Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series was established in 1976 as a means of disseminating information to archaeologists, historians, and members of the public in Alberta.... More ≫

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The Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series was established in 1976 as a means of disseminating information to archaeologists, historians, and members of the public in Alberta. The series is comprised mainly of annual review volumes that detail select projects carried out within the province and across Western Canada. This issue (No. 39) is devoted to advancing archaeological practice in cultural resource management and research.

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Revisiting Besant and Sonota era bone uprights in Alberta

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This article summarizes archaeological features called bone uprights that appear at sites in Alberta and across the northern plains. Bone uprights are vertical animal bones (usually bison) that... More ≫

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This article summarizes archaeological features called bone uprights that appear at sites in Alberta and across the northern plains. Bone uprights are vertical animal bones (usually bison) that were embedded in the ground and served several purposes for pre-contact people.

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Advancing archaeology : industry and practice in Alberta, 2019. Dedication : Terrance (Terry) H. Gibson

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This tribute article is a dedication to an influential archaeologist in Alberta – Terry Gibson. The article introduces the 39th issue of the Occasional Paper Series, which is dedicated to Terry Gibson. More ≫

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This tribute article is a dedication to an influential archaeologist in Alberta – Terry Gibson. The article introduces the 39th issue of the Occasional Paper Series, which is dedicated to Terry Gibson.

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The swing of things : contributions to archaeological research in Alberta, 2018.

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The swing of things: Contributions to archaeological research in Alberta, 2018 is part of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta. This issue contains a series of archaeology articles that inform... More ≫

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The swing of things: Contributions to archaeological research in Alberta, 2018 is part of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta. This issue contains a series of archaeology articles that inform research, management practices, and methods in Alberta.

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Knowledge for a changing environment : 2019-2024 science strategy

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Knowledge for a Changing Environment: 2019-2024 Science Strategy sets the strategic direction for an integrated environmental science program to monitor, evaluate, and report on the condition of... More ≫

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Knowledge for a Changing Environment: 2019-2024 Science Strategy sets the strategic direction for an integrated environmental science program to monitor, evaluate, and report on the condition of Alberta’s ambient environment. The strategy lays the foundation to: address key environmental information needs of multiple users; deliver transparent, sound and trustworthy science on environmental conditions; braid Indigenous Knowledge with classical science through knowledge co-production; and provide scientifically-sound information to decision makers so they can address provincial environmental challenges.

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Testing debitage typologies with statistical analysis : experimental inferences upon archaeological material from FaPx-1, a sub-alpine hunting camp in the Alberta Rockies

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Stone production debris (debitage) is the most common artifact type found at archaeological sites in North America. A significant time investment is required to catalogue debitage from large... More ≫

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Stone production debris (debitage) is the most common artifact type found at archaeological sites in North America. A significant time investment is required to catalogue debitage from large assemblages. Conventional thought holds that, because lithic tool manufacture is reductive, the attributes of flake size and cortex amount will decrease throughout production while dorsal flake scars increase. Dorsal scar count is an attribute commonly used to infer trends in an assemblage; however, the statistical significance of dorsal scars as a measure of the stage of lithic tool production has not been addressed adequately. Cortex amount is also used to deduce lithic reduction stages; however, the author argues that this may not represent behavioral patterns as meaningfully as platform morphology.

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New Vertical Series rock art at the Glenwood Erratic, DiPi-42, Alberta

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The Vertical Series type of Indigenous rock art is found at only a handful of sites across the northern Great Plains. Discovery of a new site is therefore significant. In 2012 the Glenwood Erratic... More ≫

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The Vertical Series type of Indigenous rock art is found at only a handful of sites across the northern Great Plains. Discovery of a new site is therefore significant. In 2012 the Glenwood Erratic in southwestern Alberta was reported as a heavily vandalized rock art site. Inspection, however, revealed no rock art where originally specified. Instead, previously unknown rock art was found on many surfaces of the erratic, all of which is faint and challenging to describe. The age of the artwork is estimated at between 500 to 1,000 years before present. The identity of the cultural group responsible is unknown.

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The swing of things : contributions to archaeological research in Alberta, 2018. Dedication : Milton (Milt) J. Wright

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The swing of things: Contributions to archaeological research in Alberta, 2018 is part of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta. This issue is a dedication to Wilt Wright, an Alberta archaeologist... More ≫

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The swing of things: Contributions to archaeological research in Alberta, 2018 is part of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta. This issue is a dedication to Wilt Wright, an Alberta archaeologist who recently passed away.

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Identifying Knife River Flint in Alberta : a silicified lignite toolstone from North Dakota

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This article is the fourth in a series intended to assist the identification of raw materials used for precontact stone tools in Alberta. Each article focuses on one raw material; the current... More ≫

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This article is the fourth in a series intended to assist the identification of raw materials used for precontact stone tools in Alberta. Each article focuses on one raw material; the current article discusses a silicified lignite called Knife River Flint (KRF) that originates in North Dakota and appears in archaeological sites across Alberta. Local materials, including chalcedony, silicified peat/petrified wood, and translucent chert, can be mistaken for KRF: macroscopic and microscope qualities of these materials are described with an accompanying photograph library to assist identification. Several methods were tested to assess their feasibility for distinguishing KRF from local materials. KRF so closely resembles other materials in terms of macroscopics, microscopics, and geochemistry that conclusively demonstrating provenance remains problematic.

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