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Topographic setting of archaeological survey in the Boreal Forest of Alberta

Description

The archaeological record of the Canadian Boreal Forest is dominated by shallowly buried sites with little to no datable artifacts or stratigraphy. However, the factors that underlie this skew to... More ≫

Description

The archaeological record of the Canadian Boreal Forest is dominated by shallowly buried sites with little to no datable artifacts or stratigraphy. However, the factors that underlie this skew to shallow sites are rarely formally examined. Here we use a geomorphon-based terrain classification to assess the role of topographic setting in the placement of archaeological survey points. Our results show that there is considerable bias in current archaeological survey methods towards landforms that disperse sediment. This reduces the likelihood of finding deeply buried or stratified sites and calls into question the assertion that datable sites are largely absent from the region.

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Using GIS and remote sensing to monitor industrial impacts to archaeological sites in the Athabasca Oil Sands of Alberta

Description

The Athabasca Oil Sands region of Alberta has one of the densest accumulations of known archaeological sites in the country. Until recently, there has been little quantitative evidence to assess... More ≫

Description

The Athabasca Oil Sands region of Alberta has one of the densest accumulations of known archaeological sites in the country. Until recently, there has been little quantitative evidence to assess human impact on archaeological resources in the region. The goal of this paper is to raise awareness of the critical need to incorporate new archaeological remote sensing strategies to improve site monitoring approaches. We present methods and results from our GIS-based analysis that seeks to locate and partially characterize impacted sites.

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Findings and interpretations at GbQn-13, an Early Prehistoric Period site in Alberta’s west central Foothills

Description

In 2021, GbQn-13 was identified during a forestry assessment in Alberta’s west-central Foothills. The site contains both a projectile point base and obsidian flakes and can be placed within the... More ≫

Description

In 2021, GbQn-13 was identified during a forestry assessment in Alberta’s west-central Foothills. The site contains both a projectile point base and obsidian flakes and can be placed within the Cody Complex at the end of the Early Prehistoric Period based on morphological traits of the point base. This paper presents findings and interpretations from GbQn-13.

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The Wapiti Site (GfQu-30) : an Alberta clovis site in the bottleneck region of the ice-free corridor

Description

A cultural resource management survey conducted along the Wapiti River southwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta led to the identification of the Wapiti site (GfQu-30). Mitigative excavation of the... More ≫

Description

A cultural resource management survey conducted along the Wapiti River southwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta led to the identification of the Wapiti site (GfQu-30). Mitigative excavation of the site resulted in the recovery of a complete Clovis projectile point. This article describes the Wapiti Site, its context, and the corresponding implications for the inhabitability and peopling of the bottleneck region of the ice-free corridor during the Clovis complex.

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Dated ground stone artifacts from Tse’K’wa (HbRf-39), Peace River region, British Columbia

Description

Artifacts made from ground sandstone were recovered from Tse’K’wa (HbRf-39) in the Peace River region of northeastern British Columbia. Two formal types are described: handstones and beveled-edge... More ≫

Description

Artifacts made from ground sandstone were recovered from Tse’K’wa (HbRf-39) in the Peace River region of northeastern British Columbia. Two formal types are described: handstones and beveled-edge artifacts. The specimens are dated by stratigraphic position and radiocarbon from 6000 cal BP to recent times. Scans with an optical profilometer of possibly worked surfaces show that they are significantly smoother than unworked sandstone from the local bedrock formation. The shape of the artifacts also supports their identification as deliberately formed artifacts. This paper suggests that these are tools related to preparation of hides.

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Forestry and archaeology in Alberta : a history and synthesis

Description

This paper presents the origins of cultural resource management in Alberta’s forestry sector and synthesizes key statistics since implementation in 2003. Over 4,600 archaeological sites have been... More ≫

Description

This paper presents the origins of cultural resource management in Alberta’s forestry sector and synthesizes key statistics since implementation in 2003. Over 4,600 archaeological sites have been recorded in the province during historic resources impact assessments of harvest blocks and forestry roads with an average of 246 new sites per year. The paper summarizes annual records of sites detected, the number and percentage of forestry developments subjected to fieldwork, site size, and shovel test intensity. The goals are to document trends and explain the value of forestry compliance for heritage protection in Alberta.

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The archaeological remains from a surface collection, Fort Vermilion, Alberta

Description

This paper describes a surface collection from the Gull Lake site near Fort Vermilion in northern Alberta. The site yielded an assortment of tools, including a complete microblade core, several... More ≫

Description

This paper describes a surface collection from the Gull Lake site near Fort Vermilion in northern Alberta. The site yielded an assortment of tools, including a complete microblade core, several diagnostic projectile points made from a variety of lithic raw materials (including one specimen resembling Angostura Paleoindian points). We hypothesize that the Gull Lake site represents one of several areas in the northern Alberta Boreal Borest that were prairies purposely maintained by First Nations peoples to attract large game animals such as woodland bison. Once these and other large animals were depleted after contact, First Nations peoples no longer used the site in favor of other still productive game animal areas in northern Alberta.

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Archaeological discoveries and syntheses in Western Canada, 2020

Description

This volume presents a series of archaeological papers that summarize diverse topics including rock art in southern Alberta, atlatl weights in Saskatchewan, microblade technology in northwest... More ≫

Description

This volume presents a series of archaeological papers that summarize diverse topics including rock art in southern Alberta, atlatl weights in Saskatchewan, microblade technology in northwest North America, Napi effigies on the Northern Plains, a material called porcellanite used to make stone tools in Alberta, and a surface collection of artifacts from northern Alberta (the Gull Lake site).

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Porcellanite in Alberta : a pyrometamorphic pre-contact toolstone

Description

Porcellanite is a pyrometamorphic rock that forms when naturally ignited coal seams fuse fine-grained sedimentary rocks. This can produce a uniform material suitable for making stone tools. This... More ≫

Description

Porcellanite is a pyrometamorphic rock that forms when naturally ignited coal seams fuse fine-grained sedimentary rocks. This can produce a uniform material suitable for making stone tools. This paper presents photographs and geochemical analyses of Montana and North Dakota porcellanites in comparison to high quality pyrometamorphic rocks, and Alberta materials of similar origin or appearance. Results of portable X-ray fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, and thin section analyses are combined with micro/macroscopic traits to aid identification.

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Anthropomorphic Napi effigies on the northwestern plains : a petroform record of Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) belief

Description

Anthropomorphic Napi effigies are petroforms (boulder outlines) of a static, frontal, male figure with a simple head, rectangular body, upraised arms, heart-line (lifeline), simple-extension legs... More ≫

Description

Anthropomorphic Napi effigies are petroforms (boulder outlines) of a static, frontal, male figure with a simple head, rectangular body, upraised arms, heart-line (lifeline), simple-extension legs with out-turned feet and male genitalia. These petroforms have been called ‘Napi’ effigies owing to evidence linking them to the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot) entity. This paper presents a larger sample of distinct anthropomorphic effigies (n=22) to further assess their style and distribution. A stronger case is made for linking the distinct anthropomorphic effigies to the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot).

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