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The Wearmouth Buffalo Jump : a stratified protohistoric site on lower Jumpingpound Creek, Alberta

Description

As a result of the program initiated by Alberta Culture and Tourism in response to the widespread flooding of 2013, a series of previously unidentified archaeological sites were recorded northwest... More ≫

Description

As a result of the program initiated by Alberta Culture and Tourism in response to the widespread flooding of 2013, a series of previously unidentified archaeological sites were recorded northwest of Calgary on a tributary of the Bow River, Jumpingpound Creek, near the confluence of the two waterways. This site complex is organized around the newly recorded Wearmouth Buffalo Jump, a deeply stratified bison kill at the foot of a small cliff. The area represents a rare instance in which aspects of archaeology, history, and Indigenous tradition may intersect at a geographic location that has remained largely intact since the period of first contact, yet this area remains highly susceptible to flood related erosion. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in southern Alberta.

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Excavations at EePj-103 (Margaret’s Site) on the Bow River : a stratified protohistoric and historic site in southern Alberta

Description

Excavations in 2015 at EePj-103, Margaret’s Site, revealed a stratified Protohistoric and Historic Period site. A unique feature of this site is that it has two stratigraphically separate... More ≫

Description

Excavations in 2015 at EePj-103, Margaret’s Site, revealed a stratified Protohistoric and Historic Period site. A unique feature of this site is that it has two stratigraphically separate protohistoric occupations, neither of which are mixed with earlier Precontact Period materials nor later Historic Period materials. EePj-103 also has later Historic Period occupations, at least one of which is associated with the Domburg Ranch, established in 1889, and represented today by the remnants of sandstone building foundations. EePj-103 is uniquely positioned to help answer important research questions about the Protohistoric Period in southern Alberta, particularly those related to changing technology with the introduction of European trade goods. The historic ranch remains also represent a very early period in the settlement of Alberta after the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which...

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Near surface magnetic assessment on the FM Ranch Campsite (EfPk-1)

Description

During mitigative and exploratory studies undertaken at the FM Ranch Campsite (EfPk-1) in 2015, near-surface geophysical assessment was implemented to help focus archaeological and... More ≫

Description

During mitigative and exploratory studies undertaken at the FM Ranch Campsite (EfPk-1) in 2015, near-surface geophysical assessment was implemented to help focus archaeological and geoarchaeological studies in a selected area of the site. The purpose of the study was to locate culturally-derived combustion features (such as hearths) using magnetic detection methods prior to excavation, in order to maximize the potential for recovery of cultural data that are usually associated with these types of features. Analysis of the results of this work illustrated some shortcomings of the gradiometer method, and an alternative geophysical magnetic assessment method that would be more suitable for investigating the majority of archaeological features found in North America is suggested. Part of the 37th volume of the Archaeological Survey of Alberta Occasional Paper series, which contains 18 articles exploring multiple facets of the impact on archaeological resources of the 2013 flood in...

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Archaeological Site Inventory data form guide

Description

Presents guidance on completing the Archaeological Site Inventory Form, which is used to record basic information on archaeological sites in Alberta. The Inventory contains over 40,000 site... More ≫

Description

Presents guidance on completing the Archaeological Site Inventory Form, which is used to record basic information on archaeological sites in Alberta. The Inventory contains over 40,000 site records, with approximately 500 added each year. New site records can result from investigations conducted in areas proposed for development, as required through the Historic Resources Impact Assessment process, or from academic research projects.

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More than meat : residue analysis results of mauls in Alberta

Description

Mauls are a grooved ground stone tool found at archaeological sites in central and southern Alberta. Rarely studied as a valid tool category, the most commonly assumed function of mauls is the... More ≫

Description

Mauls are a grooved ground stone tool found at archaeological sites in central and southern Alberta. Rarely studied as a valid tool category, the most commonly assumed function of mauls is the processing of bone and meat. They are often assumed to be of Late Prehistoric date. This paper summarizes a systematic study of mauls in Alberta and focuses on those associated with datable artifacts or radiocarbon dates. Results show mauls were used for more than pounding meat and bone.

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The Smuland Creek site and implications for Palaeoindian site prospection in the Peace Region of northwestern Alberta

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Cultural resource management survey of a proposed pipeline corridor stretching across uplands to the southeast of Grande Prairie resulted in the discovery of the Smuland Creek site. Preliminary... More ≫

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Cultural resource management survey of a proposed pipeline corridor stretching across uplands to the southeast of Grande Prairie resulted in the discovery of the Smuland Creek site. Preliminary subsurface testing yielded the proximal portion of a basally thinned (fluted) projectile point and a graver artifact, both diagnostic of earliest prehistoric times in the Peace Region of Alberta and British Columbia. Further survey yielded additional evidence for prehistoric occupation. The new discoveries present preliminary evidence for early human presence in the region that may be associated with older, upland glacial lake features. The merits of this hypothesis are examined and the implications for Palaeoindian site prospection in the Peace Region are discussed.

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A summary of Alberta archaeology sites, 1992-2015

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A total of 16,775 archaeological sites were recorded in Alberta between 1992 and 2015, making up 40 per cent of known sites in the province. Another 8,594 sites were revisited during the same time... More ≫

Description

A total of 16,775 archaeological sites were recorded in Alberta between 1992 and 2015, making up 40 per cent of known sites in the province. Another 8,594 sites were revisited during the same time period. New discoveries, either through initial recording or excavation from 1992 to 2015, have contributed significantly to the archaeological record of Alberta. Some of the most notable sites recorded or excavated between 1992 and 2015 are summarized in this article.

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