Advancing archaeology: Industry and practice in Alberta, 2019 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALBERTA OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 39 Glacier Pass Concretions: A pre-contact toolstone from an alpine quarry complex in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains Todd J. Kristensena*, Timothy E. Allanb, Emily Moffata, Aaron Osickic, Dale Fisherd, Robin Woywitkae, and John W. Ivesd a Archaeological Survey of Alberta, 8820-112th St. NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2P8 b Tree Time Services Inc., #3464-78th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6B 2X9 c Archaeology and History Branch, Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage Directorate, Parks Canada, 720-200-4th Ave SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 4X3 d Department of Anthropology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H4 e Department of Physical Sciences, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4S2 * corresponding author:
[email protected] ABSTRACT A pre-contact stone quarry complex was recorded in the 1970s in Canada’s Rocky Mountains on the north edge of Jasper National Park and south edge of Willmore Wilderness Park, Alberta. Anderson and Reeves (1975) called the raw material Glacier Pass siliceous mudstone. We present geochemical and mineralogical analyses of the material including portable X-ray fluorescence, thin sections, and hyperspectral imaging. When combined with field observa- tions and modern bedrock maps, our analyses suggest the raw materials are best defined as concretions that formed around carbonate-rich nuclei. Concretionary materials presented challenges to flintknappers. Our results indicate that pre-contact toolmakers were aware of internal inconsistencies in concretions and targeted specific high silica bands that produced a better quality, predictable substrate for tools. Preliminary experiments demonstrate that the material responds well to heat treatment.