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Home , Boreal (age), High Level, Northern Alberta

Archaeology in the Tolko/Footner FMA: Preserving the of Northern

Grzegorz Kwiecien Alberta Western Heritage Alberta Western Heritage

Alberta Western Heritage is a privately owned cultural resource management company with an office located in St. Albert, Alberta, as as offices in and . AWH is a division of Western Heritage Services Inc. (WHS), located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. WHS staff have been involved in thousands of heritage studies throughout . WHS has been incorporated in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and since 1990.

SERVICES EXPERTISE • Historical Resource Act Clearance The staff include experienced specialists in • Historical Resource Impact Assessments every area of heritage studies: • Historical Resource Overviews • Historic and Precontact Archaeology • Archaeological Excavations • Built Heritage Research • Construction Monitoring and Assessment • Historical Impact Management and Mitigation • Traditional Land Use Studies • Archival Research and Oral History • Heritage Potential Modeling • First Nations and Metis Liaison • Forestry Historical Resource Management • Artifact Management and Analysis • EIA Historical Component Studies • Specialized Software Development • Public and Advanced Education • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) • Public Interpretation of Historical Resources • Geophysical Prospection. Archaeology The study of human history and prehistory by examining and interpreting the physical evidence of the everyday lives of people in the past Types of Archaeology

Canadian Archaeology Egyptology Mayan Archaeology Underwater Archaeology

Subarctic Archaeology Industrial Archaeology Avocational Archaeology

Experimental Archaeology Archaeology

Consulting Archaeology American Archaeology

Roman Archaeology Historical Archaeology

Iron Age Archaeology Archaeology as Anthropology Public Archaeology Basic Concerns of Archaeology

An archaeological artifact can be defined as human made or modified portable object from stone to gold ornaments, as well as bones and food residues.

Stone tools

An archaeological can be defined as nonportable structures such houses, , storage pits, tipi ring, and so on.

Tipi ring

An archaeological site can be defined as the material remains (consisting of stone tools, , animal bones, hearts, houses etc.) left behind by a group of people who occupied an area at some point in the past.

Boreal Forest Archeological Site Prehistoric Artifacts: Stone Tools

Arrowheads/Spearheads Stone Drills//Perforators

Stone (Hand Held & Hafted) Stone Prehistoric Artifacts: Bone Tools and Pottery

Bone Awls Bone Fish Hooks

Bone Flesher

Pottery Prehistoric Features: Dwellings, Hearths,

Prehistoric Inuit Winter House Dwellings

Buried , Saskatoon Mountain. , Prehistoric Features: Stone Features,

Stone Feature- Medicine

Rock Art- Prehistoric Animal and Plant Remains

Bison Skull, Head-Smashed-In , southern Alberta.

Bison Bone Beds, Junction Site, southern Alberta. Archaeological Context Geological Associations: Soil/ Layering (Stratigraphy)

Stratigraphy- Boss Hill (Central AB)

Stratigraphy- Saskatoon Mountain Site, Stratigraphy- Smuland Creek, Peace Region (AB) Cliff Top Dune, Grande Prairie (AB) Timeline of Prehistoric Period Beringia and First Americans

 Archeology  Geology ? When ?  DNA ?  How ?  Linguistics  Who ?  Oral Traditions ?  From Where ?

Possible routes of First Americans Pre Clovis Sites ?

Possible Pre-Clovis Archaeological Sites in Americas Early Paleoindian Period: Clovis and Folsom (12,000-10,000 B.P)

Folsom Points

Clovis Points

Mammoth Late Paleoindian Period: The Plano (10,000-8,000 B.P.)

Modern Bison (Bison bison )

Scottsbluff Point Agate Basin Point Earliest Human Sites in Northwestern Alberta and British Columbia Charlie Lake Prehistoric Site, northeastern BC

Artifacts Found at Charlie View of Charlie Lake Cave Lake Cave including Stone Fluted Point

Photos taken from www.sfu.ca/archaeology/museum/bc Saskatoon Mountain Prehistoric Site

Aerial View of Saskatoon Mountain Site and DEW Line Radar Base, Grande Prairie, AB Smuland Creek Site, CanFor FMA

Stone Graver Stone Fluted Spear Point Middle Prehistoric Period (8, 000-2,000 B.P) Atlatl

Middle Prehistoric (Atlatl), Weight and Stone Dart Points. Late Prehistoric Period (2,000-250 B.P.) Development of Pottery and the Use of Bow and

Pottery

Bow and arrow Prehistoric/Historic Transition Period (250 B.P) Arrival of European explorers and fur traders to Alberta.

AD 1754 Hudson's Bay Company employee Anthony Henday becomes the first English-speaking European to visit Alberta

Early Trade Metal

Early Historic Period. Member of Nation displaying pelt to European fur trader. Historic Period

Remington “1858” New Model Army Cap and Ball Revolver, Boss Hill, central AB.

Historic Cabin, , central AB. Native groups in ca. 1800 A.D. Prehistoric Hunters of Alberta's Northern Forests

 Enviroment Physiography of the Mackenzie Lowlands : long and cold winters, short summers Vegetation  Fauna Subsistence Animals: , caribou,woodland bison, snowshoe hare, beaver, fish Animals of the Fur Trade: beaver  Peoples Tsatinne, , Dene Tha’ and  Languages Athapascan and Algonkian  Social and Economic Organization Extremely low population density with small, highly mobile bands of 20-100 people Seasonal round of activities  Technology Wood and sinew snowshoes and toboggans, spruce root and bark vessels, willow and spruce root fish nets, hide sinew, bone needles, snow goggles, fleshers Archaeology in Northern Alberta

Access Road Shovel Testing

Challenges of Archeology in Northern Alberta:  Environment  Access  Low surface visibility  Almost all sites discovered by creating artificial exposures (shovel tests)  Small size of most archaeological sites  Paucity of archaeological knowledge for heavily forested areas  Lack of the intensive archaeological investigation  Soil

Boreal Forest Archaeological Sites in Alberta Archaeological Sites in the Tolko/Footner FMA

 Middle Prehistoric Sites ? Around Wenzel Lake  Middle Prehistoric Oxbow Culture Site near  Late Prehistoric Taltheilei Tradition Sites ?  Fur Trade Posts

Map of Northwestern Alberta Showing Tolko/Footner FMA and Distribution of Known Heritage Resources Historical Resources Act Historical Resources Act

The need to preserve and study historical resources has long been recognized and was officially reflected in the passage of the Alberta Heritage Act in 1973 (now the Alberta Historical Resources Act 1987).

“Historic resources means any work of nature or of humans that is primarily of value for its palaeontological, archaeological, prehistoric, historic, cultural, natural, scientific or esthetic interest including, but not limited to, a palaeontological, archaeological, prehistoric, historic or natural site, structure or object “ (section 1a of Historical Resources Act).

Historical resources are susceptible to the effects of time and, especially, to damage caused by the activities of modern society. In recognizing their nonrenewable nature, Section 37 of the Historical Resources Act provides the framework for Historical Resources Impact Assessments (HRIAs) and mitigative studies. When, in the opinion of the Minister of Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture (ACD), an activity will or will likely result in the alteration, damage or destruction of an historic resource, the person or company undertaking the activity can be required to:

 conduct an HRIA on lands that may be affected by the activity  submit to ACDT a report discussing the results of the HRIA  avoid any historic resources endangered by activity  or mitigate potential impacts by undertaking comprehensive studies.

HRIAs and mitigative studies are paid for by the person or company undertaking or proposing to undertake the activity. Professional private-sector historians, archaeologists and palaeontologists perform the required work. ACD regulates archaeological and palaeontological fieldwork through a permit system. All decision-making in regard to the management of historical resources rests with Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. The Alberta Forest and Historical Resources Protection 1990s saw major change occurring within many Canadian forestry companies, with Alberta forestry firms being no exception. Foresters consider forests as a community of ecological and socio-economical values. Part of this re-evaluation was a need to consider non-economic forest values, including the traditional values of First Nations and historical resources. Historical concerns are now being integrated into forestry planning practices.

Forestry Reclamation Ground Work Tolko/Footner High Level Proposed Heritage Resources Management Strategy Yearly AOP Components

AOP Heritage Screening Submission and Permit Application Pre-Impact Fieldwork  Post-Impact Helicopter Overview  Post-Impact Fieldwork  Final Reporting  Model Update AOP Heritage Screening Submission (Historical Resources Overview) Why? Required by ACD as initial step in annual heritage management plan . ACD is interested in mitigative options developer is proposing for all developments in proximity to sensitive heritage zones. Historical Resources Overview Assessment (HROA) procedure is used for areas that maintain historical resources management infrastructure ( i.e., Digital heritage potential model and various historical databases What? Document (preferably in spreadsheet format) that contains pertinent development information and associated heritage screening data. Determines whether development requires fieldwork or is of no further concern. When? Who? Created during AOP planning by Tolko High Level/Footner personnel and Alberta Western Heritage staff (potential modifications to heritage potential value based on professional judgement). How? Create in ArcView by adding columns of heritage screening data to AOP Harvest Block/Access Road shapefiles (This format easily turned into excel spreadsheet for presentation to ACD). AOP Heritage Screening Procedure

Logical Step-Wise Procedure Used to Address Historical Resource Concerns for each Development in AOP

Step 1 : Identify level of intended forestry practice impact using CRICS (Cultural Resources Impact Classification System). This determines whether forestry practices will actually impact potential sites. Step 2 : Determine the potential for historical resources sites in the intended development area by using Heritage Potential Model. Step 3 : Use Six Historical Data Sets to determine if development situated: - within Historic Boundary. - < 500 m from Trail. - < 250 m from Cabin. - < 250 m or < 100 m from Arch Site. - within Palaeo zone . - within Sensitive Heritage Zone. Step 4 : Identify Heritage Prescription. Provides procedures to avoid or mitigate potential impacts to heritage resources sites. STEP 1-CRICS used to Classify Impacts CRICS -(Cultural Resources Impact Classification System)

Classes 0, 1 and 2 do not affect buried sites Industrial practices producing less than Class 3 impacts can be permitted on high heritage potential zones Most forestry practices (tree felling, skidding) produce Class 2 or less impacts Classes 3,4 and 5 affect buried sites Impact Classes 4 and 5 are serious and such practices should avoid high heritage potential zones Road, pipeline and wellpad construction, and silviculture ground preparation produces Class 3 or greater impacts In -block roads also tend to create higher impacts (Class 3) when they are stumped STEP 2-Tolko/Footner FMA Heritage Potential Model for Specific AOP Development

Using ArcView to place development shapefiles over Heritage Model to determine High, Moderate or Low heritage potential

 created using quantifiable environmental and geographic information that is manipulated statistically using a GIS  generating model, forestry companies provide digital data sets of elevation, hydrology, soils, surficial geology, forest cover and ecological/landform unit data  model creates a continuous representation of high, moderate and low heritage potential  each sub-hectare of land in the modelled area has a potential value assigned to it, therefore it is possible to predict fairly precisely where heritage sites are most likely to occur and take remedial action as required STEP 3: AOP Heritage Screening Databases

Historic Sites Inventory Database : Listing of all sites recorded as historical resources.

Historic Trail Database : Listing of all recorded historic trails across FMA.

Historic Cabin Database : Listing of all recorded historic cabins across FMA.

Archaeological Sites Inventory Database : Listing of all recorded archaeological resources.

Palaeontological Sites Inventory Database : Listing of all recorded palaeontological resources.

Significant Sites Database : Diverse compilation of archaeological, palaeontological and historic period sites within the project area. STEP 4: Identify Heritage Prescription for Specific AOP Development Five heritage management responses (prescriptions) have been defined, all related to field inspection of developments by a qualified archaeologist. They are :

No Concerns : Practice will not require any form of archaeological audit or inspection. Developments may proceed up to Class 5 impact. Post-impact Heritage Audit : Archaeological audit must be undertaken after development. Impacts 5 are permitted. . Moderate-impact Assessment : Developments require archaeological assessment before exceeding Class 3 impacts. Harvesting trees and removing them from a cutblock are permitted. Low-impact Assessment: Developments require archaeological assessment before exceeding Class 2 impacts. This will permit trees to be harvested, skidded and piled but the wood cannot be removed from a block or proposed right-of-way. Pre-impact Assessment : Developments require archaeological assessment before exceeding Class 0 impacts.

Calculating Heritage Prescriptions using Heritage Potential and CRICS values under various conditions Final Step is to Update Heritage Screening Information for Specific Development

ArcView Shapefile Table and View with Screened Developments in the Bistcho Operating Screened Developments Area Overlying Heritage Potential Model

CUM HIST TRAIL CABIN SITE250 SITE100 PAL_ZONE SIGN_ZONE HP_Model HER_POT HP_INDEX HPRESC AWH_HP AWH_HPI AWH_HPRESC AWH_COMM 4 0 0 0 0 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Moderate-Impact Assessment 3 7 Moder ate-Impact Assessment Check creekside margins 4 0 0 0 0 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Moderate-Impact Assessment 0 4 No Concerns Changed to Low; at headwaters 4 0 0 0 0 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Post-Impact Audit 2 6 Post-Impact Audit Changed to Mod; check creekside margins 4 0 0 0 1 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Moderate-Impact Assessment 3 8 Low-I mpact Assessment Check creekside margins 4 0 0 0 0 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Moderate-Impact Assessment 3 7 Moder ate-Impact Assessment Check creekside margins 4 0 0 0 0 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Moderate-Impact Assessment 3 7 Moder ate-Impact Assessment Check creekside margins 4 0 0 0 0 0 No No 84 M/7 3 7 Moderate-Impact Assessment 3 7 Moder ate-Impact Assessment Check creekside margins Example of Historical Resources Overview results for Harvest Block and Access Road Developments Pre and Post-Impact Helicopter Overview

Helicopter Overview of Harvested Blocks Helicopter Overview of Proposed Blocks

Helicopter Overview of Proposed Roads Helicopter Overview of Harvested Blocks Types of Heritage Resources

Archaeological Sites Campsites, Stone Tools, Pottery,etc. Historic Sites Fur Trade Posts, Missions,Old Logging Camps, POW Camps Historic Trails Historic and Modern Cabins

Significant Sites (as designated by ACD) Palaeontological Sites Traditional Use Sites Pre-Impact Assessment in the Tolko/Footner FMA Area

Shovel Testing Surviving Harvest Block

View of Shovel Test Wall Taking Notes Post-Impact Assessment in the Tolko/Footner FMA Area

Surveying Harvest Block Surveying Access Road

Exposures along Watt Mountain Inspected Harvest Blocks Situations We Try To Avoid

Prehistoric artifacts exposed in recent forestry road cut, Early Prehistoric Stone , Alberta. Spear Point New Archaeological Sites discovered by AWH in the Tolko/Footner FMA Archaeological Site Watt Mountain 1

Stone artifacts recovered at Watt Mountain 1 Site View of Watt Mountain 1 Site Archaeological Site Wabasca 1

Panoramic View of Wabasca 1 Site

Stone artifacts recovered at Wabasca 1 Site Aerial View of Wabasca 1 Site Archaeological Site Wabasca 2

View to South of Wabasca 1 Site Stone artifacts recovered at Wabasca 1 Site Field Work in the Tolko/Footner Area FMA