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Relating Palaeo-Eskimo Lithic Technological Change and Human Mobility Patterns in Southeastern Victoria Island, Nunavut

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Relating Palaeo-Eskimo Lithic Technological Change and Human Mobility Patterns in Southeastern Victoria Island, Nunavut Camping at the Caribou Crossing: Relating Palaeo-Eskimo Lithic Technological Change and Human Mobility Patterns in Southeastern Victoria Island, Nunavut by Andrew Thomas Ray Riddle, B.A. A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Toronto © Copyright A.T.R. Riddle 2010 Camping at the Caribou Crossing: Relating Palaeo-Eskimo Lithic Technological Change and Human Mobility Patterns in Southeastern Victoria Island, Nunavut Andrew Thomas Ray Riddle Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Toronto 2010 Abstract This dissertation explores the inter-relatedness of lithic technology and human mobility in the ancient central North American Arctic. Palaeo-Eskimo populations inhabited southeastern Victoria Island, Nunavut, discontinuously for over three thousand years. During this time, Palaeo-Eskimo lifeways are believed to have changed significantly in regards to subsistence economy, settlement patterns, interaction patterns, and mobility. One of the most significant changes is a marked decrease in the scale and frequency of human mobility and an increase in the re-occupation of seasonal camps. Palaeo-Eskimo material culture is observed to undergo important changes at the same time; consequently, one wonders what influence(s) mobility may have effected on the form and nature of Palaeo-Eskimo material culture. This work examines the potential influence of human mobility on lithic technology in the Pre-Dorset, Early Dorset, and Middle Dorset periods as evidenced by lithic assemblages from nine archaeological sites and site components in the Iqaluktuuq (Ekalluk River) region of Victoria Island. Over 800 formal tools and 30000 pieces of debitage were examined and analyzed according to two interpretive frameworks: one technological and the other mobility-related. The technological analyses demonstrate that significant changes took place in lithic production and maintenance processes during the Palaeo-Eskimo period. The mobility-related analyses demonstrate that, while many of the changes to lithic technological organization are consistent with expected trends resulting from a decrease in human mobility, not all aspects of Palaeo-Eskimo lithic tool production, maintenance and use appear to have been similarly influenced by this change in mobility. ii Acknowledgements Recognizing all of the wonderful people who supported me in one way or another through these past few years is perhaps the most daunting task of my entire graduate student career. So many colleagues, faculty, friends - and even the occasional stranger! - deserve much credit and heartfelt thanks for their contributions, both direct and indirect, in the creation of this work. The chances that I can name all of them here without omitting someone important is significantly low (p < 0.001), and yet I will do my best to give recognition where it is due. I would like to thank my advisor, Max Friesen, and my other core committee members, Michael Chazan and Heather Miller, for their valued thoughts and criticisms offered freely and openly. Their contributions are difficult to quantify but were essential to the shaping of my theoretical, methodological and interpretive approaches. While at times they did not necessarily agree with the directions I chose to pursue, each of them was more than willing to allow me space to explore my ideas and help to make sense out of often contradictory results and concepts. In retrospect, this approach gave me enough proverbial rope to potentially hang myself with, and I am grateful they saw fit to steer me clear of the gallows. Between Max’s exhaustive knowledge of Arctic prehistory, Michael’s natural lithics connaissance, and Heather’s broad technological expertise, I can claim to have had a formidable resource base at hand throughout this process. That being said, my committee should not be held accountable for deficiencies in reasoning or interpretation in the following text; those are solely my own. Thank you as well to Dr. Christopher Ellis for serving as my External Examiner in the final months of thesis preparation. Besides providing valuable criticisms that led to improvements in this work, Dr. Ellis initiated several thought-provoking discussions on lithic technology and human mobility that have already begun to change some of my assumptions about stone working and material acquisition behaviours in the North American Arctic. The membership of the U of T Lithics Workgroup deserves to be recognized, primarily for putting up with my spontaneous discussions (rants?) on ‘process’ and ‘technique’ that I inflicted upon them at every available opportunity. Perhaps just as valuable as their suggestions and critiques were the blank stares I received on occasion, helping me to realize when I was being more opaque than usual. The organization and presentation of the technological model presented in Chapter 3 benefitted greatly from my discussions with Dyan Laskin-Grosman, Danielle Macdonald, Katherine Tong, Matthew Walls and Jayne Wilkins. Two additional members of the Workgroup deserve special thanks. Alexandra Sumner has for years been a source of unwavering encouragement during my doctoral studies. I am most fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside Alex on several collaborative projects, including the three-dimensional burin analyses described herein. Although we somehow remained ignorant of each other’s existence in the department for some time, our eventual meeting and subsequent excited discussions about core morphologies and cognitive processes are singular highlights of my graduate career. In the coming years, I look forward to building upon our professional collaboration and, importantly, our valued friendship. Lucille Harris is the other palaeolithotechnologist whom I would like to recognize as playing a key role in the completion of this dissertation. Lucille dedicated far more hours than I dare count iii to listening to and discussing ideas, problems, results and interpretations related to this research, often sacrificing her own research time to help her panicked comrade. I suspect my promises of nachos and ‘iconoclastic’ beverages had a part to play there, but that in no way diminishes how grateful I am for her friendship, understanding, and encouragement. Never could I have guessed that my quiet teaching assistantship partner for Archaeological Analysis would quickly become one of the most influential people in my academic life. Rest assured that I will do my best to return the favor as best I can - with interest! Thank you to Michael Brand for not only encouraging me to ask the sorts of questions I thought pertinent to ask, but also for reminding me to not get hung up on the little things and, most importantly, “...make it done.” Your level-headed perspective on all facets of life is a continual inspiration to me. I was fortunate to have several undergraduate students provide technical help in the Arctic Lab over the years. Foremost among these tireless and cheerful assistants are David Landry, Kelly Scott, Lauren Howlett, Tegan Kenward, Lisa Milosavljevic, and my sister Andrea Riddle. I feel especially privileged to have had the chance to work off and on with David, who, despite claiming to be new to “this whole lithics thing”, was willing to engage in long, impromptu discussions about burins and BLTs, out of which I more often than not emerged enlightened and reinvigorated. His input was more helpful than he will ever realize. To Jennifer Campbell, Emily Hubbard, Lauren Norman, Lesley Howse and the rest of my Toronto friends I say thank you for your friendship and emotional support through these past six years (or so). Graduate school is nothing without good friends and colleagues to share it with, and I am very lucky to have spent so much time with such quality people. To my parents and sisters, thank you for your unwavering love and support while I studied little pieces of rock for reasons that were never explained to you satisfactorily. My youngest sister, Andrea, deserves special recognition for many of the excellent artifact images contained in this work. Her presence in the Archaeology Centre imaging lab made those long hours so much more tolerable, and doubly so when she bought the poutine. Finally, I would like to thank my ever-supportive and loving wife, Julie, for continuing to put up with my bizarre archaeology ‘habit’ for so many years. Words cannot express how fortunate I feel to have had you at my side throughout this whole challenging process. The completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without you, and I suspect it would never have ever begun were it not for your continual encouragement. I love you so much and look forward to the next chapter of our lives together raising two budding archaeologists (sorry, you don’t get a say in this...) My Doctoral research was generously funded by the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies, Dr. Max Friesen, the Department of Anthropology, as well as the Northern Scientific Training Program. Access to the William Taylor, Jr. Iqaluktuuq assemblages was made possible by the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the wonderful, accommodating people who work there. iv Table of Contents 1.0 – Introduction �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1 1.1 - Problem Overview �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1
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