ALBERTA ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVIEW Number 5 ISSN 0701-1776 Autumn 1982 Copyright © 1982 by the publisher, The Archaeological Society of Alberta £&***-* Archaeological Society of Alberta Charter #8205, registered under the Societies Act of Alberta on February 7, 1975. SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1982-83 EDITOR'S NOTE President: John Brumley I appreciate the assistance from all who have helped Group Box 20, Veinerville make the Review a success during the past year, especially Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7E5 Jim and June Carpenter. Production delays will necessitate 526-6021 mailing this issue in January; nevertheless, 1982 marks the Executive Sec./ Jeanne Cody first year in which we have met the publishing objective of Treasurer: P.O. Box 4609, Station C two issues per year. Also, Jack Brink's role in furnishing Calgary, Alberta T2T 5P1 readers with a report on current archaeological activity in 243-4340 Alberta is gratefully acknowledged. Editor, Review & Dr. T.A. Moore The timely publication herein of the highlights of the Publications: The University of Lethbridge current research project in Wood Buffalo National Park Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4 should help remedy a widespread lack of awareness of the 329-2225 contributions of federal government archaeologists toward Past President: Nick Sheptycki the understanding of Alberta archaeology. I appreciate the 5811 -113A Street co-operation of Marc Stevenson and Douglas Proch of Edmonton, Alberta T6H 1A9 Parks Canada, Winnipeg. 434-2316 In November of this year the Archaeological Society of Vice-President: Jeanne (Mrs. Alan) Cody Alberta received the first Award of Honour to be bestowed 1202 Lansdowne Avenue S.W. by the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation. This is a Calgary, Alberta T2S 1A6 well merited tribute to all those who have participated in the 243-4340 work of the Archaeological Society over the past two Elected Sec./ Lucille (Mrs. Harvey) Martz decades. Treasurer: P.O. Box 536 Tim Jones, manager of the Saskatchewan Archaeolog­ Medicine Hat, Alberta ical Society's book sales service - the Den of Antiquity, has 527-0388 extended full discount privileges to all members of the Southeastern Centre: President: Janice Andreas Archaeological Society of Alberta. Details are reported in 46 Rossland Crescent S.E. this issue. Medicine Hat, Alberta TIB 2B6 I look forward to seeing many of the readers of the 526-3346 Review at the Annual Meeting in Medicine Hat April 8, 9, Rep.: Phyllis (Mrs. Ian) McLaughlin and 10. Provincial President John Brumley has an excellent P.O. Box 113 programme in preparation which will include a banquet Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7E8 address by Dr. Richard Morlan of the Archaeological Sur­ 526-3753 vey of Canada. Calgary Centre: President: Louise (Mrs. L.M.) Travis Members of the Archaeological Society of Alberta 1815 Varsity Estates Drive N.W. receive a copy of the Alberta Archaeological Review. Calgary, Alberta T3B 3Y7 Non-members and institutions may subscribe to the Alberta 286-5738 Archaeological Review for $5.00 per calendar year. Rep.: David B. Coutts Cheques should be made payable to The Archaeological 3817 - 7 Street S.W. Society of Alberta. Calgary, Alberta T2T 2Y4 Unsolicited contributions are welcomed for considera­ 243-2101 tion for possible publication. All communications regarding Lethbridge Centre: President: Duncan Mackintosh subscriptions and the Alberta Archaeological Review 1719-9 Avenue South should be sent to the Editor, Dr. T.A. Moore, The Univer­ Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 1W4 sity of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4. 327-5466 Communications regarding the Archaeological Society Rep.: Lawrence Halmrast of Alberta should be addressed to the Executive Secretary/- P.O. Box 165 Treasurer, Mrs. Jeanne Cody, P.O. Box 4609, Station C, Warner, Alberta T0K 2L0 Calgary, Alberta T2T 5P1. 642-2126 Partial funding for this issue is provided by a grant from Edmonton Centre: President: G.F. Paschen Alberta Culture. 11911 University Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z6 Cover Photo: Native portage trail, Kakisa River, N.W.T. 436-4913 photo by Dr. L.L. Stebbins ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA/NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, 1980-1982 by Douglas Proch and Marc Stevenson, Parks Canada, Prairie Region, Winnipeg Figures 1 - 7 drawn by K. Graham-Stevenson INTRODUCTION All but one of the known archaeological sites were located along the northern banks of the Peace River or its In 1980 a team of archaeologists from Parks Canada, islands. This would suggest that a southern exposure, with Prairie Region, began archaeological reconnaissance in its greater availability of direct sunlight, along with the level Wood Buffalo National Park. Despite the size and diversity topography, were important factors in determining site of the park and the logistical constraints of conducting a locations. The presence of lithic reduction activities at some survey within it, the project's goals remained ambitious. The of the sites indicated that access to workable lithic material project, in essence, was initiated to provide information on was also an important determinant of site location. Another the park's archaeological resources so they might be prop­ major variable directing settlement toward the gypsum/- erly managed and incorporated into the planning process. limestone cliffs on the north side of the Peace River may More specifically, the project sought to provide statements have been an extensive grassland environment. The closed on site locational tendencies, site age, function and cultural aspen and poplar stand which presently dominates the affiliations, and to recommend measures for their protec­ north side appears to represent the tail end of a prairie-to- tion and interpretation. This report briefly presents the forest succession which began sometime before Raup's visit preliminary and substantive results of investigations carried to the Peace Point area in 1928 (Jeffrey 1961). This is in out in Wood Buffalo National Park between 1980 and 1982. direct contrast to the mature white spruce forest which dominates the top of the relatively low bank along the south side of the river. SURVEY 1980 The Slave River After an examination of those sites previously identified by park visitors and staff, the 44,000 km2 of boreal forest and Work began on the Slave River by selecting a 36.2 km related biotic communities in Wood Buffalo National Park section of the river between the mouth of Murdock Creek challenged the investigators to formulate a sampling stra­ and a large rock outcrop 1.5 km upstream from Caribou tegy that could potentially locate a large percentage of the Island. In an effort to maintain thorough coverage no dis­ more important archaeological sites. It was decided to first tinction was made between the park and Alberta sides of the look at the natural transportation corridors provided by the river. Not unexpectedly, this initial survey revealed that park's major rivers (Figure 1). Approximately 30 km of the rock outcrops possessed the greatest potential for the re­ Peace, Slave and Athabasca Rivers were systematically covery of archaeological materials. With the exception of surveyed. Following this, several secondary rivers were one site recorded on La Butte, (a large glacially-derived examined. Portions of the Loop Road were then inspected feature, possibly a kame or moraine) the remaining fourteen to obtain information on sites located in the interior of the sites were situated on outcroppings of rock. The most pro­ ductive sites were found 8-12 m above the summer river park. The significant results of this survey will be presented, 2 along with tentative statements concerning prehistoric set­ levels. They had substantial level surface areas (>25 m ) tlement patterns. which promoted the accumulation of soil deposits. The only discernible difference between the location of single com­ ponent sites and the stratified sites is that the latter had The Peace River prominent southern exposures and a better view of the river, both upstream and downstream. On the lower Peace River twenty-eight archaeological sites were recorded between the Boyer Rapids and the The Athabasca River midpoint of the first island downstream from Peace Point. Two types of sites were delineated in this survey area. These The Athabasca River was examined between Embar- included small, relatively isolated concentrations of cultural ras Portage and the abandoned Embarras Sawmill. While a materials, possibly representing the remains of short-term considerable length of time was spent attempting to locate camps or activity loci, and more spatially extensive, strati­ sites in the area, only two, dating to the early twentieth fied sites which may be the remains of more permanent century, were recorded. Both were located on high, sandy campsites. Without exception, larger campsites occurred banks along the east side of the river. The noticeable lack of on cliffs no higher than 10-12 m above the floodplain and archaeological sites is undoubtedly a result of the extremely were easily accessible from the river, while the smaller sites rapid rate at which the Athabasca River erodes, floods and were located on higher cliffs over 15 m above the present rebuilds its banks and is not a reflection of the region's flood level. prehistoric and early historic land use. WOOD BUFFALO NATIONAL PARK FIGURE 1 Wood Buffalo National Park . Systematic survey areas 1980. Additional Rivers The Peace Point Site Armed with the appropriate data on site locations gathered during the preceding investigation, the Riviere Des During the 1980 field season it was essential to examine Rochers from Lake Athabasca to the flood control weir and the Peace Point Site. Located on the longest continuous the Chenal Des Quatre Fourches were judgementally sur­ expanse of low-lying cliffs with a level topography along the veyed. In all, eleven sites were located. Each site was situ­ lower Peace River, this site was first recorded in 1973 by ated on a rock outcrop well above present flood levels, in David Penner.