Archaeological Investigations of Alpine Ice Patches in the Selwyn Mountains, Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract

Inspired by the groundbreaking investigation of ice patch archaeology in Yukon Territory, the authors began exploring the Mackenzie, Selwyn, and Richardson Mountains for ice patch archaeological sites in 2000. Through remote sensing analysis, followed by intensive field surveys in the Selwyn and Mackenzie Mountains, we documented eight ice patch sites containing well-preserved archaeological artifacts and biological specimens. Twenty additional ice patches exhibit the key indicators of ice patch archaeological sites (permanent or intermittent ice and snow lenses containing caribou fecal matter, faunal material, or both), but so far these patches have not yielded artifacts. Collections from ice patches in the Selwyn Mountains include examples of three precontact hunting technologies: throwing dart (atlatl), bow-and-arrow, and snare. Atlatl technology, represented by the distal ends of two darts dating to 2410 and 2310 14 C yr BP, predates bow-and-arrow technology, represented by two complete arrows, two distal shaft fragments, and a partial bow dating between 850 and 270 14 C yr BP. A ground squirrel snare dates to 970 14 C yr BP. Caribou dominates the faunal remains recovered from the ice patches. These data suggest that hunting on ice patches was part of a broader-spectrum summer subsistence economy focused on a broad alpine valley, known locally as K'atieh, and that hunters tended to target ice patches close to other subsistence locations in this area.

Łeghágots'enetę (learning together): the importance of indigenous perspectives in the identification of biological variation

“…Language can also provide clues to the histories of the caribou through descriptions like ɂekwewa "the original or prototypical caribou" that is used in Deĺınę to refer to barren-ground caribou and inform alternative ways of classifying the relationships between caribou types. Although it is difficult to determine the exact time-frame reflected in the language, it is well established that Dene people have a substantial history with caribou, and barren-ground caribou in particular have been a crucial and relatively consistent resource for at least the last 8000 years (Gordon 2003, Andrews et al 2012b, Beaulieu 2012). …”

Withering Snow and Ice in the Mid-latitudes: A New Archaeological and Paleobiological Record for the Rocky Mountain Region

“…Consequently, Saami can routinely approach and harvest reindeer at these locations. Ion and Kershaw (1989) have noted similar caribou behavior in the Northwest Territories, and Andrews et al (2012a) have demonstrated overlap between the summer movement of radio-collared caribou and ancient ice patch hunting stands.…”

Frozen: The Potential and Pitfalls of Ground-Penetrating Radar for Archaeology in the Alaskan Arctic

“…High latitude and mountainous settings are prerequisite for these rare contexts, but not all regions seem to exhibit them in equal abundance. Particularly rich areas include British Columbia [44], southern Yukon Territory [43] and Northwest Territories [45,46] in Canada, areas of interior Alaska [47,48] and the Rocky Mountains in the western United States [49], and portions of Scandinavia and the European Alps [50]. The significance of ice patch finds stems from their ability to provide unique insights into prehistoric cultural developments and technology since these perishable items are rare in the vast majority of archaeological contexts.…”