The Archaeology of Yukon Ice Patches: New Artifacts, Observations, and Insights

Hare, P. Gregory; Thomas, Christian; Topper, Timothy N.; Gotthardt, Ruth M.

doi:10.14430/arctic4188

Cited by 53 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In fact, none of the ice patch arrow shafts found use willow saplings or staves. The wood of unspecified willow was used only for shafts and foreshafts of atlatl darts before the introduction of the bow-and-arrow technology in the region and only in the early period of the chronology of dart shafts from the Yukon Territory ice patches (Hare et al, 2012).…”

Section: Ice Patch Arrow Shafts • 103mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, wood, although mostly seen as used for the shaft, was often a legitimate material for the foreshaft or even the end point of an arrow, or both (Waguespack et al, 2009). The ethnographic record gives ample evidence of such usages (e.g., Turner, 1998), and the discoveries made from melting ice patches over the past 15 years show the importance of wood in the making of foreshafts used for large mammal hunting (Hare et al, 2004(Hare et al, , 2012Dixon et al, 2005;Andrews et al, 2012a, b) although the northern boreal forest is not particularly celebrated for having strong and tough wood. In the "everyday" archaeological record, evidence of wood used in arrows is rarer, though there are exceptions, such as the Ozette site on the Washington state coast, discovered and excavated in the 1970s (Friedman, 1975;Gleeson, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1). These wooden weapon elements and their associated antler or stone projectiles and feathers span 8000 years and 3000 years of hunting activities, respectively, in these two alpine environments (Hare et al, 2004(Hare et al, , 2012Andrews et al, 2012a, b). They are testimony to the importance of these remote areas for summer hunting activities and offer a unique opportunity to analyze hunting implements that were in use when they ended up lost or abandoned.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They are testimony to the importance of these remote areas for summer hunting activities and offer a unique opportunity to analyze hunting implements that were in use when they ended up lost or abandoned. Because they were found in ice patches where caribou dung is prominent and where caribou bones dominate associated faunal assemblages, it is safe to assume that Osgood,1937;Russel Kari, 1995 ICE PATCH ARROW SHAFTS • 97 these arrows were used mainly for summer caribou hunting even if other large and small terrestrial mammals (i.e., mountain sheep, ground squirrel, and marmot) were hunted as well (see Andrews et al, 2012b;Hare et al, 2012). These mostly complete shafts for darts and arrows correspond to hunting events during which the hunter missed his prey and lost his dart or arrow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A Thousand Years of Lost Hunting Arrows: Wood Analysis of Ice Patch Remains in Northwestern Canada

Alix¹,

Hare²,

Andrews³

et al. 2012

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Discussions of the development of past hunting equipment generally focus on lithic and bone projectile points and foreshafts, as these are often the only elements remaining in archaeological sites. In the last 15 years, the archaeology of alpine ice patches has provided a unique opportunity to analyze hunting equipment over time and gain knowledge of the wooden elements on which the points are hafted. This paper describes the wood and morphometrical analysis of a collection of 27 arrow shafts from two ice patch regions of the western Canadian Subarctic. In both regions, two main categories of arrow shafts show the selection of specific pieces of wood, spruce (Picea sp.) on the one hand and birch (Betula sp.) on the other, with associated morphometrical characteristics. These shafts also share some characteristics that are distinct from those of Arctic and coastal arrow shafts. Shafts of pine (Pinus sp. sec. ponderosa) and hemlock (Tsuga sp.) were also identified in the southwestern Yukon Territory. The absence of correlation between the arrow shaft types and 14 C dating raises the question of the significance of the arrow types and the potential for function, trade, or travel to explain the variation.Key words: archery, arrow shafts, ice patch archaeology, wood analysis, xylology, Subarctic, Arctic, Southwest Yukon, Northwest Territories RÉSUMÉ. Les discussions sur le développement des armes de chasse se concentrent généralement sur les pointes de projectile et les préhampes en matières lithiques et osseuses car ce sont ces éléments qui sont les plus souvent retrouvés dans les sites archéologiques. Ces quinze dernières années, l'archéologie des névés alpins nous donne l'opportunité unique d'analyser des équipements de chasse sur le long terme et de documenter les éléments en bois au bout desquels les pointes sont emmanchées. Dans cet article, nous décrivons l'analyse d'une collection de vingt-sept hampes de flèche en bois végétal provenant de deux régions de névés du Subarctique canadien. Dans les deux régions, on définit deux catégories principales de hampes de flèche qui montrent une sélection spécifique de pièces de bois d'épicéa (Picea sp.) et de bouleau (Betula sp.) auxquelles correspondent des caractéristiques morphométriques propres. Ces hampes partagent aussi des caractéristiques qui les distinguent de celles plus nordiques des côtes de l'Arctique. Des hampes faites en bois de pin (Pinus sp. sec. ponderosa) et de pruche (Tsuga sp.) ont également été identifiées dans le Sud-ouest du Territoire du Yukon. L'absence de corrélation entre les types de hampe de flèche et les dates radiocarbone soulève la question du sens à donner à ces types de flèche. Des facteurs tels que la fonction, les échanges ou des déplacements de personne sont envisagés.

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Section: Ice Patch Arrow Shafts • 103mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Thousand Years of Lost Hunting Arrows: Wood Analysis of Ice Patch Remains in Northwestern Canada

Alix¹,

Hare²,

Andrews³

et al. 2012

ARCTIC

Self Cite

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“…The Yukon ice patch sites are yielding archaeological specimens and valuable paleoecological data that are unparalleled in the North American Subarctic (cf., Farnell et al, 2004;Hare et al, 2004Hare et al, , 2012. Here we examine the social and cultural context of the south Yukon ice patch investigations, considering the ice patch sites as part of ancient and contemporary "cultural landscapes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural Landscapes, Past and Present, and the South Yukon Ice Patches

Greer¹,

Strand²

2012

ARCTIC

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South Yukon First Nations governments are partners in the Yukon Ice Patch Project investigating the mountaintop snow and ice patches where ancient hunting artifacts are being recovered. Heritage programs operated by these governments, which coordinate their citizens' engagement in these activities, emphasize intangible cultural heritage. They view the project as an opportunity to strengthen culture, enhance citizens' understanding of their history, and express First Nations values regarding cultural resources. As the primary mammal subsistence species for south Yukon Indian people is now moose, the ice patch discoveries highlight the historical role of caribou in their culture and increase awareness of the environmental history of their homelands. The cultural landscape concept is used to frame the present indigenous involvement in the Yukon ice patch investigations, as well as the past use of these unique landscape features and ancient land-use patterns. The Yukon Ice Patch Project reflects the contemporary context of the territory, where indigenous governments are actively involved in managing and interpreting their cultural heritage.RÉSUMÉ. Les gouvernements des Premières Nations du sud du Yukon figurent au rang des partenaires du projet des névés du Yukon, dans le cadre duquel des chercheurs font des fouilles dans les névés de sommet de montagnes où d'anciens artefacts de chasse sont retrouvés. Les programmes du patrimoine administrés par ces gouvernements, qui coordonnent la participation de leurs citoyens à ces activités, mettent l'accent sur le patrimoine culturel immatériel. Aux yeux de ces gouvernements, ce projet constitue une occasion de renforcer leur culture, de faire en sorte que les citoyens connaissent mieux leur histoire et d'exprimer les valeurs des Premières Nations en ce qui a trait aux ressources culturelles. La principale espèce de subsistance des Autochtones du sud du Yukon est maintenant l'orignal, mais les découvertes des névés font ressortir le rôle historique du caribou au sein de leur culture et leur font connaître davantage l'histoire de leur environnement. On se sert du concept du paysage culturel pour encadrer la participation actuelle des Autochtones aux fouilles des névés du Yukon ainsi que pour définir l'utilisation passée de ces caractéristiques uniques du paysage et des anciennes tendances d'utilisation des terres. Le projet des névés du Yukon reflète le contexte contemporain du territoire, où les gouvernements autochtones s'adonnent à la gestion et à l'interprétation active de leur patrimoine culturel.

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Inferring demographic structure with moccasin size data from the Promontory Caves, Utah

Billinger

Ives

2014

American J Phys Anthropol

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The moccasin assemblage Julian Steward recovered from the Promontory caves in 1930-31 provides a novel example in which material culture can be used to understand the structure of an AD thirteenth century population. Several studies shed light on the relationship between shoe size, foot size, and stature. We develop an anthropometric model for understanding the composition of the Promontory Cave population by using moccasin size as a proxy for foot size. We then predict the stature of the individual who would have worn a moccasin. Stature is closely related to age for children, subadults and adult males. Although there are predictable sex and age factors biasing moccasin discard practices, moccasin dimensions suggest a relatively large proportion of children and subadults occupied the Promontory caves. This bison and antelope hunting population appears to have thrived during its stay on Promontory Point.

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The Archaeology of Yukon Ice Patches: New Artifacts, Observations, and Insights

Cited by 53 publications

References 15 publications

A Thousand Years of Lost Hunting Arrows: Wood Analysis of Ice Patch Remains in Northwestern Canada

A Thousand Years of Lost Hunting Arrows: Wood Analysis of Ice Patch Remains in Northwestern Canada

Cultural Landscapes, Past and Present, and the South Yukon Ice Patches

Inferring demographic structure with moccasin size data from the Promontory Caves, Utah

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