ARCTIC Vihtr’iitshik: A Stone Quarry Reported by Alexander Mackenzie on the Lower Mackenzie River in 1789

• Main Author: Jean-luc Pilon
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1989
• Subjects: Arctic; Galets; Mackenzie Delta; Mackenzie River; Mackenzie Valley; Thunder River; esquimaux; inuit; inuits; Mackenzie river
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.656.4598; http://arctic.synergiesprairies.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/viewFile/1619/1598/

ABSTRACT. The analysis of archaeological specimens gathered in 1988 at the mouth of the Thunder River (MiTi-1). lower Mackenzie Valley, indicates that the locality’s primary function was as a quarry/workshop. Historical and toponymic data show that this was likely the quarry identified by Alexander Mackenzie on 24 July 1789. Collections from the southwest Anderson Plain contain high proportions of Thunder River siliceous argillite, some obtained from beach gravels or till deposits, while some w a s obtained from primary geological deposits. In collections from peripheral areas, Thunder River siliceous argillite is occasionally found and often consists of the end-products of lithic reduction. It is especially interesting to confirm the presence of Thunder River siliceous argillite in Mackenzie Delta Inuit sites. A critical evaluation of all available data shows that Alexander Mackenzie’s journal was relatively accurate with respect to this lithic source. Key words: Alexander Mackenzie, Mackenzie River, Thunder River, archaeology, lithic quarry, toponomy RfiSUMfi. L‘analyse de la collection archtologique obtenue en 1988 au site MiTi-1, situt B l’embouchure de la rivikre Thunder, dans le bas Mackenzie, tkmoigne de l’exploitation de I’argillite s licifite qui s’y trouve. En effet, les rkits de voyages ainsi que les toponymes autochtones suggtrent que cette localitk fut celle indiquke B Alexander Mackenzie comme l’endroit où les Indiens et les Inuits venaient trouver de la pierre pour fabriquer leurs outils. Les collections archkologiques de laplaine d’Anderson recellent de cette argillite silicifik prklevke de dtpots gkologiques primaires ou retrouvke sur les plages sous forme de galets. Dans les regions avoisinantes cette argillite silicifite ne se rencontre que rarement et trts souvent prends la forme d’outil ou de microlames. I1 est surtout inttressant de noter la prksence de ce type lithique dans plusieurs gisements nko-esquimaux du delta de la rivitre Mackenzie. Une lecture critique des tcrits de Mackenzie ...