ARCTIC 138-144 Anvil Boulders and Lithic Reduction on Southern Victoria Island, Northwest Territories
ABSTRACT. This paper reports on an unusual archaeological feature discovered at the Cadfael site (NiNg-17) on southeastern Victoria Island. TWO large boulders apparently served as anvil stones on which quartzite cobbles were fractured. Lithic debris remained in situ on and around the boulders, prese...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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1990
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.694.3487 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic45-2-138.pdf |
| Summary: | ABSTRACT. This paper reports on an unusual archaeological feature discovered at the Cadfael site (NiNg-17) on southeastern Victoria Island. TWO large boulders apparently served as anvil stones on which quartzite cobbles were fractured. Lithic debris remained in situ on and around the boulders, preserving the materials and spatial arrangements as abandoned by the last flintknappers. Analysis of one boulder and the associated artifacts demon-strates that a bipolar technology was employed to split cobbles, presumably to obtain large flakes for use as, or for making into, tools. As far as is known, no similar features have been reported in the literature on the Canadian Arctic, although potential candidates exist on Baffin Island and at Great Bear Lake. The age and cultural affiliation of the Cadfael site anvil boulders are undetermined; however an association with the Late Dorset culture, dating to about lo00 years ago, seems most likely. Key words: arctic archaeology, lithic technology, Dorset culture, Victoria Island RÉSUMÉ. Cette communication concerne la d6couverte d’un aménagement archéologique plutôt inhabituel trouvé au site Cadfael (NiNg-17), situé au sud de l’île Victoria. Deux grosses pierres y auraient apparemment servies d’enclumes où l’on aurait cassé des galets de quartzite. Les débris lithiques étaient restés in situ sur et autour des grosses roches, préservant ainsi le materiel et les arrangements spatiaux tels qu’abandonnés par les derniers artisans de la pierre. L’analyse d’une de ces grosses pierres et des artefacts qui y étaient associés, a démontré qu’une technique bipolaire fut utilisée pour fendre les galets afin d’obtenir de gros éclats utilisés comme d’outils ou dans la fabrication de ces derniers. I1 semble que jusqu’ici aucun aménagement similaire n’a ét6 rapporté dans la littérature concernant l’arctique canadien, bien que des candidats possibles existent sur la Terre de Baffin et au Grand Lac de I ’ Ours. Bien que I’âge et l’affiliation culturelle des tnormes enclumes du site Cadfael ... |
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