The Atkinson site was named for the landowners Ken and Karen Atkinson who were very helpful to the archaeology and geoarchaeology crews that worked at the site. Their support made the project possible.
The Atkinson site story begins with the discovery of a charcoal lens eroding from the north bank of the Souris River in the summer of 2002. Study of Cultural Adaptations on the Prairie Ecozone (SCAPE) project geoarchaeologist Dr. Garry Running was exploring the stratigraphic layering in the bank when he noted the lens and reported it to Dr. Bev Nicholson. Upon closer examination, a tiny pressure flake was observed on the lens exposure and it was decided to collect a charcoal sample for radiocarbon dating.
The resulting date of 5250B.P cal. 4225 B.C. placed the site in the early Archaic period. A second date on bone collagen of 5580B.P. cal. 4500 B.C. confirmed the earlier date and gave an averaged date of circa 4400 B.C or 6,500 years ago.
The Atkinson site is one of the oldest excavated sites in Manitoba. Based on the date of the site and the kind of lithics (stone tools) present it is considered a Gowen occupation. The Atkinson site is evidence that bison hunters were active on the northern plains at a very early date. Similar sites have also been found on the High Plains in the U.S. and are referred to as the Mummy Cave Complex.
The Atkinson Site is of great importance as it is the first undisturbed site of this type to be excavated in Manitoba and extends the range of these sites south and east from the type-sites in central Saskatchewan. Based on the date and sample evidence further excavations were conducted by Dr. Nicholson's team. in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
Scope and Content
Sub series has been divided into three sub sub series including: (1) Atkinson 2003, (2) Atkinson 2004; (3) Atkinson 2006
Field journals have been scanned in multi-page PDF files. Artifact catalogues are PDF files in spreadsheet format. Photographs are in jpeg format.
History / Biographical
Based on the results of the testing in 2002 and the radiocarbon date of 6,500 years before present, further excavation was warranted at the Atkinson site. In 2003 Field Chief Holly Alston and crew Shayne Kolesar and Andrea Richards opened a 42m test excavation (units 1 - 4) that included the hearth area.
The site area was covered with a huge sand dune that was slowly sliding into the river as the supporting bank eroded away. As the dune was removed a late woodland camp was found at the dune interface and a large chunk of charcoal dated this occupation to 440+/-60 B.P. cal.1440A.D. This indicated that the dune was a relatively late incursion over the site. This occupation is likely connected to subsequent testing to the east in 2005 that came to be known as Atkinson II.
Methodology:
The crew began shovel shaving the upper strata with the intention of establishing an arbitrary datum when artifacts were encountered or when a level 25cm above the hearth was reached. At 25cm above the hearth an arbitrary surface datum was established and excavation in 5cm levels began. The overbank deposited matrix was a dense, compacted silt clay and it was necessary to soak the excavated materials in buckets and then water screen the material with a high pressure pump over ¼ inch hardware cloth.
Lithic flakes were found at 10cm below datum, above the hearth level. In the next level, large bone, a broken projectile point and additional flakes were found. Increasing amounts of bone and lithic flakes were found as the excavation continued through levels 3 to 5. The top of the hearth was identified at 28cm below datum, below a 2cm layer of well-sorted sand. This sand layer was confined to a small area directly overlying the hearth. It was considered to be a deliberate quenching of the hearth.
After the conclusion of excavating level 6 the hearth was profiled and photographed. The charcoal and ash layer of the hearth was shown to be directly below the sand layer. Levels 6 and 7 revealed a bison bone bed that was consistent with primary and secondary butchering including elements from the vertebral column and appendicular skeleton. Two additional Gowen (Mummy Cave Series) projectile points were also recovered adjacent to the hearth. Level 8 continued to produce larger amounts of bone and many lithic flakes. Level 9 produced a few bone fragments and a small number of lithic flakes. At the conclusion of the excavations, the crew shoveled sand down from the dune to protect the site over winter and through any subsequent spring flooding.
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-sub series contains: Summary information of field methology, number and co-ordinates of excavations, personnel and their staff position; Field journals are daily records of recoveries, features and activities at the site; Site records include excavation level and unit summaries, feature sheets, profiles; sample records and maps; Artifact catalogues are lists and identifications of all artifacts recovered; Photographs are of excavation units, features, the landscape and personnel.
