Yukon University anthropology student, Katelynn Blindheim, identifying fox, lynx, and wolf faunal elements.
This project aims to hire a student lab assistant to support the completion of McIntyre Creek artifact analysis and final report stemming from the 2019 ANTH 144: Heritage and Culture Field School archaeological excavations. The goal is to train a YukonU student in archaeological laboratory techniques, including artifact analysis. Yukon University student excavations that year recovered hundreds of lithic artifacts including a large number of obsidian microblade fragments. Microblades are small razor-like stone tools that were attached to shafts and used for hunting game. The McIntyre Creek site is of cultural significance to Ta’an Kwach’an Council and Kwanlin Dun First Nations and sits on their traditional territories. In the past, the area was a core resource location for Indigenous people of southern Yukon. We believe the site to be as much as 5,000 years old. The artifacts recovered are part of both Nations cultures and histories. The obsidian has been sourced to Northern British Columbia, which supports oral stories of trade routes between what is today British Columbia and the Yukon. The final report will meet Yukon Government permitting requirements and will be shared with Ta’an Kwach’an Council and Kwanlin Dun First Nation. Financial support is generously provided by the Research funds of Yukon University.
Partners and funders
YukonU Scholarly Activity Grant