The northern Agate Basin complex is an expression of an archaeological entity which is best known for the grasslands of the great plains where it occurs from Texas north to the Canadian parklands (Wormington 1957:141, Ebell 1980:63). A distinguishing characteristic of the Agate Basin complex is a lanceolate (willow leaf shape) projectile point which is not notched on the lower edges. On the grasslands these peoples were bison hunters and their culture dates from about 10,000 to 8,000 years ago (Ebell 1980:73). Some of the Agate Basin peoples apparently found their way north of the grasslands, into the boreal and transitional forests, and discovered the barren-ground caribou. It is thought that these peoples simply transferred their hunting techniques used for one herd animal (bison) to another herd animal (caribou). The northern Agate Basin is a late expression of this complex as, in Mackenzie and Keewatin, it is dated between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago (Gordon 1976: 47). Agate Basin remains in far northern Saskatchewan are very sparse, compared to the remains to the north in the Northwest Territories. Agate Basin points have been found at two locations on Lake Athabasca, one site on Black Lake and at another location on Hara Lake, north of Wollaston Lake. It appears, therefore, that these peoples came south into Saskatchewan infrequently. If this is so, it may be deduced that the winter range of the caribou at this time did not regularly extend into northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Gordon (1976:3135) has summarized information on the past climates of this region and noted that the period 10,000 to 7,000 years ago was mild, evidently warmer than at present. The treeline was farther north than at present and, therefore, the whole caribou range would have been more northerly than at present. Assuming that the Agate Basin peoples followed the caribou as closely as the historic peoples, it would then be expected that Agate Basin peoples would not regularly have travelled into what is now northern Saskatchewan.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 18:50:24 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015