archaeology2003

fleur de lys archaeological project

2003 field school summary

For the second consecutive year, the Fleur de Lys Archaeological Project welcomed students from the Memorial University Archaeology Field School. The 2003 field investigations focused on the continued excavations of Cow Cove 3 (EaBa-16), a warm season Dorset Palaeoeskimo habitation site. The 2003 investigations at Cow Cove also represent the fourth year of archaeological work in the town of Coachman's Cove. The on-going study of these sites adds to our understanding of warm season Palaeoeskimo camps and their associated architecture.
	The field school also provided students with the opportunity to conduct survey work in the community of King's Point. During a week long reconnaissance of high potential areas, two prehistoric sites were discovered through a systematic program of shovel testing. Discussions with local residents also provided us with information regarding the location of two nearby geological outcrops that contained chert and jasper sources. This photo illustrates a series of exposed narrow bands of high quality chert that were sampled for comparison with archaeological materials.
The highlight of our survey expedition in the community of King's Point was the discovery of a Groswater Palaeoeskimo site. This site, which was subsequently designated Manful Point 1 (DjBa-03), yielded a variety of stone tools and waste flakes, including the base of a large double notched white chert endblade. Although shovel testing allowed us to determine the cultural affiliation of this site, further work is planned to ascertain the nature and function of the occupation.
	In addition to the excavations at Cow Cove and the search for new sites in King's Point, students of the field school were also provided with instruction and practice in archaeological laboratory techniques. All of the artifacts from both the excavation and our survey work were washed, labeled, identified and catalogued by the students during the course of the field school. These activities were conducted in the lab facility of the newly constructed research station located in the town of Fleur de lys.

Cow Cove 3 Excavation Summary Highlights

Two excavation areas were opened at Cow Cove 3 during the 2003 field season. The southern operation continued to reveal structural features that were initially discovered in 2002. Our work this summer resulted in the delineation of a house feature and fireplace that sit on the edge of an ancient beach. These in-situ deposits yielded thousands of waste flakes, numerous stone tools and preserved faunal remains that confirm our initial interpretation of this site as a warm season camp.
	The circular stone feature, pictured left, was identified in the southern operation and is interpreted as a hearth. This feature contained charcoal deposits, fire cracked rock and associated artifacts belonging to the Dorset culture. Scattered and partially preserved faunal remains were also recovered from areas adjacent this fireplace. The association of these bones with this feature suggest that this area was the focus of Dorest food preparation activities during their occupation of Cow Cove 3.
Although few structural features were identified in the northern operation, burnt soil, charcoal, and higher artifact frequencies along the western periphery represent a focus of prehistoric activity. In addition to the Dorset material recovered from this operation, a small number of Groswater specimens were also identified. These materials may have been the result of an earlier Groswater use of this area, or might simply be the result of Dorset scavenging of the nearby Cow Cove 1 site. Further study of the depositional processes and relationship between these two sites is planned to explore this problem.

2003 Field School Participants and Staff

2002 Participants and Staff