CARD

Locality: south edge of Medicine Hat, on open prairie near Seven Persons Creek and South Saskatchewan River, Alberta
Map sheet: 72 L/02

Additional information: It is assumed that this date was not corrected previously for isotopic fractionation.
Comments: Southridge, EaOq-17: Vickers (1986: 66) summarizes Brumley's (1981) report. This is a small Oxbow campsite situated on the prairie near Medicine Hat. While monitoring topsoil stripping, the cultural material was discovered at 20-40 cm depth. Two activity areas centered on pairs of hearths and boiling pits were defined on the basis of artifact distributions that included 3207 faunal pieces, 2342 fire broken rock fragments, 17 cores, 2470 pieces of debitage, 68 retouched stone tools, two end scrapers, 23 bifaces, four unifaces, and 21 projectile points. Of the points, 17 are eared Oxbow points, three are triangular and un-notched, and one is a tip. The triangular points could be preforms or finished specimens similar to those seen in low frequencies in later contexts. Over 95% of the lithics are local types, the remainder being from Montana and/or British Columbia, North Dakota and the Alberta foothills. Two bison, aged about 4 and 15 years, are represented among the faunal remains, probably hunted by stalking in the nearby coulees and valley. Extensive bone breakage suggests marrow retrieval and bone grease manufacture. Given the exposed location, the site was probably occupied during a warm season. It is possible that the two activity areas represent two family or residential units.

Canada / AB / EaOq-17 (Southridge) / RL-1535