Canada / QC / GcEl-19 (Lac Delorme) / QU-1397

Lab number

QU-1397

Material dated

charcoal; charbon de bois

Locality

on a point facing an embayment of Lake Delorme, east of the mouth of the Caniapiscau River, région de Nouveau-Québec, Québec

Map sheet

23 K/05

Submitter

D. Denton

Date submitted

December 10, 0097

Normalized Age

320 ± 90

Significance

culture?

Stratigraphic component

Area E

Context

hearth 4, adjacent to the edge of a thin deposit beside a rock associated with the hearth, not sealed from over- and underlying humus layers

Comments

GcEl-19, Lac Delorme, comments by D. Denton: Area A. Both dates are plausible. The date for structure C (GX-6708) is particularly interesting in that it is one of three dates from the Caniapiscau region that are older than 3000 BP. Area C. Two small depressions, each containing flakes and small quantities of calcined bone and charcoal (structures B and C) provided quite divergent dates. The late date for structure B (GX-6710) is supported by the finding of a seed bead near this structure. No historic artifacts were found near structure D which is apparently considerably older. While the function of these shallow pits is in doubt, this does not undermine the probable validity of the dates. The date from structure E (GX-6706) is of particular interest as it is one of the few dates from the region that are older than 3000 BP. The date agrees well with the stratigraphic context of this structure, i.e., the presence of a podzolized layer which overlies a portion of the "occupation floor" associated with this structure. Area D. One feature of this portion of the site is the presence of several structures that have been termed "concentrations of stone." These may, in some cases, be hearths associated with short-term occupations. In other cases, they may relate to other functions (e.g., sweat lodges). The three dates from such structures (QU-1403, QU-1406, QU-1398) represent charcoal samples from the humus layer between the rocks making up the structures. In such unsealed contexts there is a strong possibility of contamination by charcoal in the humus layer not produced as a result of the occupation. While the dates are plausible, the poverty of cultural material in association makes them relatively useless for comparative purposes. Given these factors, these dates should likely be excluded from consideration. QU-1406 was also collected from the humus layer. This date should be disregarded given the large possibility of contamination and the uncertain cultural association of the sample. QU-1417 suffers from a similar contextual problem in that the sample, although apparently associated with a small deposit of calcined bones, is not clearly sealed from the humus. The disturbed nature of the structure further complicates the interpretation of this date. While it may reflect the "older" sand/bone deposit located in the upper portion of the Ae horizon, the age of the occupation must be confirmed by other means. QU-1413 probably dates the humus overlying this portion of structure 10. It should thus be treated as a minimum date. Similarly, QU-1415 (modern) dates the humus overlying structure 3 and would appear to be associated with recent forest fire activity. On the basis of the associated assemblage, which includes both lithics and trade brass, this structure probably dates to the early historic period. Beta-10361, Beta-10363, and probably Beta-10362 appear to reliably date occupations of the site. All three dates are plausible, though in the case of Beta-10363 (structure 4 south) it is almost impossible to know what cultural material is associated with the date, severely limiting its usefulness for comparative purposes. In the case for Beta-10362 (structure 2A) further confirmation would be desirable. Area E. Structure 1 appears to date to the historic period based on the finding of a gunflint nearby. The modern determination (QU-1394) may reflect a late historic date, or contamination from more recent charcoal in the humus. Structure 2 and 4 have no European artifacts associated with them. Although there is some danger of contamination in the case of QU-1397, the dates are plausible. There is some possibility that these hearths were used within a single dwelling. The closeness in the dates would thus reflect a true contemporaneity.

References

• Taillon et Barré, 1987