CARD

Locality: 13 km west of Leader, 610 m asl, South Saskatchewan valley, Saskatchewan
Map sheet: 72 K/13

Significance: Woodland, Avonlea; Sylvicole
Stratigraphic component: Level 2
Context: Level 2, hearth in paleosol developed in silt, 100 cm depth
Associated taxa: Mammalia: Bison bison 29, Canis lupus? 1, Canidae 1, Vulpes vulpes 1, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus 7; Aves; Mollusca: Unionidae

Comments: EfOk-16, Estuary: This is a multi-component site with closely spaced superimposed layers and three radiocarbon dates. The published literature contains contradictions concerning the material dated and the provenience of some of these samples. Following Wilmeth (1978: 101) and Sask X: 255, the samples are listed as charcoal, but Adams (1977: 38) states that the three samples include "a single carbon date and two collagen dates." Wilmeth (1978: 101) gives the source of GaK-3809 as the "lower layer of midden," but Adams (1977: 38, 42) specifies Feature C-2 on the Level 1 floor plan. S-640 is also from Level 1. Level 2 has a single date with a large standard deviation. Even if the published contradictions can be corrected, the stratigraphy of the site is open to alternate interpretations. The mixture of Prairie side-notched and Avonlea points in Level 2 is interpreted by Adams (1977: 142-143) to signify a transitional component that he names the Leader subphase. However, it is possible that Estuary Level 2 suffers from compressed stratigraphy in which successive occupations are not adequately separated stratigraphically; there is no layer of sterile sediment separating Level 2 from overlying Level 1 (Adams 1977: 37, Fig. 5).

Canada / SK / EfOk-16 (Estuary) / S-641