Anvil Boulders and Lithic Reduction on Southern Victoria Island, Northwest Territories

Abstract

This paper reports on an unusual archaeological feature discovered at the Cadfael site (NiNg-17) on southeastern Victoria Island. Two large boulders apparently served as anvil stones on which quartzite cobbles were fractured. Lithic debris remained in situ on and around the boulders, preserving the materials and spatial arrangements as abandoned by the last flintknappers. Analysis of one boulder and the associated artifacts demonstrates that a bipolar technology was employed to split cobbles, presumably to obtain large flakes for use as, or for making into, tools. As far as is known, no similar features have been reported in the literature on the Canadian Arctic, although potential candidates exist on Baffin Island and at Great Bear Lake. The age and cultural affiliation of the Cadfael site anvil boulders are undetermined; however an association with the Late Dorset culture, dating to about 1000 years ago, seems most likely.

Key words: arctic archaeology, lithic technology, Dorset culture, Victoria Island