CHARACTERIZATION OF CHERT ARTIFACTS AND TWO NEWLY IDENTIFIED CHERT QUARRIES ON SOUTHERN BAFFIN ISLAND

Abstract

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) trace element analysis was used to characterize raw chert from one secondary (LeDx-42) and two primary (LbDt-1 and LdDx-2) sources on southern Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. Raw chert trace element data are compared to ICP-MS trace element data for chert artifacts from a nearby Palaeo-Eskimo archaeological site (LeDx-42). Geochemical consistencies identified among the analyzed samples support the inference that Palaeo-Eskimo toolmakers at LeDx-42 exploited LdDx-2 and LbDt-1 as chert source locations.

Keywords:

• Chert
• Geochemistry
• Provenance
• Arctic
• Palaeo-Eskimo

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R. E. Ten Bruggencate

Rachel ten Bruggencate received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Manitoba in 2013 and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba working on the Southern Baffin Island Chert Provenance Project.

Correspondence to: R. E. ten Bruggencate, Department of Anthropology, University of Manitoba, Fletcher Argue Building, Chancellor Circle, Winnipeg R3T 2N2, Canada. Email: [email protected].

S. B. Milne

S. Brooke Milne received her PhD in Anthropology from McMaster in 2003 and is currently an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Manitoba and the Principal Investigator of the Southern Baffin Island Chert Provenance Project.

M. Fayek

Mostafa Fayek received his PhD in Stable and Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry from the University of Saskatchewan in 1996 holds the Canada Research Chair in Isotope and Environmental Geochemistry and is a Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Manitoba.

R. W. Park

Robert Park received his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Alberta in 1989 and is currently a Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean of Arts at the University of Waterloo.

D. R. Stenton

Douglas Stenton received his PhD in Anthropology from the University of Alberta in 1989. He is currently the Director of Heritage for the Government of Nunavut Department of Culture and Heritage.